Lawn Sand or will Sharp Sand be just as effective

[lizzyf]

Hi Folks

My sister is disabled so I help her out when I can and that includes her garden.

Her lawn has a couple of deep valleys in it (amongst the weeds and moss). It could really do with being dug up and relaid. However, that is not an option so I thought of filling the valleys in with lawn sand. Then I saw the price and wondered if sharp sand would do as well (or nearly as well) - or should I just fill the valleys with soil throw seed on and keep plugging away at the moss and weeds

Any advice would be a help. Not looking for a pristine lawn but just something which looks OK.

Regards

Lixxy

[WendyC]

Do you mean lawn sand? It's a fertiliser, moss killer and weed killer combined. I guess it's called sand because of it's appearance rather than what it actually is!
You could gradually fill the furrows with top soil and let the grass grow through. Keep topping up til it's level. Or fill with top soil and add seed. Or cut the turf so you can peel it back, top up with soil and lay the turf back down.

[Glutton4...]

Any sand is bette than none! I would say sharp is better than soft, as it's less likely to compact down. If you're reseeding thin patches, a mix of sand and soil would be best, but remember to stretch a net over the seeded areas, or birds will pinch all the seed!

[Stan79]

Historically, builders sand has quite a high salt content so not great to stick on grass in thick layers... multiple layers of topsoil as suggested above it the best bet. For free top soil check Freecycle.

[WendyC]

Not sure Lizzy ever read the replies, it was 4 months ago now.


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[lizzyf]

My Appologies

Dear All,

I had read your replies but didn't realize that I had not acknowledged your help and thanked you for it.

My rudeness was not intentional and I really appreciate all advice.

Thank you

Regards

Lizzy

[WendyC]

Just out of curiosity, what did you do in the end? Autumn is another good time to sort the lawn out, if you missed the Spring timing.


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[lizzyf]

Nothing as yet

Other than cutting it not tackled the lawn yet.

Between us however, we have sorted out the large areas of jungle (and I do mean jungle)

in the other half of her large garden areas.

Best regards

Lizzy

[Jay22]

Our lawn is pretty soggy all winter...would sand help it? It's also full of clover!

[cardigansand]

Fine top dressing sand or Rootzone sand would be best for this situation. It is very fine (a 0/1mm graded sand). It's the same sand used for golf bunkers.

Lawn dressing sand is a washed, subrounded fine turf sand, designed to STRI standards for fine turf sands. It keeps turf in good condition by promoting a good balance of water retention and drainage.

Over the course of a year, soil compaction reduces the permeability of the surface layer of a lawn. This is exacerbated by residues from broken down grass, and by fine mineral matter brought to the surface by wear and tear and earthworm activity. Lawn dressing sand dilutes this accumulated fine mineral and organic matter at the surface, and allows it to decompose aerobically to form a new structured soil horizon, and so maintains permeability.

To avoid any risk of smothering the sward, lawn dressing sand should ideally be applied in two increments of about 4kg/m2 each, allowing adequate time for sward recovery after each application. Both the sand and the surface must be dry enough for the sand to fall freely to the base of the sward, leaving the leaf tips exposed to sunlight.

[Jay22]

Thanks for the advice cardigansand...very much appreciated!