What Is Sharp Sand Gardening? — Unique Gardening Methods
Sand alone is bad for growing plants. Cultivating them needs a good mixture of soil. Using what type of sand or soil is one factor that can contribute to a successful garden. In this article, you will find out the answer to: “What is sharp sand gardening?”
In this article, you will learn about the different types of soil used for gardening, what sharp sand is and its benefits, and how to apply it in your garden. Knowing this will surely level you up as a gardener. Without further ado, here are some of the things you need to know about sharp sand gardening.
The Best Soil Types for Gardening
What soil type you use can make or break the plants you cultivate. Over-watering can drown your plants. Too much fertilizers can stunt plant growth. Loose sand will leave your roots exposed and stressed. Knowing what soil to use can help you achieve a greener garden. Here are the soil types good for sowing and cultivating plants.
Loam Soil
Loam soil is the best choice to grow plants. When you search “what is sharp sand gardening," this the type that comes up as the best mix to sharp sand. This type of soil has adequate drainage. It can retain moisture and easily cultivated with nutrients. It is an equal mix of sand, silt, and clay, and is almost always slightly damp.
Peaty Soil
Peaty soil is dark in color, feels damp and spongy. This type of soil has fewer nutrients. It is great for plant growth when mixed with organic fertilizer, compost, and limestone powder to decrease its acidity. Just be cautious, peaty soil dries up quickly and may become a fire hazard.
Silty Soil
Silty soil retains moisture and feels soft. It is very rich in nutrients and can easily be cultivated. However, due to it being moisture-retentive, it has poor drainage characteristics.
Sandy Soil
Sandy soil drains quickly, feels gritty, and is easy to cultivate. When the soil drains, it tends to hold fewer nutrients. To make it into a better soil mix for gardening, you need to add it to organic fertilizers like kelp meal or compost. Mulching can also help in moisture retention.
Clay Soil
Clay soil, when properly loosened, is great for the development and growth of plants because it is rich in nutrients. The texture is lumpy and sticky when it is wet, but hard when dry. However, in its pure form, clay soil does not drain fast. Due to a lack of air spaces, roots will not be able to grow properly.
What is Sharp Sand?
What is sharp sand gardening? To answer that, you need to know what sharp sand is. Sharp sand, or horticultural sand as it is more known, is sand with a gritty or coarse texture that is usually mixed with silt and clay. It is a combination of crushed granite, quartz, or sandstone. It is lime-free. It is also known as builder’s sand because it can be used for construction. It is not and is surely different from ballast sand. Sharp sand contains salt, but you can wash that away with water. High salinity levels can be harmful to your plants, so purchase those with less salt content.
Landscapers use sharp sand to dress lawns not only because it is perfect for garden spaces, but it keeps your lawn well-irrigated. Professional gardeners use most of all, sharp sand. Even if you are still starting with gardening, using sharp sand will be helpful in cultivation.
The Benefits of Sharp Sand
What benefits do you get from sand sharp gardening is another question you ask if you want to know what is sharp sand gardening. Of course, sharp sand gardening has multiple uses and benefits. Here are a few of the benefits of sharp sand:
- Improves the overall drainage of the soil: Sharp sand being bigger in particles than usual, gives proper aeration and drainage in your pots or beds once mixed with your loam soil or composts. You can add 20-30 grams for every liter of compost.
- Critical for plant growth: Sharp sand is the ideal choice for sowing your seeds and cuttings. This prevents over-watering and the formation of fungal diseases in your plants. You can mix 1 part of the sand to 3 parts of compost.
- Helps loosen heavy soil: Equally mixing sharp sand with clay soil helps in the aeration and drainage of the clay soil, which then becomes perfect for growing plants. Apply one shovel of the sharp sand to every square meter of your heavy soil.
- Used to dress lawns: If you are a landscaper, sharp sand is great in top-dressing your lawn to level them and remove bumps. It even prevents waterlogging and great for lawn irrigation. You apply it usually after aerating and scarifying your lawn. Just scatter the sand over the lawn surface and brush it in with a soft brush.
Conclusion
Surely, now that you know the answer to: “What is sharp sand gardening?” Keep in mind that sharp sand is best when you mix it with the best type of soil, which is loam soil, to achieve your greenest garden by keeping it well-aerated and with great drainage. Always remember, when buying a sack of sharp sand, to check the ingredients label, particularly its salinity level. With all these in mind, you can now do sharp sand gardening perfectly!