One thing that might help, if indeed there is a problem, would be to apply some wetting agent to the entire rooting area of whatever planting is in question. Now some horticultural wetting agents are very pricey, but reasonable alternatives exist. Wish I could remember with certainty the brand my ornamental crew is using. Pretty sure it's a Lesco product called Wet Plus, and a 2.5 gal. jug was right around $100. We're using it for a different reason but what makes me think it could help in that sandy substrate is the fact that it aids in lateral movement of water in the soil. Might be a bit far-fetched to think that homeowners would resort to such heavy artillery, but it just might help.

Wetting agents are detergent-like compounds. So why not just use Dawn For Dishes? Proctor and Gamble, or whoever makes the dish detergent in your kitchen, will select and re-select ingredients based on price, so even if this cheapo method works well one time, it might have unforeseen results the next. Further, there's more to it than just detergent, the proprietary horticultural mixes being tailored specifically to not have unwanted effects on plant growth. In our case, it's a crusty mulch layer that forms by mid-summer, combined with ferocious competition from tree roots in one of our main planting areas that prompted me to seek something that would help water penetrate and spread out. I really like the results.

You can apply wetting agents as a "treatment", that is, a one-time relatively heavy application, or like we do, as tiny amounts added to each tank of water. For the homeowner app, it would probably make the most sense, since you're not using pumps and heavy equipment to do your watering, to mix up relatively strong concentrates just the one time and apply to troublesome areas.

+oM

Thanks for the information, Tom. I have seen wetting agents used in a few episodes of that Australian gardening show, but it tends to be mostly used in arid regions where they want the rain to penetrate the soil quickly instead of running off, so I hadn't looked much into them.

But as you mentioned at the beginning of your post, it really isn't a problem, not for me at least. During our wet summer months, I rarely have to water much of anything, even the bananas, so they are getting moisture. But the observation really does show just how unreasonable it is to try and grow lots of water loving plants in this state (turf grass, roses, hostas) unless you live in a naturally wet area. The key word being 'lots'. It is within reason to grow a few, knowing that you will have to give those few a little more attention, but growing an acre or two of roses would just lead to either failure or a massive waste of water.

I see that. One thing rarely mentioned about clay-based soils is that soil type's ability to move water laterally. Sand-no such ability whatsoever, the water moving directly downward in the profile. I only mention because I'm in a clay area and the curses hurled at this soil are legendary. I like to remind folks that there are these big land holdings all around us called "farms", lol! Soil couldn't be just too bad, I like to reason. In any case, interesting observation.

Much of the aprox. 1/2 of my job which deals with ornamental horticulture takes place on our city's main drag. Planting beds were established in "pits" with trees planted in the middle. We wanted concrete curbing so a whole winter's worth of deicing salt-laden water wouldn't constantly be running into those pits. What we got-engineer's error-were vaults with frost footings 4 ft. deep. Those poor trees' entire world is within that little concrete-bound area. As you can imagine, when we come along in spring with our little baby annuals and perennials, the competition from said trees' roots is fierce, and the trees don't lose! So we add lots of nice stuff-fertilizer, compost, the wetting agent-and the trees say "Thank you"! But I do believe the wetting agent does help in that scenario.

+oM

Tom, that is very interesting about wetting agents. All I find in a quick web search is Lesco's Wet Plus. Do you foresee something like this being marketed to home gardeners (smaller amounts, not as intimidating - e.g., need to wear goggles)?

Irma, check Amazon. I see a few wetting agent products. I can't vouch for them though.

The goggles thing is just because they can irritate the eyes, as can any detergent. But heck, my flower bed crew uses them daily-two college-age girls-with no incidents of any kind. That Lesco product is much less expensive than are some of the offerings out there, and for us, it works. We use a scientific method of mixing it into our big water tank-two glugs worth of product per tankful! That's for constant use. For a sprayed application, one would likely be going at a higher rate, but just the one time, as a sprayed solution over the problem area.

+oM

Michael, are you on sugar sand like most of us? There isn't much clay around here. It is mostly found in old mines. Many of them were phosphate mines. We don't need a lot of extra phosphates dumped on our soil.

When I lived in northern KY I probably directed many four-letter words to the clay soil on a regular basis. Boy was I wrong. What would I give now to have some of it to mix with the sand we call soil here.

I have found that though sugar sand drains very rapidly, the real problem is run off. When dry, sugar sand can become water repellant. What works best for me is leveling the planting areas, creating terraces on even slight hills, and anything else that will prevent water from "running away." Even when I do this, some spots will remain dry, but usually water will permeate the sand in a spot close enough for the roots to reach it, as with your bananas.

Bill

quoting bea...
"When I lived in northern KY I probably directed many four-letter words
to the clay soil on a regular basis. Boy was I wrong. What would I give
now to have some of it to mix with the sand we call soil here."

I felt the same way when I moved down from South Central Ohio. Wish I could have brought some of that poor hill soil... and some rocks. :-)

I am not on the sugar sand, myself. My sand has larger grains and I don't see much puddling or run-off. It can if it hasn't rained in two weeks or so, but it doesn't take long after rain starts to break the barrier. I live on a slope and watch as the water on the road will run like a gully while the soil of my yard just soaks it up like a sponge... or may a straw would be a better descriptor, because at least a sponge would hold it for longer than 18 hours.

You know, maybe an app. of a wetting agent would be ideal, reading more of these posts. That's one of the specific problems they help with-hydrophobic soils. I know that in our case, watching the water easily and quickly percolate down through an old, crusty mulch layer is really impressive. I downplayed the use and/or applicability of such products for home garden use but I may have sold them short. I suppose the real problem would be finding a vendor willing to sell retail. I do all my shopping at wholesale supply houses.

+om

I've read about (Lesco) having a "distinctive odor". Only when applied?

No, no such odor as far as I've noticed. Now here's one caveat: While I specify and purchase the stuff, I don't put it down myself. I can ask the crew members later but they usually complain all on their own if anything's the least bit funky, lol! Hadn't heard any complaints on that one. Then too, we're putting down a tiny dilution of said item, each time we water. Maybe the more concentrated app that you might put down via sprayer in your home garden, the smell might be more apparent. I don't know. I also don't know what is meant by distinctive. Any detergent I've ever used did indeed have its own odor, albeit that was most likely added afterward to make it smell good for the kitchen, not an intrinsic part of the active ingredient molecule.

+oM

Confirmed with "my girls"...actually, the two college kids that comprise my seasonal flower bed crew, that day after day of using Lesco Wet Plus, they've never noticed any smell.

+oM

Richard, I'm glad we left the rocks behind. When planting a tree or shrub, It's so wonderful to be able to dig a single hole to plant it. Not several because you keep hitting those darn rocks.

BTW where in Ohio. I lived in the Greater Cinti area which includes northern KY.

@Bea, Bainbridge area. Potts Hill, in Ross County but Pike County Line was just about in my back yard.