Thread: sharp sand water retention
View Single Post
  #9   Report Post  
Old 02-11-2007, 09:08 AM posted to uk.rec.gardening
Stuart Noble Stuart Noble is offline
external usenet poster
  
First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Jan 2007
Posts: 84
Default sharp sand water retention
Malcolm Race wrote:
wrote:

I wonder if anyone has an opinion about the water retention of sand
when mixed with the general purpose compost you buy in a garden
centre. My experience is that, added at 25%, the mix actually retains
more water than the compost alone. Maybe this is partly due to the
sand breaking down the compost into fine and evenly distributed
particles or something.
Any thoughts welcome

For years now I have made my own compost based on a 3:1 peat:sharp sand
mix with latterly Chempak potting base fertiliser mix. Seedlings do very
well and I use it for tubs and pots as well - and there is no problem
with ants although the infest the garden.

Malcolm

Do you mean real peat? I don't know what the cheap compost you buy in
garden centres is made from but I doubt if it contains much in the way
of nutrients. I'll look into the fertiliser question. At the moment I
just water everything with a very dilute Phostrogen.
Reply With QuoteReply With Quote