Clean Coarse Sand - Horticultural Sand

PR-Giants · 10-05-2025, 09:46 PM

Many people seem to have difficulties finding Clean Coarse Sand so anyone with alternative sand options please post.

I was in Home Depot and bought this bag to see what percentage of CCS it would yield after grading out the fines and the large pieces. After cleaning I was left with about 17 lb or 33%. $0.23 per pound seems very expensive but it's certainly cheaper than buying online and having it mailed.

I can drill a hole anywhere on my mountain and the hardpan, after cleaning and grading, would yield over 70% CCS by weight with no volume loss. When I use this for my plants and seeds the fines that I removed is now replaced with air and moisture for healthy roots and more importantly healthy rhizomes.

Jeff zone 8 N.C. · 10-08-2025, 09:42 AM

What kind of screening are you using? Not only does my area not have suitable pre-screened coarse sand I have not found any screens except typical window screens for insects and then screens jump up to 1/4 mesh. Would certainly be willing to hunt down the correct screen size. We do have the same sand as in your posted pic but it could be from a different regional source. Thanks for that tip. I will certainly try it if I can find a way to process the sand.

PR-Giants · 10-08-2025, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff zone 8 N.C.

I have not found any screens except typical window screens for insects and then screens jump up to 1/4 mesh.

That's exactly what I use. Fiberglass window screens are more durable than aluminum screens but still wear out. The 1/4"woven welded hardware cloth should last forever. I only buy pots with the drainage holes on the bottom because I cut out circles of the window screen to fit the bottom of the pots to keep the sand in.

It's crazy how expensive sand in the States cost, fire pit sand is graded and cleaned but sells for $2 per pound plus shipping. I use thousands of pounds of sand and even $0.23 is impractical.

If you grade a bag it would be interesting to know your results.

My breakdown was
50% Fine
33% CCS
17% Large

PR-Giants · 10-08-2025, 11:52 AM

The window screen works better underwater and the sand comes out much cleaner.

Some sand can be placed in the middle of a square piece of window screen and by holding the corners and agitating it in a bucket of water all the fines should quickly drop out.

10-05-2025, 09:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
PR-Giants Commercial Grower Location: Florida & Greater Antilles Find me on the map! Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 4,738 BananaBucks : 8,262 Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,969 Times Was Thanked 12,956 Times in 3,812 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3,225 Times	Clean Coarse Sand - Horticultural Sand Many people seem to have difficulties finding Clean Coarse Sand so anyone with alternative sand options please post. I was in Home Depot and bought this bag to see what percentage of CCS it would yield after grading out the fines and the large pieces. After cleaning I was left with about 17 lb or 33%. $0.23 per pound seems very expensive but it's certainly cheaper than buying online and having it mailed. I can drill a hole anywhere on my mountain and the hardpan, after cleaning and grading, would yield over 70% CCS by weight with no volume loss. When I use this for my plants and seeds the fines that I removed is now replaced with air and moisture for healthy roots and more importantly healthy rhizomes. __________________ PR-Giants Photo Gallery 15,000+ Varieties

10-08-2025, 09:42 AM	#2 (permalink)
Jeff zone 8 N.C. Junior Member Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 258 BananaBucks : 9,543 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 660 Times Was Thanked 501 Times in 231 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 26 Times	Re: Clean Coarse Sand - Horticultural Sand What kind of screening are you using? Not only does my area not have suitable pre-screened coarse sand I have not found any screens except typical window screens for insects and then screens jump up to 1/4 mesh. Would certainly be willing to hunt down the correct screen size. We do have the same sand as in your posted pic but it could be from a different regional source. Thanks for that tip. I will certainly try it if I can find a way to process the sand.

10-08-2025, 11:52 AM	#4 (permalink)
PR-Giants Commercial Grower Location: Florida & Greater Antilles Find me on the map! Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 4,738 BananaBucks : 8,262 Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,969 Times Was Thanked 12,956 Times in 3,812 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3,225 Times	Re: Clean Coarse Sand - Horticultural Sand The window screen works better underwater and the sand comes out much cleaner. Some sand can be placed in the middle of a square piece of window screen and by holding the corners and agitating it in a bucket of water all the fines should quickly drop out. __________________ PR-Giants Photo Gallery 15,000+ Varieties

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