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Sand
Guernsey Donkey2
Posts: 6,713
in Talkback
I am making a mix for use in my seed trays using a large percentage of peat, perlite, and sand - is it o.k. to use builders sand - it is much cheaper than the GC sand - does it do the same job?
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I use it, you want sharp sand rather than builders sand.
It's probably not as weed seed free as GC sand should be, (but often isn't)
In the sticks near Peterborough
It depends where it comes from - some builder's sand used to come from dredging the sea bed and contained salt which would not be good at all for seedlings.
If I were you I'd try to find out where the sand comes from.
Good luck
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
There is a reason to use sharp sand, rather than builders sand, but I can't remember what it is. Sorry that is not really helpful.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
But you can buy sharp sand from builder's merchants.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Builders sand makes a nice paste to stick the bricks together. I think this sort comes from the sea bed
Sharp sand has has sharper bits and better drainage.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Builders sand may also have lime in it so it might depend where you want to put.
Builders sand should be ok if you mix it with plenty of organic matter.
Discussions on Builders sand and sharp sand the pros and cons have gone for years. If it were me I would try some in a part of the garden where you dont have any "cherished" plants and see what happens. I know a couple of gardeners who always use it because it is cheaper and they dont have a problem with it.
Big no to builders sand if buying from a builders merchant ask if there sharp sand is washed and use this cheaper than horticultural sand
I have now purchased a bag of sharp sand from the builders yard and what a difference in this compared with the heavier builders sand that I was using before. I feel a bit more confident with this sharp sand as it is much lighter in texture. None of my seeds had germinated whilst using the builders sand and I feel that I have lost a month of seed sowing work in the GH.
The type you needed is often called grit sand now. Builder's sand is what makes mortar, and has fine grains. It bonds the other substances together (cement and water) and does the same when you mix it with soil or compost. The opposite effect of what you want
Hopefully you'll get good results now GDonkey
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...