Sand

[Magnolia]

I read on here that it's a good idea to mix compost with sand for good draining (for seedlings).  I went to Homebase tonight thinking a packet of sand suitable for this task would jump out at me - but there was nothing except play sand.  Would this be ok or would it be contaminated with nasties?

[Magnolia]

[Shirley]

If it is play sand then it should not be contaminated with anything.  I think this "play sand" is also called silver sand and can be very expensive.  Sharp sand is what I use.

[Magnolia]

Where do you buy it from Shirley as I cant find it on ebay or at Homebase?

[Shirley]

I think it was Homebase, but in the building section rather than the gardening.

[kt.]

Depending how much you use, or if you want to store some to use over a couple of years - it would be cheaper to buy sharp sand by the ton form a builders merchant who would deliver. It would cost about £25 where I live against £2-3 per small bag.

[laura G]

Hi, i am sure i heard once (not a clue where or when perhaps i dreamt it) that you shouldnt use builders sand as it contains something that kills plants, weedkiller or something. Like i say , dont know where i heard this but im sure someone on here would have heard of this if it was true ???? ???
Not a lot of help really am i  :-[
Laura

[Eristic]

Lets be careful here. Builders sand is the general name given to the sand a bricklayer uses for laying bricks. this is no good for the gardener as is is smooth and squidgy but will set into hard lumps.

What is required is usually called sharp or course sharp sand. This would feel very course and gritty when rubbed between the fingers. Best bet is to go to the builders merchant and ask for sand "to lay patio slabs on". Builders will understand patios, but not gardens.

[carolinej]

When I put in my raised beds in the garden 2 years ago, the soil was like potters clay :-X I added what compost I had, and also a load of builders sand that was left behind by the builders. I dont know how much good it did, but it certainly didnt harm the plants.

cj :)

[Trevor_D]

Yes, sharp sand is what you want. But Homebase is an expensive place to buy it. Have you got a Wickes near you? Just over £1 for a large bag. You want a builder's merchant.

[Palustris]

If you can make good sand castles with it then it is no good for drainage.
To add to soil for drainage in the garden sharp sand from a builders merchant is great.
To add to potting compost for drainage you really want silver sand which you can get in reasonable size bags from cheaper places than Homebase.
If you really want to go to town for your plants then Cornish sharp sand is best of all, but that IS expensive.
Personally at the moment I am using some stuff which is ground up crockery. Dig yer fingers in that and you get scratched. It is SHARP. Wish I could find a garden centre which supplies it though.

[Tee Gee]

I use kiln dried sand from B&Q

Its in the builders section, the equivalent in the gardening section costs about 10 times more.

Which reminds me I need another bag.

Its about three or four years since I bought one.