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Landscape Design Soil, Compost & Mulch Garden

Montmorillonite / Betonite clay for sandy soil amendment - NC, zone 8

Janelle Hoskins

4 years ago

Hi,

Has anyone used Calcium Montmorillonite / Betonite clay to amend sandy soil? I am thinking of trying it and would like to hear the experiences of others. What ratio did you use? What was your source of clay? What other amendments did you use with it? How frequently do you amend the sandy soil with the clay?

I look forward to hearing your experiences.

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Comments (5)

User
4 years ago
Be very careful: clay + sand = brick. What is almost always a safe amendment is organic material, it can improve sand and can improve clay.

Can you be more specific about how sandy your soil is?
Janelle Hoskins
Original Author
4 years ago
The property is across the road from a NC beach (zone 8) so the soil is pure sand; like you'd find on the beach. i am noticing a lot of online talk, specifically from Western Australia, about ammending sandy soils with the micro clay product + compost. Just curious to know if anyone has had success with it.
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Janelle Hoskins
Original Author
4 years ago
Here are two videos that recommend this method for preparing sandy for planting. Both from Australia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1KRGeigvyQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o03ZOGchrGM
ShadyWillowFarm
4 years ago
What are you trying to grow? Landscape plants and shrubs, a vegetable garden, a flowerbed?
Janelle Hoskins
Original Author
4 years ago
I am planting two beds. Both with perennials; one in full sun and the other in dappled shade, with maybe an hour or two of direct sun. No vegetables.

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