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River sand for new sod

Posted on 9/26/23 at 10:47 am
Posted by Elusive Crawfish
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2020
36 posts
Posted on 9/26/23 at 10:47 am
I know this board has advised against river sand due to torpedo grass and other weeds but a few places I’ve called have said their “pumped” river sand is the preferred material under new sod and that it’s clean and weed free. Is this true? Are there multiple types of river sand/dirt ?

Edit: I should say that they have recommended this river sand over their more expensive topsoil that I inquired about
This post was edited on 9/26/23 at 10:50 am
Posted by Ingeniero
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2013
18431 posts
Posted on 9/26/23 at 10:51 am to
You couldn't pay me to put river sand in my yard
Posted by TheBoo
South to Louisiana
Member since Aug 2012
4571 posts
Posted on 9/26/23 at 10:53 am to
Neighbor put river sand / silt when they built. The little strip between their driveway and my fence is 100% torpedograss. Pretty sure they should be charged with a crime.
Posted by LSUtigerME
Walker, LA
Member since Oct 2012
3816 posts
Posted on 9/26/23 at 10:55 am to
It really is a great product to use as a base under sod or top dressing. It spreads easily, has some nutrients in it, and provides a little bit of flow/self-leveling.

The only risk is weeds. I think it really depends on how it’s obtained and where it’s from. If sodding Bermuda or Zoysia, it will give you treatment options for torpedo, so it’s not the end of the world. If St Aug, might be better to avoid it if don’t want the risk.
Posted by YOURADHERE
Member since Dec 2006
8065 posts
Posted on 9/26/23 at 12:46 pm to
I too didn't listen and spread riversand in my backyard.

Tomorrow I go pick up 2 pallets of fresh sod to fix that mistake after I had to nuke the entire section, till it all under, level it back out, and will be laying sod.

Don't be like me.
Posted by Tifway419
Member since Sep 2022
933 posts
Posted on 9/26/23 at 12:46 pm to
From what I’ve always understood, you are good to go if it is pumped directly from the river for the sole purpose of using as soil and is immediately hauled off.

What happens in reality is they will pump the high spots so the large ships can pass, and just dump that sand/silt material nearby and let it sit for months until it’s hauled off. This allows the weeds and torpedo grasses to grow from that land before it’s hauled off and sold to you as “clean” soil.

It’s just a matter of it you trust the soil company. If you’re buying from the sod company, they know better and you should be ok. Just depends on the risk you want to take.
Posted by CrawDude
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2019
5300 posts
Posted on 9/26/23 at 12:59 pm to
No pumped river sand is weed free, but whether it contains torpedo grass is another issue. Torpedo grass contaminated river sand use to be confined to the New Orleans river basin areas but that may no longer be the case.

You didn’t say where you are located, but to be on the safe side you’d be better off spending the extra $ for bulk mason sand if you have low areas that need to be leveled prior to laying sod.
Posted by FlyinTiger93
Member since May 2010
3617 posts
Posted on 9/26/23 at 2:07 pm to
Mason sand, or sharp sand
Posted by BilbeauTBaggins
probably stuck in traffic
Member since May 2021
4896 posts
Posted on 9/27/23 at 6:32 pm to
Two part question: is river sand the same as river silt?

Second part: I inquired about getting topsoil from Clegg's and they said they only had river silt and that's what they "suggested" for my yard. Is there any reason why I wouldn't use this as a top dressing for current soil and for seeding a large bare section of my yard?
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