Light sandy soils drain quickly after rain or watering, and are easy to cultivate and work. They warm up more quickly in spring than clay soils. On the downside, they dry out quickly and are low in plant nutrients, which are quickly washed out by rain. Sandy soils are often very acidic before organic matter is added, and become more alkaline after. Above all, they will have better moisture retention when you add organic materials.

To make the best of this soil type, follow the guidelines below:

Existing borders

• Mulch borders annually with a 5cm (2in) layer of organic matter to improve the moisture-retaining ability of the soil. Worms will draw down the organic matter and help create a 'crumb' structure
• Recycled green waste (such as from the council) applied year after year can make the soil very alkaline, so try to alternate with farmyard manures or composted bark for example

• Plan borders carefully, choosing drought-resistant plants which, once established, should need watering infrequently
• Prepare planting sites thoroughly, incorporating good quantities (1-2 buckets per square metre) of moisture-retentive, well-rotted organic matter, such as farm manure, garden compost, leafmould or composted tree bark as the first year or two of establishment are critical to long term survival
• Use a rotavator or spade to dig in the organic matter to a depth of 30cm (12in)
• When planting in spring, incorporate a slow-release fertilizer such as ‘Vitax Q4' or a controlled release material such as‘Osmocote’
• Follow with a 5-8cm (2-3ins) deep mulch of bark or similar material to help reduce water loss. Apply a surface dressing of fertiliser in spring around autumn-planted plants before mulching
• Water thoroughly and regularly during dry periods throughout the first growing season. With autumn planted evergreens and conifers, irrigation may be needed on occasion even during the winter months

The following trees, conifers, shrubs, climbers, herbaceous perennials and ground covering plants offer some reliable, proven suggestions for sandy soils.

Where a genus is listed without mention of a particular species or cultivar, all species will be suitable. Cultivars of the species and hybrids listed below are similarly suitable and some of particular merit are included in the lists below.

Trees

Deciduous
Acer campestre AGM – Native to GB, A. negundo, A. platanoides AGM, A. saccharinum AGM, A. tataricum
Albizia julibrissin f. rosea AGM
Alnus cordata AGM
Betula, including Betula pendula – Native to GB and Ireland
Castanea sativa AGM – Native to GB – Archaeophyte
Catalpa
Celtis occidentalis
Cercidiphyllum japonicum AGM
Cercis siliquastrum AGM
Crataegus, including Crataegus laevigata – Native to GB
Crataegus monogyna – Native to GB and Ireland 
Fraxinus ornus AGM
Ginkgo
Gleditsia triacanthos
Koelreuteria paniculata AGM
+ Laburnocytisus 'Adamii'
Laburnum anagyroides, L. × watereri ‘Vossii’ AGM
Liquidambar
Populus alba – Native to GB and Ireland, P. tremula AGM
Prunus, including Prunus spinosa – Native to GB and Ireland
Robinia
Sorbus, including Sorbus aria 'Lutescens' AGM and Sorbus aucuparia ‘Sheerwater Seedling’ AGM – Both cultivars of native to GB and Ireland 
Tilia tomentosa

Evergreen
Arbutus unedo – Native to Ireland
Eucalyptus
Ilex, including Ilex aquifolium AGM – Native to GB and Ireland
Quercus ilex AGM

Conifers

Araucaria araucana
Cedrus deodara AGM
Chamaecyparis
× Cupressocyparis leylandii
Cupressus arizonica, C. macrocarpa (young plants tender in cold areas)
Juniperus, including Juniperus communis – native to GB and Ireland and Juniperus communis 'Green Carpet' – Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland
Pinus
Taxus baccata AGM – Native to GB and Ireland
T. × media ‘Hicksii’ AGM

