Frequently Asked Questions

Pond sand is the sand dug from settling ponds from quarries (the dust/silt washed from the rock).  Most pond sand contains a large amount of silt making it unsuitable for most applications (dusty when dry and slick when wet).  It can also have a huge variation from each source in the amount of rock, silt, and sand it contains.

River rock, sometimes referred to as pea gravel (smaller), egg rock or deco rock (medium sized), is a naturally occurring rock.  It’s edges are smooth from the years of erosion in beneath the water.  Colors of river rock vary from brown, tans, yellows, and oranges.  Typical sizes are as follows:

#7s – small, pea gravel

#57s – small pea gravel to rock size

#4s – medium sized rock (egg to golf ball sized)

Large river rock – comes in many sizes, usually by range in inches (i.e. 3-5”)

River Rock is an excellent accent to your landscape.  It can be used as a beautiful, permanent ground cover (substitute for mulch and pine straw) or to reduce erosion.  It can be placed in gardens, around shrubbery, beside sidewalks, around pools, beneath porches, or the edges of a house.  It can also be used as driveway gravel, walking paths, or for fire pits.  The best advantage of using river rock is that it does not have to be replaced over time. 

River Sand is a natural sand that is made from weathering or erosion processes, unlike other sands that are made from crushing rock.  River Sand can vary in gradation but is typically coarse sand.  It can be used in all types of landscaping and construction projects including concrete sand, drainage areas, arena footing and soil amendments.  It is made from the same material of the local rock it eroded from, so usually it is mainly silica sand from quartz.  Our River Sand is sub-angular in shape, but other sources can be rounded. 

River Sand is used in concrete, horse arenas, golf courses, french drains, topdressing, sport field construction, and as a soil amendment.  River Sand is a great soil amendment for gardening and landscaping as it helps relieve clay soils from becoming compacted, and improves water and air infiltration.  It can be mixed in with the soil or used alone like in a sand-based sport field or french drain.  Topdressing a lawn or grass is actually a process in which River Sand levels and amends the turf.  Horse arenas use River Sand as a well-draining footing as it provides the horse with cushion and traction at the same time.  Pre-cast, ready mix, and other concrete projects can use River Sand for an aggregate and it helps concrete pump and finish better.

Most of our River Sand has parent material (the rock from where it eroded/broke away from) of quartz.  So, it is primarily a silica sand (SiO₂), or quartz sand.  The different hues of brown, red, and yellow comes from iron oxides on the surface of the particle. 

Most of our River Sand has parent material (the rock from where it eroded/broke away from) of quartz.  So, it is primarily a silica sand (SiO₂), or quartz sand.  The different hues of brown, red, and yellow comes from iron oxides on the surface of the particle. 

Structural soil is a type of Urban Tree Planting Mix.  Structural Soil is used for planting trees in urban settings, typically surrounded by concrete sidewalks or roads, to allow for both compaction to support infrastructure but at the same time providing soil structure for root growth.  Structural Soil allows trees to survive and thrive in urban settings usually along the sidewalk, and helps prevent tree roots from cracking or damaging concrete or asphalt. 

The best sand for arenas is a silica sand, sub-angular or angular, washed, and screened sand.  Silica sand is durable and lasts longer under the constant horse traffic.  The sub-angular shape shifts less than rounded particles.  The washing and screening process removes unwanted pebbles and dust from the footing. 

The ideal dirt for recreational baseball and softball infields is composed of 70% sand and 30% silt and clay combined.  Professional and collegiate level fields typically prefer 60% sand and 40% silt and clay.  Both types of infield dirt should be free from any debris including small rocks, and red is the preferred color of choice.  This dirt if typically provided from a supplier, such as River Sand, Inc.