Coarse sand for cuttings
 

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.

Coarse sand for cuttings
 

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.

The sand gardeners make use of is that known as "sharp sand". It is
somewhat coarser than builder's sand. As to the medium in which to
strike cuttings, you'll probably find each gardener has his/her own
ideas. The only plants I would try to root in pure sand would be cacti
and other succulents.

As I'm lousy at striking cuttings, I'll leave it to others to give you
some useful advice!

--

Jeff

Coarse sand for cuttings
 

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

The sand gardeners make use of is that known as "sharp sand".

B&Q call it "soil improver"! Judging by the bits of crushed shell, that
is the one that has been dredged from the sea.

It is
somewhat coarser than builder's sand. As to the medium in which to
strike cuttings, you'll probably find each gardener has his/her own
ideas. The only plants I would try to root in pure sand would be cacti
and other succulents.

As I'm lousy at striking cuttings, I'll leave it to others to give you
some useful advice!


The drainage of soft sand is not very good at all, so not a good choice
for cuttings etc

Coarse sand for cuttings
 

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. The very
small particles will come out in the water and the larger ones
will remain.

You can go further. Having done that, you can dry it, and sieve
it through an old (medium fine) kitchen sieve. The sieved material
is fine sand, suitable for filling between paving slabs etc., and
the coarse is sharp sand and grit, ideal for cuttings and things
that need very good drainage. I have done that, and filled up a
couple of old Snowcem drums with the sands.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Coarse sand for cuttings
 

"stuart noble" wrote in message
...
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

The sand gardeners make use of is that known as "sharp sand".

B&Q call it "soil improver"! Judging by the bits of crushed shell, that is the one that
has been dredged from the sea.

It is
somewhat coarser than builder's sand. As to the medium in which to
strike cuttings, you'll probably find each gardener has his/her own
ideas. The only plants I would try to root in pure sand would be cacti
and other succulents.

B&Q can call it what they like, but there are precise definitions of 'sharp'
and 'soft' sand. Sharp sand is usually found in river systems where the
time for abrading the edges of the sand/grit particles is limited. 'Soft'
sand is usually found in marine environments with prolonged exposure
to the rounding of the grains - any sandy beach will illustrate this.
The best 'sharp' sand that I ever found was from a gravel pit in
Walton-on-Thames. They would crush the river gravel to make a
'sharp' sand that was like a myriad of tiny razor blades.

Phil

Brilliant. I think I have already got some sharp sand. I also have a bag of grit so if I mix the two 50/50, I should be ready to go. Maybe wash the sand first though.
That's great help. Thank you.

Just another question...why is sharp sand called 'sharp'. I have always wondered about this. I understand coarse sand as it would be just that with bits of small stones in it but is there a sand that is called 'fine' or is that what sharp sand is?

Coarse sand for cuttings
 

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)

Coarse sand for cuttings
 

In article ,
Lintama wrote:

Brilliant. I think I have already got some sharp sand. I also have a
bag of grit so if I mix the two 50/50, I should be ready to go. Maybe
wash the sand first though.
That's great help. Thank you.

No problem. That makes a good mixture.

Just another question...why is sharp sand called 'sharp'. I have always
wondered about this. I understand coarse sand as it would be just that
with bits of small stones in it but is there a sand that is called
'fine' or is that what sharp sand is?

Yes, there is a fine sand - used for filling cracks and so on. The
OED says that it is derived from the sand having sharp points.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

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.

Coarse sand for cuttings
 

On 17/04/2015 15:47, Chris Hogg wrote:
It's mostly angular grains of quartz of differing
sizes. After grading into different grain sizes, it makes excellent
building sand, and also horticultural sand.

But horrible to walk barefoot on

--
regards andy

Coarse sand for cuttings
 

On 17/04/2015 10:32, philgurr wrote:
"stuart noble" wrote in message
...
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

The sand gardeners make use of is that known as "sharp sand".

B&Q call it "soil improver"! Judging by the bits of crushed shell, that is the one that
has been dredged from the sea.

It is
somewhat coarser than builder's sand. As to the medium in which to
strike cuttings, you'll probably find each gardener has his/her own
ideas. The only plants I would try to root in pure sand would be cacti
and other succulents.