Shrubs

Deciduous
Abutilon
Amelanchier lamarckii AGM
Artemisia, including Artemisia maritima 'Cocoa Cola' – Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland
Atriplex halimus
Berberis
Buddleja alternifolia AGM, B. davidii
Caragana arborescens
Caryopteris × clandonensis
Ceratostigma willmottianum AGM
Chaenomeles
Citrus trifoliata
Colutea arborescens
Corethrodendron multijugum
Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire' – Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland
Cornus sanguinea  – Native to GB and Ireland
Cotinus coggygria AGM
Cotoneaster
Cytisus, including Cytisus scoparius – Native to GB and Ireland
Euonymus europaeus 'Red Cascade' – Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland
Forsythia
Frangula alnus – Native to GB and Ireland
Fuchsia (hardy kinds)
Gaultheria mucronata,
Genista, including Genista tinctoria – Native to GB
Helianthemum including Helianthemum nummularium – Native to GB and Ireland  
Hibiscus syriacus
Hippophae rhamnoides AGM – Native to GB
Hypericum
Ilex aquifolium 'J.C. van Tol' AGM – Cultivar of Native to GB and Ireland 
Indigofera
Kerria japonica
Lavatera
Lespedeza
Lonicera
Ononis
Philadelphus
Phlomis fruticosa AGM
Physocarpus opulifolius
Potentilla, including Potentilla fruticosa 'Pink Beauty'  AGM and P. 'Primrose Beauty' AGM – Cultivars of native to GB and Ireland
Pseudodictamnus mediterraneus AGM 
Punica granatum
Ribes
Rosa spinosissima and Rosa canina – Natives to GB and Ireland
R. rugosa
Salix caprea – Native to GB and Ireland
Salvia 'Blue Spire' AGM
Sambucus, including Sambucus nigra – Native to GB and Ireland
Spartium junceum AGM
Spiraea
Stephanandra incisa
Symphoricarpos
Tamarix
Ulex europaeus – Native to GB and Ireland – Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland
Viburnum, including V. opulus 'Roseum' AGM 
 
Evergreen
Abelia
Arbutus unedo AGM
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi – Native to GB and Ireland
Berberis
Brachyglottis (Dunedin Group) ‘Sunshine’ AGM, B. monroi AGM
Calluna vulgaris – Native to GB and Ireland (lime-hating)
Chamaerops humilis AGM (tender)
Choisya ternata AGM
Cistus
Cistus × sahuchii AGM
Convolvulus cneorum AGM
Cordyline
Cotoneaster (low growing species)
Elaeagnus
Erica including Erica cinerea – Native to GB and Ireland (lime-hating)
Escallonia
Euonymus
Fargesia nitida AGM
Griselinia littoralis AGM (tender)
 × H. wintonensis AGM
Halimium lasianthum AGM, H. ocymoides AGM
Hebe
Helianthemum including Helianthemum nummularium – Native to GB and Ireland  
Ilex
Lavandula
Mahonia
Olearia
Osmanthus × burkwoodii AGM
Ozothamnus
Phlomis fruticosa AGM
Photinia
Pittosporum
Rhamnus alaternus
Rosmarinus
Ruta graveolens
Salvia officinalis
Sarcococca
Santolina
Skimmia
Thymus pulegioides 'Aureus' AGM – Cultivar of Native to GB and Ireland
Thymus serpyllum 'Pink Chintz' AGM – Cultivar of Native to GB
Viburnum
Vinca Including Vinca minor 'Bowles's Variety' AGM – Cultivar of Native to GB and Ireland - Archaeophyte  
Yucca

Climbers, and shrubs suitable for wall side situations

Evergreen
Acacia dealbata AGM 
Callistemon
Ceanothus
Cotoneaster lacteus AGM
Dendromecon rigida (lime-hating)
Eriobotrya japonica AGM (lime-hating)
Euonymus fortunei ‘Coloratus’, E. fortunei ‘Silver Queen’ AGM, E. fortunei ‘Variegatus’
Fremontodendron (lime-hating)
Garrya elliptica
Hedera colchica AGM
H. helix and H. hibernica AGM – Natives to GB and Ireland
Hedera helix 'Glacier' (v) AGM – Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland
Hedera helix 'Goldchild' (v) AGM – Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland
Lonicera japonica
Lonicera periclymenum – Native to GB and Ireland 
Lonicera periclymenum 'Graham Thomas' AGM – Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland
Lonicera periclymenum 'Serotina' AGM – Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland
Phlomis fruticosa
Pyracantha
Trachelospermum

