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General Subjects => Wisley Alpine Log – Feedback Forum => Topic started by: David Nicholson on July 14, 2009, 03:41:30 PM

Title: Wisley Log 14 2 July 2009
Post by: David Nicholson on July 14, 2009, 03:41:30 PM
Very interested in your sand beds Paul. What depth of sand have you got please and is there soil beneath the sand?
Title: Re: Wisley Log 14 2 July 2009
Post by: Paul Cumbleton on July 16, 2009, 10:47:01 AM
Hi David,

A good question which I forgot to address, even in part 2 posted today (16 July). When I first investigated building sand beds, the question of the depth of sand required was one I also asked . Every person I asked or reference I consulted gave a different answer - everything from "6 inches is more than enough" to "at least a couple of feet or deeper if you can"!

I decided that given the way they are meant to function, and the nature of alpine plant roots, I decided that I agreed with the "deeper is better" view. So in fact the sand goes all the way to the bottom of the beds (between 0.8 and 1.0 metre). At the bottom it sits on the native soil of the area. This depth means that the roots can usually access deep moisture even when the top few cm is completely dry and that watering of the beds is rarely necessary except that needed to establish new plants.

Cheers

Paul
Title: Re: Wisley Log 14 2 July 2009
Post by: David Nicholson on July 16, 2009, 11:30:31 AM
Many thanks for that Paul. Just shooting off to read Part 2.
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