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Lintama · 17-04-2015, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janet

In article ,
says...

In article ,
stuart noble wrote:
On 17/04/2015 07:40, Jeff Layman wrote:
On 16/04/15 16:30, Lintama wrote:
Saw a video on Youtube for striking semi-ripe and softwood cuttings in
coarse sand. I would have thought that there wouldn't be any nutrients
in sand. I have always used multi-purpose compost with some success.
Does anybody recommend using coarse sand and if so, can I use the kind
that builders use?

Many thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Builder's sand is not recommended as it is usually not washed and could
be dredged from the sea, so containing some salt.

Other way round I think. Builders (aka "soft") sand is normally dug out
of the ground

Both are, and paying garden centre prices for it is insane. You
want sharp sand, as used by builders. It is vanishingly unlikely
to contain salt, as that interferes with several building uses
but, if you are concerned, then just wash it! That's not a bad
idea, anyway, because it sharpens it still further. Just put
some in a bucket, half fill with water, swill vigorously, and
pour most of the water out while it is still rotating.

We used to have wonderful "sharp sand" excavated from a local
gravel pit which supplied many grades of sand and pebble. Since the
gravel pit closed for business :-( I collect my own "sharp grit" from
the beach and wash out the salt as Nick says.

A high proportion of it is (sharply) broken shell grit; a calcium
assistant to my acid home made compost.

Janet (Isle of Arran)

Very interesting and thank you to all who contributed. The key here is drainage then. I seems to not matter too much what the mixture is as long as the water can drain away. I think I will try a few different methods of my own and see just which does the best job. Now to look forward to Summer when I will be raiding my own and my friends' gardens for cuttings.