Deciduous
Argyrocytisus battandieri
Caragana arborescens
Chaenomeles speciosa , C. × superba
Cotoneaster horizontalis 
Eccremocarpus scaber (lime-hating)
Jasminum nudiflorum AGM, J. officinale AGM, J. × stephanense
Lagerstroemia indica  AGM
Lonicera periclymenum
Lycium barbarum , L. chinense
Passiflora caerulea AGM
Robinia hispida AGM
Romneya coulteri AGM
Wisteria

Herbaceous perennials

Acanthus
Achillea, Including: Achillea millefolium 'Red Velvet' AGM – Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland and
Achillea ptarmica (The Pearl Group) 'The Pearl' – Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland 
Agapanthus
Agastache
Alcea
Alstroemeria
Althaea officinalis – Native to GB
Amaryllis belladonna AGM
Anemanthele
Anaphalis
Anchusa
Anemone japonica
Anthemis
Armeria, including Armeria maritima – Native to GB and Ireland
Aurinia saxatilis AGM
Baptisia australis AGM
Betonica officinalis – Native to GB and Ireland 
Briza media – Native to GB and Ireland 
Borago
Campanula carpatica AGM, C. garganica AGM, C. portenschlagiana AGM, C. poscharskyana
Campanula rotundifolia – Native to GB and Ireland
Catananche caerulea
Centaurea including Centaurea scabiosa – Native to GB and Ireland 
Centranthus
Coreopsis
Cortaderia
Crambe maritima – Native to GB and Ireland
Crocosmia
Dianthus including Dianthus deltoides AGM and Dianthus gratianopolitanus  AGM – Natives to GB and Ireland
Echinops
Erigeron
Eryngium, including Eryngium maritimum – Native to GB and Ireland
Euphorbia, including Euphorbia amygdaloides 'Purpurea' – Cultivar of native to GB  
Gaillardia
Gaura
Geranium, including Geranium pratense 'Mrs Kendall Clark' AGM – Cultivar of native to GB and
Geranium sanguineum var. striatum – Variety of native to GB and Ireland  
Glaucium, including Glaucium flavum – Native to GB and Ireland 
Gypsophila paniculata
Heliopsis
Hemerocallis
Heuchera
Hieracium
Hylotelephium telephium (Atropurpureum Group) 'Purple Emperor' AGM – Cultivar of Native to GB
Hyssopus officinalis
Iberis
Iris (bearded group), Iris foetidissima AGM – Native to GB 
Inula helenium – Native to GB and Ireland – Archaeophyte
Kniphofia
Lathyrus latifolius AGM
Liatris spicata
Limonium including Limonium vulgare – Native to GB 
Linum
Liriope muscari AGM
Lupinus
Malva, e.g. Malva alcea
Marrubium vulgare – Native to GB
Miscanthus sinensis AGM
Nepeta including Nepeta cataria – Native to GB and Ireland - Archaeophyte
Oenothera
Onopordum acanthium – Native to GB and Ireland - Archaeophyte
Origanum vulgare – Native to GB and Ireland 
Papaver including Papaver rhoeas – Native to GB and Ireland - Archaeophyte and Papaver cambricum – Native to GB and Ireland 
Phormium
Pulsatilla vulgaris AGM – Native to GB  
Saponaria
Scabiosa columbaria – Native to GB
Sedum
Solidago
Stachys
Symphytum
Tanacetum parthenium – Native to GB and Ireland - Archaeophyte  T. vulgare – Native to GB 
Thymus
Verbascum
Verbena officinalis ‘Bampton’ – Cultivar of Native to GB and Ireland - Archaeophyte
Veronica spicata ‘Glory’ - Cultivar of Native to GB and Ireland
Veronica prostrata AGM
Zauschneria