Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Rocinante on April 14, 2018, 22:46

Title: Sand for drainage
Post by: Rocinante on April 14, 2018, 22:46

Hi, I was advised to dig in about 12” of sand into the bottom of my raised beds and rotavate it in before adding topsoil and compost to make up the rest of the beds, supposed to help drainage. Any thoughts?

Title: Re: Sand for drainage
Post by: Eblana on April 15, 2018, 10:29

I put sand, compost and soil into my raised beds and rotatavate the whole lot together.

Title: Re: Sand for drainage
Post by: Goosegirl on April 15, 2018, 12:14

Use sharp sand and add some grit. Don't use builder's sand as it is not good for drainage.

Title: Re: Sand for drainage
Post by: Rocinante on April 15, 2018, 12:18

That’s an idea, I dodn’t relish the idea of digging a foot of soil out and replacing it with sand. Basically I'm using 8” oak boards for the walls placed on the soil, so if I rotovate the area first then i could add sand and compost and mix it all in together. Just seen the new post, now that could be tricky as I have only just learnt the French for sand “Le Sable” and I shall get it from the local quarry.