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Establishment of native vegetation is one method of stabilizing shifting soil and minimizing fine particulate dust air pollution from barren, dry lakebeds worldwide. Successful colonization, however, hinges on native seedlings’ ability to survive and grow in these stressful environments. We studied the effects of soil amendment on two halophytic shrub species (Atriplex parryi and Sarcobatus vermiculatus) native to Owens Lake, California, to determine effects of locally available soil amendments (fertilizer, clay, and Distichlis spicata leaf litter) on plant growth and survival. We used changes in leaf nutrient concentrations, shoot growth, and root allocation as indicators of plant nutrient uptake and of limitations in unamended native soils. We report results from both a partial factorial greenhouse study and summary data from a similar field study. Amendment additions of clay or organic matter did not increase biomass of seedlings significantly, while additions of fertilizer more than doubled growth compared to controls (P <= 0.004). For S. vermiculatus, neither clay nor organic matter in combination with fertilizer increased biomass significantly over that of fertilizer alone. Atriplex parryi biomass increased twofold with clay and fertilizer together over that of fertilizer alone. Soil NO3-, B, and Na were highest in clay plus fertilizer treatments and the salt tolerant A. parryi was able to use the additional NO3- under these conditions. These results suggest how nutrient limitations affect seedling establishment and will aid managers in determining the best approach to increase seedling growth and survival of shrubs at the saline, sandy Owens Lake playa.