builders sand

[hawthorns]

is builders sand of any use on the veg plot

[Sheikh Yerboutti]

Possibly slugs wont like slithering on it?

[arknor]

it contains alot of salt aparently and would be bad for your soil

[Brengirl]

My dil gave me a few sacks of kids playpit sand. I have been mixing it in compost is that OK?

[King Carrot]

it contains alot of salt aparently and would be bad for your soil

Tis usually stacked in open piles and well washed through with rain by the time you get it from your supplier - Certainly so in my neck of the woods. I've been using it for a few years to mix with earth and compost into Carrot trenches with very good results, so I'd say add it anywhere you wish to lighten the soil.

[solway cropper]

it contains alot of salt aparently and would be bad for your soil

Wouldn't be much use for building if it did. Do they collect it from the beach round your way

[snakeshack]

dead handy if your soils clay as it helps with drainage.

[rana]

In my experience King Carrot is right. General gardening advice is against the use of builders sand because of contaminants (including salt) but I have been using it for years without a problem for both ground use and potting mix. It is also about half the cost of so called gardening sand.

[Sanjo]

My dil gave me a few sacks of kids playpit sand. I have been mixing it in compost is that OK?

There shouldn't be anything in kids playsand that is toxic or not suitable for children who tend, afterall, to put their fingers in their mouths so I'd say not a problem. I would certainly have used it.
I wanted some sand last year for my carrot tub but didn't want a huge bag so when I was in the market and I noticed the pet stall selling budgie sand!! I bought a bag for 60p (I know- would probably work out hellishly expensive llb for £1) and mixed with compost it did three containers. Carrots were very good too.

[Paulottie]

it contains alot of salt aparently and would be bad for your soil

Wouldn't be much use for building if it did. Do they collect it from the beach round your way

Infact large areas of the English Channel are dredged. But there are inland sandpits and gravel pits a couple round here I know of. Also some 'builders sand' contains lime (to help soften mortar I think).

[solway cropper]

The dredged sand is thoroughly washed to remove salt. If it is used for making mortar/concrete it causes all manner of problems, salt being hygroscopic.

[nuttyrockeress]

So does this mean it's ok to use?

My mum told me she had found a bag of this in the garage that I could have - I want to mix it with compost and make a V trench for my parsnips (which I must sow this weekend!)

She said it is some my dad used (sadly he passed away Boxing Day 05) so will it be ok?