When it comes to selecting sand for your landscaping project, you may feel overwhelmed by how many types are available. Despite there being so many types to choose from, residential landscaping needs can typically be met with just a few types of sand, as certain types of sand can be used for a wide variety of projects. Some types of landscaping sand are for very specialised, and often commercial, projects, but residential projects tend to be less technically demanding. Read on to learn about three popular types of landscaping sand that can be used for residential projects.

Utility Sand

Utility sand is coarse and consists of a mixture of a variety of colours of sand. It's used as a filler and base layer due to it having a high rate of compaction. This makes it a good choice for a variety of landscaping projects, such as filling trenches and creating a foundation layer for paving stones or concrete paths and driveways. Due to its sharp, coarse texture, it shouldn't be used in areas where pets or children will be walking, so it's not ideal for decorative landscaping.

White Sand

White sand, also known as beach sand, has a fine texture and contains no added silica, which makes this type of sand ideal for use in play areas. Children can play barefoot in this sand without any discomfort and its clean, vibrant appearance also makes it a popular choice as a top layer on decorative borders and rockeries. Due to its texture, white sand should not be used as a base layer, as it does not compact well regardless of how much pressure is applied to it.

Concrete Sand

Concrete sand is a mix of cement and coarse utility sand. It's mostly used for levelling an area that's about to be developed with hard landscaping, so if you're planning on installing a pool, patio or pathway, concrete sand will likely be your landscaper's first choice as a foundation layer. The heaviness of concrete sand means it's not ideal as a core layer, as it can put too much pressure on whatever type of sand you've selected as the base layer.

If you're unsure about the best type of sand to choose for your landscaping project, contact your local sand delivery store. They can provide advice based on the nature of the project and show you some sand samples. In addition to being able to deliver the sand you need, some stores will take back any sand you don't use.