Why even sterilise sand before planting? Why not just use soil?
Gardening professionals know that sand can also be an important medium for growing plants since it improves aeration for optimal root health and development. The main reason to sterilise the sand before planting is the desire to plant the seeds in a soil-free and pest-free environment. This is because sand may carry pests and diseases if not properly sterilised. So, even if you buy sands Australia from your local landscape store (like Labrador Landscape Supplies) you still need to go through the process of sterilising the sand.
How to Sterilize Sand for your Plants:
Preparation
Basic preparation is submerging the sand in water in a bucket and stirring it up. Continue washing the sand until the water clears up. Pour the water out of the bucket. This preparation step is important for the next step.
Submersion in boiling water
This second rinsing step uses boiling hot water poured into the sand in the bucket. Let the submersion sit for a few minutes before pouring out the water. Repeat this process three times. After this, run the soil one more time with tap water and pour out as much water.
Drying
Before going to the next step, you need to dry out the sand. Spread the sand over a used towel and dry out until there is no moisture left.
Baking the sand
Spread the sand thinly – about 4 inches – on metal baking sheets or dishes. Cover with aluminium foil. Place inside an oven and set to 200° Fahrenheit. Maintain a temperature between 180° and 200° for 30 minutes. Don’t allow the temperature to exceed this. Provide some ventilation as the sand may give off an odour as it is heated. After 30 minutes, remove the pans and place them in a safe place to cool. Don’t remove the sand until you’re ready to use the sand.
Get Your Sand at Labrador Landscape Supplies
It’s easy to find and dig up soil anywhere, but poor draining and uncontrolled soil may bring pests and diseases with it. Sterilising sand is an easy and cheap solution to start plants in containers or mix it up with cultured soil for better drainage. For the best buy sands Australia – or soil – deals for your plants and landscape, get your supply from Labrador Landscape Supplies. All our sand is of the highest quality for gardening or other landscaping projects. Call us on 07 5537 2841 and ask us about our various coarse and fine sand. You can also visit us at https://landscape-supply.com.au/.