Anyone have a decent idea on soil type in/around Andrews? Wondering if I can get a decent idea for fertilizers/soil amendment.

Lousy soil. That's why the nuclear waste is dumped there.

Thats a given...but any idea how much lime, etc? Its really not so much soil as devildust, but things seem to grow, just want to help them along and Im guessing regular Scotts isnt the right mixture for out here. Anyone have experience while I search out a local landscaper?

Google "USGS Soil Survey Maps".


Use the GIS tools to find information about that exact area.


You can pull up the soil survey for in and around andrews to see generally what kind of soils are around.

or give me an email and I'll send you the report I just generated.

Sand.

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but any idea how much lime, etc?

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Easy answer: Zero.

West Texas soils are pretty much going to be highly calcareous. Lime is for acidic soil developed under pine forests, so forget the lime unless you're burying a body.

Also, even without looking at a soil map, it really is going to be mostly sand. If you're planning a garden or a landscape, go for xeriscaping. It's too hot and dry for grass yards.

If you want a garden, consider raised beds, and add a lot of organic matter like peat moss.

Canyon-

Thanks for the info. I come from the Piney Woods in East TX, so my knowledge of sandy soils, doesn't really apply out here :/

I used some of the soil survey information that was suggested by other posters, and have pretty much developed a pretty good understanding of what the soil is like. I had previously purchased a book on xeriscapes, so I will pull it out and start reading. I had come to the conclusion that I would have to consistently alter the soil with peat moss, and had already determined that a raised bed would be required. That said, the previous owner had a bermuda lawn (it is in terrible shape, but I'm trying to fix that). It looks like the drainage of the soil is very slow, and the damage from wind erosion is quite severe, which will be the main factors on the way the landscape takes shape, I reckon.

Anyway, I really appreciate the help. I have settled on mexican redbud and escarpment live oak to supplement the yard with some foliage. the South side of my front yard is bordered with some sprawling juniper. I have cut that back, but it provides some really good habitat and windbreak for the yard, so I do not want to remove it completely. I will be cutting out the existing hedges on the North side of the house and replanting some new ones, as I imagine that a really large flower garden is going to be terribly difficult to keep up.

Any other information on soil amendment that you have would be welcome.

By the way, does anyone on here actually live in Andrews?

I did about 5 years ago. lived on the NW side of town and workd at the hospital. Anything I could help with?

Not really. Just seein if there are any TexAgers around.

Yea numerous Ags in town but I never knew of any Texagers while I was there. sorry

Whatever soil is in Andrews will blow into Abilene by the end of May.

Derek, you've got several options, but always start with a basic soil test before adding any amendments. I just sent some samples from my hay field to the TAMU soil lab for analysis. It costs about $15 per sample (a residential yard should only need one), which is well worth it if it saves you from overapplying expensive fertilizer. Plus, its a responsible conservation practice. Turnaround time was about a week to 10 days, depending on how busy they are. The county ag agent should have the forms and sample bags at their office.
Check out websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov. You can define your specific area of interest and it will tell you the soil series name and info. More than likely you will be dealing with a fine sandy loam or loamy fine sand. As someone posted earlier, you probably won't need lime but you will more than likely need nitrogen and most definately WATER. Bermudagrass will do well but you have to water it. Buffalograss should also do well and can survive with less water. I personally like buffalograss & blue grama lawns (if the soil is adequate -i.e. not a deep sand) because they are low-maintenance and attractive, but they can take a while to establish. The sandy - sandy loam soils of Andrews County are actually home to some quite productive native rangeland.
There's an app for smartphones called "SoilWeb" that uses the phone's GPS to determine your location and then crossreferences NRCS soil maps (USGS produces topographic maps, not soil maps ; the NRCS maps soils) to give you the soil name and data for your exact location (or pretty darn close). It's a very handy app.
I think the soil survey is online, too so you might try to Google it. It should be on the soil data mart website.
Finally, if you need further assistance or want a hard copy of the Andrews County soil survey call or stop by the NRCS office in Andrews and ask for Clint. He should be able to help you out. Just tell him you talked to Preston. You can look up the number on the Texas NRCS website.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot...the wind and blowing sand is brutal in the spring and can easily cut off or "burn" seedling grass plants. I would recommend using sod - and don't forget to water!