Hi Julie, Yes, sharp sand is fine (like horticultural grit, it is made from crushed rocks, hence the 'sharp' bit in the name.) It can be a bit variable in grain size so I grade mine using a sieve with holes about 5mm - the stuff that doesn't fall through goes into my grit bucket, the rest mixed with compost for general use. As you say, it's much cheaper as you can get it from a builders merchant.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
Horticultural grit is usually crushed pink granite (about 5mm square ) .Usually sold in small bags (about 99p or large bag for about £5) here in Suffolk at reputable garden centres.
..not that easy to get hold of where I am....if I see any I snap it up... it's so good... although there appear to be two types masquerading as this, I prefer the very fine one that looks white/grey/with pinkish bits in the bag...lime free...
I live partly in the UK and partly in Italy. There is also no Italian equivalent for horticultural grit, but river sand is used instead. It has to be river sand because it us regarded as clean and unsalted. I use it regularly for planting seeds, cuttings and aromatic herbs and works just as well as horticultural grit. Best of all it's FREE.
Horticultural grit is what you need when everything you've planted dies and you have to start again. Horticultural grot, whch is what I typed first is something else entirely, and ranges from overgrown cypress hedges through garden gnomes to what slugs and caterpillars leave behind.
This could be tricky. "Grit" is a word something on the lines of the Inuit having 50 words for 'snow'. Roughly the same looking stuff but in reality it has to be produced for very different uses.
Are you putting it on top of Alpine beds? or putting it in your compost to improve drainage, or for a path. Good luck with getting that.
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Hi Julie, Yes, sharp sand is fine (like horticultural grit, it is made from crushed rocks, hence the 'sharp' bit in the name.) It can be a bit variable in grain size so I grade mine using a sieve with holes about 5mm - the stuff that doesn't fall through goes into my grit bucket, the rest mixed with compost for general use. As you say, it's much cheaper as you can get it from a builders merchant.
I just found a new builder's merchant with a great selection and good prices, so I will run along there and collect some!
Horticultural grit is usually crushed pink granite (about 5mm square ) .Usually sold in small bags (about 99p or large bag for about £5) here in Suffolk at reputable garden centres.
..not that easy to get hold of where I am....if I see any I snap it up... it's so good... although there appear to be two types masquerading as this, I prefer the very fine one that looks white/grey/with pinkish bits in the bag...lime free...
Think the OP might have got their grit by now - this is a very old thread...
I get grit at diy stores - it seems to do a good job.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I live partly in the UK and partly in Italy. There is also no Italian equivalent for horticultural grit, but river sand is used instead. It has to be river sand because it us regarded as clean and unsalted. I use it regularly for planting seeds, cuttings and aromatic herbs and works just as well as horticultural grit. Best of all it's FREE.
before or after True Grit?
Horticultural grit is what you need when everything you've planted dies and you have to start again. Horticultural grot, whch is what I typed first is something else entirely, and ranges from overgrown cypress hedges through garden gnomes to what slugs and caterpillars leave behind.
Hi Boltgirl
I live in Sweden too, I moved here from the UK. I've struggled to find builders merchants, would you mind sharing the information with me please?
Thanks in advance.
Drew
This could be tricky. "Grit" is a word something on the lines of the Inuit having 50 words for 'snow'. Roughly the same looking stuff but in reality it has to be produced for very different uses.
Are you putting it on top of Alpine beds? or putting it in your compost to improve drainage, or for a path. Good luck with getting that.
'You must have some bread with it me duck!'