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Perlite for lawn drainage

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  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    @Papi Jo - I've never looked for sharp sand here but have found two possible translations - sable tranchant and sable liant.

    Sharp sand has been washed to remove clay and silt and other debris then dried.  The resulting grains are larger than ordinary builders' sand which is usually smaller, rounder grains and damp.   Sharp sand is great for improving drainage in soggy lawns and has special uses in concrete mixes for different purposes.
    • The individual grains are jagged (angular) which creates an interlock between the grains. The interlocking of grains provides ‘strength’ in applications such as when mixing concrete or when using as a base layer under paving.
    • The larger grain size of sharp sand reduces the amount of retained water, making it very free draining. Excellent drainage properties make sharp sand ideal for using as a foundation layer for paving and patios or in landscaping.
    • Sharp sand has a low silt and clay content, which also makes it a freely draining material. Being free from silt is desirable for paving, as silt and salt erode paving slabs. Being silt and salt free also makes sharp sand suitable for mixing concrete.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254
    Thanks for the detailed explanation, @Obelixx but "sable tranchant" and "sable liant" are technical terms, which I've never seen used in shops!
    Do UK garden centres actually sell "horticultural grit" and under what name/brand would this go (if any) in French GCs?

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Yes they do and no idea.  Homebase, a DIY/brico chain, has these - https://www.homebase.co.uk/our-range/garden-and-outdoor/fencing-decking-and-landscaping/decorative-stone-gravel-and-chippings/horticultural-grit 

    B&Q, another chain, has brands called Tarmac and Verve.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato

  • Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Sam76Sam76 Posts: 151
    Thanks all
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