Is there anything useful and garden-y you can do with old sandpit sand?

[MyNameIsInigoMontoya]

It is manky old sand that got full of rainwater and insects and scummy stuff, so really not nice for using in a sandpit any more... so it's either bin it or find some use for it. I know you can put sand stuff in lawns to help them drain but I think that's a special sort of sand, right? But if I can find a use for it it would actually be easier than throwing it out in some ways, and it would be nice not to waste it!

Make a raised bed and grow carrots in it; sprinkle it on the flower beds; sprinkle it on the lawns; a thick ring of it round plants that slugs like (may help a tiny bit); mix it with potting compost to make free draining posing mix for plants that like that kind of thing; use it to mark out new planting areas in the lawn.

Ooh thank you! What is it good for on flower beds if you don't mind me asking? So can I use it on the lawn the same as they say with "sharp sand" (never really knew what that was), where you put it into holes? It could definitely do with improving the drainage in places, some bits are quite mossy and damp where it's in the shade so it would be nice if it helped with that.

As far as I know sand pit sand is the very fine type and will assist the water logging process rather than prevent it. Sharp sand is coarse and helps drainage.

If you can dry it out I have used it previously to make moon sand. Just have a look on Pinterest for the home made recipe.

Hm OK maybe better not on the lawn then.

I'm not giving it to the kids, even dried out, it's too manky! The lid kept blowing off during the winter storms and the pit filling up with water, and then it was really hard to get it dried out again, so it started going all slimy round the sides and some kind of insects were breeding in the water, it's honestly quite grim.

I was going to just bin it, but as there's quite a lot and it's heavy I could probably only chuck a bit at a time, which is partly why I was wondering if there was something else it could be used for (plus it seemed a waste).

I think there are different kinds of sand used in play - see if you can identify which one it is (can you remember where you bought it?), as this will make all the difference!

I think the big issue is lime - sometimes sea sand can be full of it, which is just awful for most non-ericaceous plants. Pour some vinegar on it and see if it fizzes! If it does, don't let it anywhere near your precious plants. Even if it doesn't, I would use with a little bit of caution unless you can remember the type/source and make enquiries!

Ah alright thanks, maybe I should just go with gradually binning it then. I did already chuck some of the water on the plants (as they were looking a bit dry), hopefully that won't be too limey for them. Having a gardening morning - very necessary as it's all getting in a bit of a state!