Sharp sand

hogweed

I was always under the impression that builders sharp sand contained salt and so I always bought horticultural sharp sand at a greatly inflated price. Only resorted to builders sand if I was mixing it a lot with compost. However I noticed that Monty Don used builders sharp sand on it own to root ? in the last programme. Anyone got any comments on that?

Lyn

I hope he is  right because I have just sown some very expensive  seeds, which needed very sandy compost and cover with sand. All there was around was OH building sand. White stuff.

nutcutlet

Sharp sand is just sharp sand, no salt. That's not the same as builder's sand which is soft sand (rounded grains) you can feel the difference between the two.

 

BobTheGardener

Sharp sand is crushed rock whereas builders sand is rounded due to it being created by the effect of water or (in the case of deserts) wind flow.  Builder's sand is mined but sharp sand is made.  Just some useless information for you!

BobTheGardener

Making concrete or for horticulture.  You wouldn't want to use it in a sand pit.

hogweed

nutcutlet wrote (see)

Sharp sand is just sharp sand, no salt. That's not the same as builder's sand which is soft sand (rounded grains) you can feel the difference between the two.

 

Perhaps I wasn't clear. I know the difference between sharp sand and soft sand but what is the difference between builders sharp sand and horticultural sharp sand? I thought it was the salt content.

BobTheGardener

hogweed wrote (see)

nutcutlet wrote (see)

Sharp sand is just sharp sand, no salt. That's not the same as builder's sand which is soft sand (rounded grains) you can feel the difference between the two.

 

Perhaps I wasn't clear. I know the difference between sharp sand and soft sand but what is the difference between builders sharp sand and horticultural sharp sand? I thought it was the salt content.

I used to think that Hogweed but have never found any salty sharp sand (yes, I have tasted it!) and have been using sharp sand from builder's merchants for decades.  I suspect that salt would also affect the ability for concrete to set which is why it doesn't have any.  Might be a myth?

hogweed

A myth put about by GCs to explain why horticultural sharp sand is 4 times as expensive as sharp sand out of B&Q!  Perhaps hort SS is washed?

hogweed

A myth put about by GCs to explain why horticultural sharp sand is 4 times as expensive as sharp sand out of B&Q!  Perhaps hort SS is washed?

 

Aha - I have just asked Mr Google for the answer - and it seems to be lime! Builders sharp sand can contain lime as well as salt depending on the source and hort. sharp sand is deemed 'clean'.