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Clay soil ... Builder's sand

hiacedrifterhiacedrifter Posts: 119
in Wildlife gardening
I've got a load of builder's sand left from a job, and my garden is heavy clay soil. Can I use the sand in a productive way to help soil... Grow particular plants... Help wildlife? Or shall I get rid?
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  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Adding sand to clay soil is really a bad idea. I'll just set like concrete. 
    Add bulky , organic matter like well rotted garden compost, manure, bark etc to break it apart.
    Devon.
  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    Builder's sand is not much use for anything other than building work.

  • CloggieCloggie Posts: 1,457
    I thought the same @hiacedrifter makes sense doesn't it?  However, when I'm digging, I still find seams of it.  It just doesn't mix with the soil, it sits inertly and ineffectively doing nothing.  I threw some on a patch I wanted to bulk up and I wanted rid of the leftover sand but as hosta says, it was the later addition of home made compost and leaf mould that really made a difference.
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    No don’t put it on the garden 
  • hiacedrifterhiacedrifter Posts: 119
    Bloody stuff ... can't even give it away on freecycle! I might have to do a Great Escape style disposal each time I walk to tesco 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    My best idea so far ... Save it for when the front path is icy ... you can sprinkle sand on it and it won't harm the plants like salt would.  

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





  • hiacedrifterhiacedrifter Posts: 119
    I've got 100kg to get rid of... Fingers crossed for a VERY cold winter  :D
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    There was a builder in the next village who used to sell sand 'by the shovelful' ... but you had to use his shovel ... which he'd had for years and was worn down to not much more than a tablespoon 🤣

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





  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    Do you need any paths or patio slabs laid? That's what we've used sand for - as a nice firm level bed for hard landscaping
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • hiacedrifterhiacedrifter Posts: 119
    Good thinking . I've got a new patio being laid soon!
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