5 Common Uses for Sand in Landscaping

Recently on the blog we discussed some of the most common uses for gravel in landscaping. In this post we’re covering 4 common uses for sand in landscaping, from filling a child’s play area to stabilizing walkways and establishing game play surfaces for outdoor sports.

Between Pavers

Special paver sand is often used to provide leveling beneath pavers and to fill spaces between pavers. This helps to prevent shifting and breaking of the pavers and makes a paver walkway much more stable.

Concrete

Paver sand can also be used for making certain types of concrete because of its coarseness. This concrete in turn can be used to create walkways, outdoor seating areas, garden edging, steps, and so much more. Concrete can even be poured into an interlocking tile template to create a walkway that looks as though it was made by laying down individual pavers.

Children’s Play Area

If you’re incorporating a children’s play area into your landscaping, then play sand makes the perfect medium for play boxes and for under play equipment. The medium coarse reduces tracking from play areas, keeping your backyard landscape tidy and well-trimmed.

Outdoor Sports Play Area

Play sand can also be used to provide a reliable, yet soft playing surface for outdoor sports like volleyball and beach ball. Play sand can be laid and patted down into a smooth playing surface, then edged with wood or small pavers for an authentic looking game play area. Many choose to include a layer of gravel underneath a thick layer of sand for better durability.

Zen Garden

Zen gardens are a tradition borrowed from Japan. They are rock gardens that feature an enclosed space filled with sand or gravel and showcase larger rocks of unique shapes. The sand or gravel is representative of the sea, while the larger rocks represent the natural earth and rock formations that naturally jut out of open water. Zen gardens are distinguished by their lack of living plants. To keep a Zen garden, you’ll want to rake the sand or gravel to create movement, allowing it to better resemble the moving waters of the sea. The sand or gravel can even be raked into intricate patterns. In addition to adding beauty to a landscape’s scenery, a Zen garden can offer a peaceful space for meditation. Surprisingly enough, play sand can double as the main medium in a Zen garden.