Sand

I've got a big bag of sand which I used to put between the patio paving but now I don't need it

What can I do with builder's sand

Can I mix it in soil

Will it improve or harm the soil ?

 

Rough sand is great for mixing with heavy clay soils as it helps break up the sods and ease drainage.
If you already have free-draining soil, you could add it to a planter and grow succulents or auricula etc.
It may also help repel slugs form favorite plants if spread generously around the foliage.
Would the shop take it back (if it's unopened?)
You could offer it on freecycle.

 

Is it soft sand, Orange on colour and not really gritty, or sharp sand, a bit yellowish with grit and sometimes bits of shell.

Sharp sand is OK to add to the soil but soft sand is not very good.

 

I always though building sand contained too much salt to be used around the garden???

edit: just googled a bit and some people are saying too much lime?? I'm confused.:confused:. Can't you just make a giant sand castle out of it instead???:thumb:

 

Glen, this is only my thinking, but if you buy a bag of sharp sand at the builders merchant it will probably cost you about a pound or so.
Buy one at the garden centre and its called hoticultural sand, and about £3.50 a bag.

I've used loads of builers SHARP sand in potting compost without trouble.

There was the chance that it may have been sprayed with weed killer, but I've not noticed it.

 

i'll go with you pete, its not something i've ever really needed so have no experience. Experience is always better than hearsay and rumour I think!!!

 

I would agree with you Pete. I use quite a lot of sharp sand. I have dug several tons into my clay border, and I mix it with compost for seeds and potting. I have bought it from a lot of different places, but have never had any trouble. Actually its more like £2 a bag in local builders merchants round here - but Focus is cheapest at the moment.

The soft yellow stuff is called builders sand, and that's no use. Its also called sea sand, as the action of the sea tends to make sand round and soft - so it might contain some salt. But sharp sand is also called river sand, and its the lack of sea action that leaves it sharp. So I doubt whether sharp sand will have ever had any salt in it.

 

I've used sharp sand from builders merchants and it seems OK. I think it probably has a bit more fine sand in it than the sand from garden suppliers. I put it on the lawn sometimes and there has never been a problem. Some sources might have salt in. If you let some dry out, and see a white deposit on the surface it is probably salty

 

If you want to improve your soil don`t use sand at all. Use plenty of humus, peat, garden compost, well rotted manure or spent hops are the best things to use.

 

I agree Dai, sand doesn't really help with clay soil it just gets lost in all the fine particles of clay. I have about a dozen Cypress Trees in my garden and I take the branches off up to about eight feet, these are then shredded and composted with lawn mowings, then added to the clay soil. As we have 23 trees in all, there are often trimmings to be shredded, along with cuttings from a Lonicera hedge. We have plenty of leaves as well in the Autumn.

 

I used sand to correct my very claggy clay soil and all it did was sweet eff ay! Dais right, don`t use it for soil improvemnt.

 

I agree that sand won't improve your soil much, but a sprinkling of sharp sand on the surface around soft plants will help deter slugs.