Sand is an essential component for successful gardening, as it helps to improve the soil structure and drainage of the garden. It has many benefits in gardening, from promoting healthy root growth to providing a stable base for plants.
Sand also helps to break up clay soils, allowing air and water to penetrate more easily and making it easier for roots to spread out. In addition, sand can be used as mulch or a top dressing around plants and trees to help retain moisture in the soil during dry periods.
By adding sand to your garden soil mix you can create a much healthier environment for your plants and ensure that they are getting all the nutrients they need. You can visit your trusted sand supplier Perth for the kind that’s suitable for your garden.
So, what makes sand a good component in gardening?
10 Crucial Facts About Sand
1. Sand is a Great Soil Amendment
Adding sand to soil can improve its drainage, aeration and overall structure. Sandy soils help increase the soil’s water retention capacity, making it easier to grow plants in those areas. It also helps to reduce compaction, which can improve root growth and access to nutrients.
2. Sand is a Natural Filter
If you have ever had the pleasure of swimming in natural water sources like lakes or rivers, there’s a good chance that sand was used as a filter between the body of water and the shoreline. This is because the tiny particles of sand can help to trap and filter out microscopic pollutants that may be present in the water.
3. Sand is Used to Make Glass
Sand is the primary component of glass, with silica sand being the most common type used to make window panes and other types of glassware. It’s also used to create artificial gems and beads. Accordingly, sand is a key component in making glass. Specifically, it’s a mixture of silica or silicon dioxide and some type of alkali, like sodium oxide.
4. Sand is Used in Oil and Gas Drilling
Oil and gas drilling companies often use sand to help extract these natural resources from the ground. The sand acts as a “proppant” which means it helps to keep an opening or passageway open during the extraction process.
5. Sand is a Natural Abrasive
Sand has been used as an abrasive for centuries, from sanding down wood to polishing metals. It’s also commonly found in toothpaste, facial scrubs and other products that need some type of exfoliating agent. The reason being is that the tiny particles act to gently remove dead skin cells, dirt and other unwanted particles from the surface of the skin.
6. Sand is Used in Construction
Whether it’s used as a foundation or to create mortar, sand has been an integral part of construction since ancient times. Today, it’s still used in constructing buildings, roads and other types of infrastructure. It’s also used to make concrete, which is a mixture of water, cement and sand that’s used in many different construction projects.
7. Sand Plays a Role in Water Treatment
Sand filters are commonly used to purify water for drinking and other purposes. The tiny particles act as a type of sieve, trapping the impurities and allowing clean water to pass through. This type of filtration system can be used for both industrial and residential applications.
8. Sand is Used in Sports Construction
From turfs to running tracks, sand plays an important role in sports construction. It’s often used as a way to add cushioning and stability to the surface, or as a way to provide traction. It’s also used in golf courses, baseball diamonds and other sports venues.
9. Sand can be Reused
Because sand is such an abundant resource, it can easily be reused for multiple purposes. For example, construction companies may use sand to create concrete and then reuse the same sand in other projects.
10. Sand is Used as a Fertilizer
In some parts of the world, sand is used as a type of fertilizer. This is because it helps to add important minerals, like phosphorus and potassium, back into the soil. Additionally, it can help improve the drainage of the soil, making it easier for plants to access the nutrients that they need.
Should you start using sand in your garden?
Adding sand to your garden soil can have numerous benefits for both plants and the soil itself. Sand helps break up heavy soils, improve drainage, increase aeration, and allow roots to penetrate more deeply into the ground. It also helps retain moisture in sandy soils and increases fertility by providing essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, sulphur and potassium.
Additionally, sand aids in weed control by reducing the amount of water available to weeds while still allowing water to reach plant roots. With all these advantages it’s easy to see why incorporating sand into your garden soil is a great idea.
Contact Mazzega’s Landscaping Supplies for a quality supply of sand!
