DD>>Can you use the sand that builders use?  I thought that this was a type 
of silica...clue me in here.
RP>>   No, NEVER!  I have to try and find an article I read not long ago on 
the various types of sand.
RP>> Some are absolutely not suitable for plants, and builder's sand was at 
the top of that list.
 DD> Thanks for that...I hope Chris Greaves reads this....Nyah Nyah Nyah, 
Chris.
I promise you, I've been gardening for more years than I care to admit to  
(actually, I just say this because I'm suppose to, I guess... it doesn't 
matter to me how old I am.   I am as old as I am, anyway, and I can't do 
anything about it!   :)  I have used builder's sand, river bank sand, play 
sand, sharp (which I prefer, for fighting clay soil).  The only one I really 
don't like at all, for this purpose, is really fine sand, as it packs down, 
doesn't last long,  and blows about far too easily. I also don't want 
contaminated sand... (but if you dig it from a river bank, you have no way of 
knowing if it is tainted...)  but I'd *not* use beach sand without washing it 
(to get rid of the saline content).
cheers,
WL Sakowski
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