Return to the Northeast Coastal Gardening Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
Cape Cod question
| | |
Posted by mrs_reit z5 MA (My Page) on Tue, Aug 14, 07 at 7:40
| Hi all,
I have some questions specific to coastal gardening in the Cape Cod region. We have a house in Eastham with very sandy soil (I hesitate to even use the word soil! ha ha!) The current landscape is just natural - scrub oaks and pitch pine. I see a lot of scotch broom growing well in the neighborhood and of course there are hydrangeas around this being the cape....
My question has to do with starting to plant things. I don't want to "landscape" as such. I love the natural look of our yard - it's why we bought the house - but I would like to create a couple of beds in front of the house. When it comes to planting in sand, how do you go about it? I'm guessing that I'll have to dig down and put soil in first... how much? Is it possible to put some of the sandy soil back on top after planting (once again going for the "natural look" I don't really want to use the typical mulch) any favorite grasses and native species that people would reccomend? I'm looking for the least fussy, easy or no care things you can think of, the area is full sun all day.
Thanks in advance!! oh and I know about The Farm in Orleans. I'm planning on heading over there to get my plants and I'll ask them the same questions... I just thought I'd ask you all first!
|
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Cape Cod question
| | |
| Good morning: Good questions... I have been gardening "down the Cape" for many years and have found the more fussy I get... the more plants I've lost.. hence... I have planted: Grasses (for the appropriate zone) and I have multiple Lavender plants that are thriving in the sand-like conditions. I have not added any "soil" per se before planting these... Good luck! Luvherbz |
RE: Cape Cod question
| | |
| We are also in Eastham..the Farm people are quite helpful, and yes, there are a number of plants that do well here..as you mentioned, scotch broom, hydrangeas, and of course, rhodies thrive in the acid soil. The shrub roses and rosa ragusa also do well w/ little attention! I have had success with daylilies, peonies, and a number of herbs..thyme, chives, basil, oregano and so on. Good luck..much is a "hit and miss" process, but fun! The Cape Cod Garden by C L Fornari is an excellent book to own. She covers everything and it is specific to the Cape as the title suggests. She also has a website and will answer your e-mails! |
RE: Cape Cod question
| | |
| C.L.is also on FM radio on SAturday mornings 8-10 a.m.... I think it's 95.1 on your radio dial... She's very informative and lots of fun too! Luvherbz |
RE: Cape Cod question
| | |
| My whole yard is sand since we just built a year ago. I use lasagna gardening, building soil on top of the sand. It seems to work great so far and you avoid the sand issues and acidic soil at the same time. Check out Hawk's Wing Farm in Yarmouthport: http://www.hawkswingfarm.com/ He got compost from the town and mixed it in with his sand for his farm with some good luck. |
RE: Cape Cod question
| | |
| It took me a number of years to really get my soil going but just add organic matter and it will take off. Like what was mentioned the dump often has free compose - add that and some manure, seaweed and some alfafa meal. Keep adding or just have a pile to work from in your yard. The lasagna method does well especially if started in the fall makes beds easier to work with come spring. Still after all these years I still have to keep adding. Also I like Cockle Doodle Doo and the Espoma products to help fertilze. Good Luck! |
RE: Cape Cod question
| | |
- Posted by pabrocb 9b Sarasota/7 Cape C (My Page) on
Tue, Jul 20, 10 at 12:22
| I also have a rustic woodsy yard in Wellfleet. We are on top of a hill so only scrub oaks, pines, some native shrubs, and grasses tend to grow here. I have observed that as we go down the hill, more organic matter means more plants and trees. I have chosen to add gardens near the house, these were dug down a couple of feet and top soil was added. I'm packing them with a variety of hydrangeas so that they are pretty effortless. The vegetable gardens are lasagna gardens. I'm working on a new one now, weather permitting. It's been too hot to work much outside except to keep everything alive with watering. I've also put in some boxed gardens. I use a lot of mulch from cut down pine trees, and do not not have any grass inside the fenced in area. I have dogs, and a family, and do not want a lot of ticks. I add a lot of color in the planter boxes, or strawberries and blueberries. I've planted in the ground too, hollies, evergreens, lilacs, roses, daylillies, etc. They all get tons of compost when planted and extra hits now and then. I like the impact of bright color against the Cape natural landscape. |
RE: Cape Cod question
| | |
Hello,
I am in NE CT but grew up on the Cape. When we installed our pool, they had to blast the hole in our rock ledge.
They filled in the cracks with sand and also the base area
of the pool before the liner went in. Consequently, I have an abundance of sand around our pool area. The plant that has done the best in the sand is blue fescue. I bought a couple plants years ago and they self seeded everywhere in the sand. They are so pretty, growing about a foot high in a big full blue-gray puff ball. They have plumes that shoot up above like grasses do in the fall. They take care of themselves - no help from me at all.
I highly recommend this plant to you. I also have
several tall grasses and add in elephant ear bulbs, the bigger the better, for a very nice tropical feel around the pool area (I add soil to the elephant ear plantings but they seem pretty happy with the sand).
Regards,
Susan |
|
|
|
|
