Horticultural grit

I've heard this used on many of the gardening TV programmes, seen it used in magazines and online etc. I always thought it was just gravel...is there something I'm missing? Is Horticultural grit a special size/grade of a particular stone?

Regards

Steve...

 

I`m not sure, I use the cheapest gravel I can find and wash it-haven`t noticed even a slight difference

 

I've always bought potting grit, but then I only buy a few bags a year.

As far as I'm concerned gravel is bigger than grit, it comes in different grades.


In potting its always best to use a sharp grit, not the stuff you can buy for aquariums which is rounded.

Also pea shingle has its uses but its not sharp.

Another thing to watch is the type of stone, if its limestone gravel it may be very alkaline.

If I want sharp sand for potting I always get it from the builders.

 

There are many different types of grit/gravel. Diffferent size, different colour, different rock, different sharpness. The main thing, especially if you have clay, is to just add something to help drainage.

As Pete says the sharper the better. The word horticultural generally implies something small and sharp. I enquired at a builders merchant, but it cost twice as much as 10 mil gravel for a one ton bag. So I use 10 mil gravel for large quantities in conjunction with equal amounts of sharp sand.

 

I have lived and gardened in different parts of the UK.

There are vast differences in different parts of the country to what is called "Sharp sand".

From clean river (washed) sand (quartz) to the soft limestone sharp sand here in Gloucester.

If it is washed, most of it washes out and what is left is fairly useless for mixing in to composts!

I think that is why most of the motorway bridges in the area have had to be repaired, because they used this soft sand when they were originally built.
(I do not mean strenghtened to take the heavier lorries, just repaired.)

Cheers

 

Steve, all you need do is go to your local garden centre and buy it. Look for the bag that says " Horticultural Grit " It`s also good for dressing pot plants.:thumb: