Horticultural Grit Substitute?

Last post 09-07-2011 9:59 PM by geoff51. 3 replies.

• 07/07/2011 09:13 PM

  Rhododendron2 Location: Middlesex Joined on: 18 Apr 2011 Posts: 18

  Reply | Contact I've needed some horticultural grit to improve the drainage of several of my medditeranean plants and remembered that building ballast contains sand and gritty substances which would seem to do the trick fine, I was just wondering does horticultural grit contain anything special which ballast would not provide the plant? And also as ballast is designed to be used to create cement it will likely be limey so I'm not sure about pH and if this could present a problem

• 07/07/2011 09:44 PM	In reply to
  geoff51 Location: Totton, Hampshire Joined on: 13 Feb 2009 Posts: 187	Reply | Contact Do not use it as it contains salt and other contaminents that will damage your garden. However there are cheaper suppliers of horticultural grit than Garden centres especially if you are bulk buying Geoff51 Pond life!?!

• 09/07/2011 01:08 PM	In reply to
  Rhododendron2 Location: Middlesex Joined on: 18 Apr 2011 Posts: 18	Reply | Contact How about regular old sharp sand?

• 09/07/2011 09:59 PM	In reply to
  geoff51 Location: Totton, Hampshire Joined on: 13 Feb 2009 Posts: 187	Reply | Contact Sand will not provide the coarseness required to open up the soil, why not have a look at pea shingle if small enogh it may do the trick Geoff51 Pond life!?!