sand and soil

[4390evans]

Is there any benefits to mixing soil with sand for your plants?

[zazen999]

Depends...what if your soil is already predominantly sand?

Why do you ask?

[SarzWix]

If you have heavy clay, a bit of sand can be a benefit. Especially if you want to plant something that requires 'free-draining' soil like Mediterranean herbs or wild-flowers, or carrots and parsnips. Otherwise you're probably better off introducing organic matter like compost. If your soil isn't clay-y, then I'd imagine sand to be of limited benefit.

[dandalady]

this is a good question. I have been digging out my mums silt laden stream and wondered if i should use some of the very sandy stuff to mix with compost? am i right in thinking that stuff deposited by streams/rivers is very fertile or am i getting confused with the Nile river and stories of ancient egypt?

[4390evans]

Ive had some sand given but Im thinking of mixing it with me soil as I havent enough tbh the soil on my borders is ok they were just very rocky but they are ok now Ive sieved them, I was told to put sil on my lawn when I put the grass seed down as it helps it I just wondered if this was the same with plants x

[mothhawk]

this is a good question. I have been digging out my mums silt laden stream and wondered if i should use some of the very sandy stuff to mix with compost? am i right in thinking that stuff deposited by streams/rivers is very fertile or am i getting confused with the Nile river and stories of ancient egypt?

Depends what's upstream of you - any fields sprayed with chemicals that could run off into the stream? if you think the water is clean, then the silt should be good for the garden, just like the Nile - full of fish poo, decomposing organisms and plants and other good stuff.

[mothhawk]

What sort of sand are we talking about here? Horticultural, builder's, lawn, sandpit?

[4390evans]

its builders sand x

[rustylady]

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...and_25568.html

Previous thread here Evans.

[Two_Sheds]

I was told to put sil on my lawn

is that soil?
or silt?

[Snadger]

Sand can be used as a topdressing for turf but you need screened sand with an even grain size. This way little grains dont drop into the spaces around big grains and hinder water percolation rather than help it.
The original John Innes formulae for compost always contained sand so unless your soil is already sandy, sand could be mixed with it, especially in the carrot bed.