5 Ways to Use Sand in Landscaping Projects
Laying gray concrete paving slabs in house courtyard on sand foundation base.

Sand is one of those granular materials that can take your landscaping project to the next level. Using sand, you can transform unused space on your outdoor property into something visually appealing. With a bit of creativity and imagination, there’s no limit to how you can utilize this material and improve the aesthetics of your landscape. If you’re looking to incorporate sand into your next project, here are some ideas you should try out.

We spoke to representatives from Sheldon Bosley Knight, who are estate agents in Kenilworth, and they said, “Sand can be used in several landscaping projects. For starters, it can be used in layers between pavers if you install a paver walkway or patio. For instance, sand can provide leveling and fill space between the pavers. Secondly, sand can be used for making concrete. Last but not least, sand can be used as an outdoor play area for your little ones. Sand makes a perfect spot for children to play on. It makes a perfect base for play boxes and flooring under play equipment.”

1. Use it as a filler for pavers

Sand compacts easily, making it a good foundational piece for most landscape projects. Contractors use it as a base or a filler for walkways or patio pavers and sometimes as a chalk line for creating layouts. Sand can also be mixed with a polymeric additive and poured between joints and spaces found in pavers. This keeps the walkway stable and helps reduce the chances of cracks and/or breaks.

Adding a layer of gravel underneath a thick layer of sand will help increase its durability and form a firm base for your pavers.

Read more: Landscape Inspiration Tips – Transforming Your Lawn into a Picturesque Oasis.

2. Create a Zen garden

Zen japanese garden

Zen gardens are perfect to add a calming atmosphere outside your property. The idea is to create a space where people can meditate and relax. The concept originated in Japan and has entered plenty of Western homes. Zen gardens are made with a combination of gravel, sand, and large stones representing water and land (according to Japanese culture).

While Zen gardens characteristically lack plants, you can still add a few bushes here and there to add a bit of appeal. You can rake the sand to mimic the water flow and stack small boulders on top of each other to represent Earth formations.

3. Cover up the play area

If your property includes a play area, sand is the perfect material to cover the ground. Contact your supplier and inquire about the play variety because it doesn’t contain silica (which is safe for kids) and has a soft texture that is less abrasive on the skin. Play sand is used frequently for outdoor sports like volleyball and beach rugby and is the perfect medium for play boxes and underplay equipment.

The medium coarse helps reduce tracking from play areas which helps keep your backyard looking neat and tidy. If you want, you can also have your seaside getaway by filling up a small area of space with play sand and adding an inflatable pool for your children to enjoy.

aerial view of a swimming pool

Read more: Maintaining a Clean and Productive Workplace By Choosing The Right Cleaning Service.

4. Use it for landscape edging

Flower beds make for an attractive highlight of any landscape project. To ensure the edges won’t erode over time, you can use sand as a boundary line to prevent flower beds from washing out. Not only does it protect your landscaping, but it also enhances the beds and makes them look more defined. Ask your supplier what sand fits best with garden soil (which allows for better drainage).

5. Form hardscape features

Fill sand is coarse, making it an ideal choice for underneath pavers. But it can also be mixed with concrete to form hardscape features like stone steppings, garden edging, and even sturdy pathways. This mixture can also be poured onto an interlocking template and create a walkway that looks like individually laid-down pavers made it.

See also: How To Stripe A Lawn Without A Striping Kit? Refresh Your Green Yard

Tips on using sand for landscape projects

When using sand for landscaping, the following basic guidelines can make a drastic difference in improving the overall look of your property. Whether it be a sand base for a fountain or rock garden installation, these tips will help your landscape projects look better using sand.

Gardening

Sand can be utilized not just for landscaping but for gardening projects as well. You can use sand to amend soils for better drainage or mix quartz sand with garden soil to improve the texture and benefit your garden plants.

Weed wrapping

Weed wrap is a semi-permeable material that can be used differently in a sand-based landscape project. This material is commonly used underneath aggregate materials and sometimes as a base layer to inhibit weed growth. Another tip for weed wrap is to cover up French drains to prevent sand from eroding over time.

Tamping down aggregates

While sand can be integrated into various landscaping projects, it can settle over time. This can present a couple of problems, especially if the project is on a firm and level foundation. To prevent sand from settling excessively, tamp down the materials during installation. A tamping tool works great for these kinds of projects where it compacts the Earth and aggregates to reduce the likelihood of sand from settling.

Water down sand and gravel

If tamping is not enough to address the settling, another way to prevent this is to spray the sand with water and get the material nice and wet. This compacts the sand even more and makes it a more stable foundation for the next step of your landscaping project.

Sizing projects

When ordering sand, these items can sometimes come in vague sizes. Some suppliers might offer sand by the scoop, others by the bag, while sand suppliers like Soil Yourself offer them by trailer load! The most important thing is to find out how many cubic feet of sand you need to get the right amount delivered to you. Consider the height, width, and depth to measure how many sands you need accurately.

Landscaping with sand

Sand is a versatile material that can fit into several different landscaping projects. It can turn the most tedious part of your home into something exciting. With some elbow grease, you can add beauty and functionality to every landscaping you tackle. Consider these tips when using sand for your next project, and you’re sure to boost the curb appeal of your property.

3 COMMENTS

  1. I found it interesting when you explained that sand can be used to prevent the edges on landscaping projects from eroding away over time. My wife and I want to become a little more self-sufficient, so we were thinking it would be a good idea to turn a section of our yard into a big garden. It seems like it would be a good idea for us to find a landscaping company we can get the right materials from before we start this project.

  2. It’s great that you pointed out how sand could be utilized not just for landscaping, but for gardening projects as well. We are working on our property right now and I think it would be nice to use sand on it. So for that, we should probably ask for sand dumping services.

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