Frequently Asked Questions

Sand and kaolin clay are two unique types of material.  Sand is much more abrasive and must be pumped with hardened steel pumps and cutterhead wear parts.  Kaolin is less abrasive but must be pumped efficiently, often at long distances to be economical.  Hydraulic mining is often used when the source is dry.  Dredges are used when the water table is above the source of material. 

Dredging is one solution to remove sediment from in front of a nuclear or coal power plant water intake.  Methods to minimize turbidity can be taken to reduce the risk of intake components.  Schedules can be adjusted for best time to dredge for operations and water levels.  Disposal of the sediment can be done on-site or exported.

Dredging is the method to remove sediment, silt, and muck from a lake, pond, or lagoon.  You can dig the dirt out with an excavator, or you can pump it out with a dredge. 

Algae can be expensive to treat and remove from drinking water.  It can even be deadly.  During summer months algae blooms in raw water reservoirs can be a concern.  Treating the lake with alum treatments is one way to reduce the available Phosphorus within the water.  However, dredging is another method that actually removes phosphorus that is attached to the sediment.  Dredging can improve water quality be removing excessive phosphorus and sediment, reducing treatment costs for algae and turbidity.  Dredging can also increase storage capacity and decrease drought conditions.  

You can use the same sand for both but they are not the same.  Topdressing sand is designed more for the purpose of topdressing turf and the gradation is composed of medium sized particles.  The same sand is not optimal for bunkers as it can become unstable and lead to fried egg lies or buried balls (low penetrometer readings).  However, your bunker sand should not contain particles that if hit onto the green cause damage (large particles).  Bunker sand is designed with more uniform gradation and angular particle shapes.

Compost is an excellent amendment to add to soil fertility.  The organic matter content can help add and retain nutrients available to plants.  In many cases, compost is a great way to reduce or eliminate use of commercial fertilzers.  However, the nutrient value of a quality compost is usually less than 1-1-1, meaning that more than 97% of the compost is not nutrients.  When compared to commercial fertilizer, such as a 50 lb bag of 10-10-10, there is more nutrient value, over 10 times, than compost.  So, compost is a great alternative that offers additional benefits from organic matter content and additional of beneficial soil microbes.  Regardless, be sure to perform a soil test (https://extension.uga.edu) prior to applying fertilizer to help your landscape, the environment, and save money. 

Compost is not topsoil.  Compost is one of the best amendments used to improve your dirt or topsoil but isn’t the best material to use alone for planting.  Its benefits of adding organic matter, microbes, and nutrients are best used when blending into a soil (unless it is being used a mulch). 

You can find some contractors willing to give extra dirt that they have on a project.  So, if you see a house or building with a pile of dirt close by, you may ask the contractor.  However, most of the time you will need to haul it with a dump truck which will add cost.  Be careful to inspect or ask about the fill dirt as many construction sites tend to place anything in the dirt pile that they are getting rid of which may end up with you getting debris and trash you do not want along with the dirt.  Most landscape suppliers, like River Sand, select the best quality dirt that is most affordable for you, and can deliver it when you need it. 

No, soils are sourced and blended differently by manufacturers and suppliers.  Typically, topsoil is soil excavated and sold directly as “good dirt” (this is not the case with RSI’s Topsoil).  Potting Soil contains a mixture of perlite, dolomite, peat, or other materials best-suited for potted plants.  It is light and drains rapidly.  Garden Soil can refer to a material that is very similar to Topsoil or Landscape Mix.  Landscape Mix often has a higher percentage of organic material and sand to promote adequate drainage along with moisture and nutrient retention.  Landscape Mix is better suited for planting established plants while topsoil is better for gardening and seeding/sodding a lawn. 

Manufactured sand is good for certain purposes.  It usually is clean and free of large gravel.  Manufactured sand is angular and has some fines that allow it to compact well.  It can be an economical option for general construction sand.