B&Q can call it what they like, but there are precise definitions of 'sharp'
and 'soft' sand. Sharp sand is usually found in river systems where the
time for abrading the edges of the sand/grit particles is limited. 'Soft'
sand is usually found in marine environments with prolonged exposure
to the rounding of the grains - any sandy beach will illustrate this.
The best 'sharp' sand that I ever found was from a gravel pit in
Walton-on-Thames. They would crush the river gravel to make a
'sharp' sand that was like a myriad of tiny razor blades.

Phil


Here at the side of Swansea bay we can get a nice coarse Concreting
sand, dredged from a bed off Ilfracombe I believe (Bristol Channel)
Years ago when we lived outside Hastings we used to get "Rye Harbour
Grit" this was a crushed flint.
I seem to remember years ago going to Croyde Bay in Devon a fair way up
the beach was a great band of coarse sand, well more crushed shell than
anything else, would have been great in compost.
David @ a still dry side of Swansea Bay

Coarse sand for cuttings
 

Lintama wrote:

Just another question...why is sharp sand called 'sharp'.

Others have answered, so I'll just add: on the western side of the pond,
you can find sharp sand as "mason's sand." Its what they use mix mortar.


--
Gary Woods AKA K2AHC- PGP key on request, or at home.earthlink.net/~garygarlic
Zone 5/4 in upstate New York, 1420' elevation. NY WO G

Coarse sand for cuttings
 

On 17/04/2015 18:09, David Hill wrote:
On 17/04/2015 10:32, philgurr wrote:
"stuart noble" wrote in message
...
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

The sand gardeners make use of is that known as "sharp sand".

B&Q call it "soil improver"! Judging by the bits of crushed shell,
that is the one that
has been dredged from the sea.

It is
somewhat coarser than builder's sand. As to the medium in which to
strike cuttings, you'll probably find each gardener has his/her own
ideas. The only plants I would try to root in pure sand would be cacti
and other succulents.

B&Q can call it what they like, but there are precise definitions of
'sharp'
and 'soft' sand. Sharp sand is usually found in river systems where the
time for abrading the edges of the sand/grit particles is limited. 'Soft'
sand is usually found in marine environments with prolonged exposure
to the rounding of the grains - any sandy beach will illustrate this.
The best 'sharp' sand that I ever found was from a gravel pit in
Walton-on-Thames. They would crush the river gravel to make a
'sharp' sand that was like a myriad of tiny razor blades.

Phil


Here at the side of Swansea bay we can get a nice coarse Concreting
sand, dredged from a bed off Ilfracombe I believe (Bristol Channel)
Years ago when we lived outside Hastings we used to get "Rye Harbour
Grit" this was a crushed flint.
I seem to remember years ago going to Croyde Bay in Devon a fair way up
the beach was a great band of coarse sand, well more crushed shell than
anything else, would have been great in compost.
David @ a still dry side of Swansea Bay


The soft (builders) sand we get here in SE has a minute particle size,
and washing it yields yellow ochre, some of which is so fine it takes
several hours to settle. Only for bricklaying, and of no use to gardeners.

Coarse sand for cuttings
 

On 16/04/2015 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.


I used to have a propagating bed made up of 40% peat and 60% coarse
sand, around 5 inches deep, this was used for rooting conifer cuttings,
it was enclosed in a polythene structure to keep the humidity high.
The reason for the peat was to give the roots something to hold onto
when transplanting so you didn't have totally bare rooted cuttings,
meant they repotted a bit better.
David @ a cool but sunny side of Swansea Bay

Coarse sand for cuttings
 

In message , Nick Maclaren
writes
In article ,
Lintama wrote:

Brilliant. I think I have already got some sharp sand. I also have a
bag of grit so if I mix the two 50/50, I should be ready to go. Maybe
wash the sand first though.
That's great help. Thank you.

No problem. That makes a good mixture.

Just another question...why is sharp sand called 'sharp'. I have always
wondered about this. I understand coarse sand as it would be just that
with bits of small stones in it but is there a sand that is called
'fine' or is that what sharp sand is?

Yes, there is a fine sand - used for filling cracks and so on. The
OED says that it is derived from the sand having sharp points.


In Leeds, sharp sand was referred to as grit sand in the builders
merchants. It can be quite variable as well depending on the source and
location in the country

Silver sand is the fine sand used for filling gaps in block paving etc.
- same stuff as play sand basically
--
Chris French