Desert Sand?

Question

We just built our house in the middle of a desert, now I want to plant a flower & veggie garden & grass, what do I need to do to the sand drifts to make them plant friendly?

The majority of the yard will be xero-scaped, this is for the areas we chose to have plants :)

OMG We did not choose to move to live in a desert!!!
That is just the situation out here. I still want my garden and if you can help I'd greatly appreciate it.

Answer 1

You'll need a lot of compost, and bags and bags of garden soil. You may be better served to forget about amending your soil, and grow your veggies in the imported soil. You may choose to add a bit of your desert sand to it if you feel the soil isn't loose enough. The problem with sand is that it holds very little moisture, it's easy to mix too much sand in. Perhaps dig your garden areas and just dump your new dirt into it, along with a healthy dose of compost. Happy gardening!

Oh, I forgot to mention that you could choose to only plant the types of flowers that naturally grow in the desert. That way you're not spending loads of time watering the flowers and amending their soil. Whereas, it's going to be unavoidable with the veggies...they require moist soil.

Answer 2

You moved to the "wrong" place for a veggie garden. You would need and enormous amount of good top soil to make a garden. Even then, the sun would burn up anything you planted. You could try a small green house. You could make "raised beds" filled with Miracle Grow Garden soil . That would work.

Answer 3

I'd sugguest digging down about six inches in a blocked off space. Maybe just use string and steaks but block off a section large enough. Remove the top layer of sand, about 6 inches deep, and fill in with soil. Add a think layer of mulch on top, then plan your flowers or veggies or whatever, use fertilizer that is approriate.

Answer 4

WHY WHY WHY do you move to a desert and want a garden. It is sort of like swimming in the ocean and wishing the water wasn't so wet. Plant rocks and old car parts and say hello to Clint Eastwood for us. WA WA WA.

Answer 5

i think of sand is sand, besides the undeniable fact that the make up relies upon on the form of rock in contact. various dessert is sturdy by the sea coast. desert sand would be dryer than sea coast sand, and probable the organic and organic stuff, (plant and fish bits) would have have rotten away.

Answer 6

build a rockery, the stones will retain moisture under them, and cast a little shade, for small alpine style plants.

Answer 7

A truck load of real mud...
A greenhouse...
Some sacks for shade on top of the greenhouse...
Unlimited watering abilities...
A green thumb...
...and lots of luck...

Answer 8

try to make a Japanese garden. Use the sand ........