Sand pH

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tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45669
Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 06 12:35 pm Post subject: Sand pH
I'm trying to get a tonne of sand for my blueberry bed (to break down the clay and increase drainage) unfortunately nobody I've spoken to can tell me pH. I need it to be neutral or acid, having no luck so far...

Behemoth

Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 06 12:41 pm Post subject:

Pure sand = silica would be neutral. Actual pH will depend natural salts and minerals in it, which will depend on the source of the sand, which will depend on the geology, which will depend on what happened several million years ago and what happened to it from then til now.

Get a testing kit, go to your supplier of choice, ask if you can behave oddly for a few minutes and give it a quick test. Try to remain dignified while various employees lean on shovels and watch you. Obtain answer. Do deal or leave.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45669
Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 06 12:42 pm Post subject:
Yeah, thought that, unfortunately I ain't got the time to go down there.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 06 12:43 pm Post subject:
Didn't we cover this here? https://forum.downsizer.net/about11958.html&highlight=sand I'd also vote for the testing kit, or are then any large gardens nearby, who also buy a large amount of sand, who you could ask where they get theirs from?

Behemoth

Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 06 12:44 pm Post subject:
Lordy, how did i miss that?

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 06 12:44 pm Post subject:

tahir wrote:

Yeah, thought that, unfortunately I ain't got the time to go down there.

You need to hire a student gardener for one day a week to do all these things for you. Is there an agri colledge near by?

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 06 12:45 pm Post subject:
I'm sure MrsT's nothing better to do than go to a builders' merchant and perform pH tests on sand....or have you already asked her and been told to go away?

Behemoth

Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 06 12:45 pm Post subject:
I thought of this but assumed he would have learned his lesson by now.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 06 12:48 pm Post subject:

I was going to suggest the same things TD did - a garden, such as RHS Hyde Hall? Is that the Essex one? And Audley End? You're member of both, aren't you, so their helplines or buying departments might be intrigued enough to help. RHS certainly encourages you to use their helplines although I've found the HDRA friendlier/more enthusiastic.

And with all your projects it might well be worth looking for someone with a bit of wit about them to help out and who would also benefit from the information (for probably no money either

). Try to pick the weedy looking blokes, hanging round an orchard in full blossom talking fertilisation with a pretty student is likely to perturb Mrs T, not to mention Jonnyboy.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45669
Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 06 12:49 pm Post subject:

Behemoth wrote:

I thought of this but assumed he would have learned his lesson by now.

We've been having potting and compost related scuffles all week, can't chance adding another element to the mix

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45669
Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 06 12:52 pm Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

Is there an agri colledge near by?

Yes, and Rich the tractor is a teacher (or whatever they call em) there. He has slave, I mean student labour help him quite a lot. In fact Dan the (agri student) man is going to help me do some turf lifting on Saturday.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45669
Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 06 12:53 pm Post subject:

Bugs wrote:

Big cance to take, last time I rang Hyde hall it took over half an hour of ringing to get an answer

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 06 12:58 pm Post subject:
Is it worth having a chat with your 'turf lifter' to see if they can help for a small amount of silver?

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45669
Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 06 12:59 pm Post subject:
I've finally managed to track down specs on WBBs site, they do one with a pH of 5.5, I'll ring 'em

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45669
Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 06 1:34 pm Post subject:

tahir wrote:

I've finally managed to track down specs on WBBs site, they do one with a pH of 5.5, I'll ring 'em

They deal in huge quantities, the distributor they recomended (after I explained I only wanted 1 tonne) has 10 tonne minimums

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