Sharp sand is coarse and often mixed with concrete or added to soil to create loam or loosen clay. It’s ideal for garden spaces as it allows for easy drainage. Cheaper sand may contain additives, so it’s best to read the label. Soft sand is different from sharp sand, and ballast sand contains large rock fragments.
Sharp sand refers to sand that has a coarse, grainy texture. This type of sand is often mixed with concrete for a number of different building applications. Sharp sand can also be added to the soil to create loam or to loosen clay soil. In most cases, this type of sand consists of ground quartz rocks.
Sometimes, clay and iron can be mixed with quartz rocks to create a sharper type of sand. Landscapers and construction workers can use these shards as a foundation for laying flooring, mixing mortar, dressing lawns, and smoothing floors. Sharp sand also fills most hourglasses, as it is coarse enough to flow through glass, but fine enough to pass through the connecting portion of an hourglass.
While sharp sand isn’t ideal for any type of play area, it is perfect for most garden spaces. Sharp sand allows garden soil to drain easily, which is not the case with fine sand. Because sand with jagged edges doesn’t stop water from passing through it, this type of sand is often the sand of choice for professional gardeners.
When purchasing sand for any garden space, take the time to read the ingredient label. While cheaper sand may contain salt, clay, and other particles, more expensive sand tends to be free of other additives. Therefore, in this case, buying slightly more expensive sand can lead to a better overall garden space.
Sandbags labeled “yard sand” are generally much softer than sand considered sharp. A good way to tell the difference is to scoop up a pile of each type of sand and give each pile a gentle squeeze. Sharp sand will feel rougher than soft sand. Also, soft sand (builder’s sand) will build a compact sand castle, while sharp sand cannot be molded into any shape.
Sand labeled “ballast” is often confused with sharper sand. However, ballast sand is not the same as sand which can be placed in the “sharp” category. Ballast sand contains large rock fragments much larger than sharp sand particles. This type of sand is not ideal for composting, creating soil, or mixing with concrete unless large chunks of rock are removed from the sand. To buy really sharp sand, talk to an experienced home store or garden center representative.
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