My suggestion--and hope--for both of you is to plant natives. There are a number of good books about plants native to the Cape, and your particular conditions, depending on how close to the seaside etc. These plants will grow well and won't require a lot of imported soil. Some non-natives will work too but I'd start with the locals.

Down at Nauset Beach today, I identified, for sure, rosa rugosa, artemesia stelleriana, and beach pea (lathyrus japonica?) growing right in the sand. There was also a small yellow daisy-like flower I couldn't get close enough to to identify.

Thanks for the responses! The Farm I'm talking about is the same one you are I think sooey (near Snows, the back of it can be seen from Rte 6)

I'm definitley wanting to plant natives (thanks for giving me some names drippy) Ginny, could you reccommend some specific books about planting on the Cape? I am hesitant to buy a book without knowing if it's really good....

I find Sooey's observations really interesting... that the soil goes away anyway.... just shows you can't fool with mother nature! :)

I have a feeling that Drippy's plants were those that grow in sand, not necessarily natives. I know that Rosa rugosa isn't native and I suspect that the artemesia and lathyrus aren't native either. They are just escapees that have been long established in beach areas and so are often assumed to be natives.

Cape Cod resident C.L. Fornari has written "A Garden Lover's Cape Cod," which has many how-tos and helpful hints, not to mention beautiful photos. I believe her new book on gardening on Martha's Vineyard may be completed (not sure of name or publication date).

C.L. also hosts a weekly gardening program on WXTK Radio (Saturday mornings). Maybe you could give her a call for her suggestions?

Her Web site is: www.gardenlady.com

(Full disclosure: C.L. is a dear friend)

Good luck! ~ Hilda

As a former pro in your area here are two thoughts which are not in the books for your consideration. Although the natural 'scrub' of the Cape is attractive it is also nice to have a spot or two devoted to the many perennials which can be grown there.

1. The very best method is to dig and remove the sand down two feet, line the bed with weed barrier cloth and replace with a combination of sand, compost, top soil, manure, etc. A lot of work! Worth it. The weed barrier cloth prevents the good soil from disappearing to China.

2. It is important to remember that sandy soils must be amended from the top and mulched every year. Tilling and digging in amendments is a waste of time. You say that your property has pitch pine. If you will rake up the pine needles each fall and spread them on your garden as a mulch you will find that they are slow to compost and will hold any amendments that you put over them on the surface for a long time allowing nutrients to trickle down into the soil. White pine needles are also excellent for this purpose. This is a method which is generally not used in the north. It should be. Suggest stirring in light doses of lime every third year to raise soil pH a bit if not growing natives.

From central ma. Just bought a home in the Bourne area. I am planning a garden..... Some say raised beds with plastic 12 inches down. I just want to plant in the earth so was going to dig down 12 inches then add t soil/ mixed wth good ole cow manure.... What is best?

Seems like a lot of work to dig out the sand down to two feet and then buy garden soil and replace it etc. What about using xeric plants that can survive in dry soil and sunny conditions? They may not be native, but would be one option. Sedums, sempervivums, cacti, yuccas etc. all come to mind and even lavender, euphorbia (so many kinds) and coreopsis, to name a few. They definitely fit your requirement for easy care. Just a thought.

hmaggirmay55 Are you planning a vegetable garden or an ornamental garden? Your mention of raised beds makes me think you may want vegetables, which often require more stringent conditions than you need for flowers, etc.

What's the native soil like and what's growing there now? This thread originally talked about very sandy soil on the outer/lower cape, but Bourne is on the upper cape and you may have more "normal" soil conditions, i.e., there may be reasonable amounts of organic material in the soil, or even clay.

Bill has good suggestions if you're looking for something xeric for dry soil and sunny conditions, but you may not have that.

Claire

Claire, the OP said the soil is sandy, full sun all day and wants little or no care plants, so maybe my idea may help. BTW, my "vegetable garden" is ONE tomato plant, but I have a lot of hope! It's good that we are finally getting some decent weather. I've been doing a little each day to catch up.

Bill, the original post in 2007 was about the sandy soil on the outer Cape.

The current post, in 2016, is about the soil on the upper Cape and doesn't say anything about type of soil, sun/shade and type of plants. I would strongly suggest that the current poster obtain a soil test before making replacements and amendments. UMass has an excellent soil testing lab, see UMass Soil Test, my point being that the Bourne soil may be adequate for planting as is, or may require specific additions rather than just cow manure.

Your suggestion is excellent for the OP, but may not apply to the tag-on post.

Claire

hmaggirmay55 was really asking whether it's better to plant in the ground or in raised beds, but, like everything else in gardening, it depends.

We need to know more about the conditions and what the poster wants to plant and accomplish before we can make specific suggestions. That's the hazard of posting on this forum - people really want to help but need to have questions answered first.

Claire

Thanks for pointing that out Claire!