Frequently Asked Questions

RSI supplies both pea gravel that is from a river that is smooth, rounded pebbles and crushed from rock that is sharp, gray pebbles.  Both are very functional.  The granite gravel is more affordable but the river rock is very attractive. 

The sand-based structural soil blend design uses sand, usually coarse in texture, as the primary medium.  The gravel-based structural soil blend uses gravel, usually larger sized and washed, as the primary medium.  Both still include a portion of clay or clay loam soil along with soil amendments such as hydrogel. 

Generally speaking, garden soil had a few more enhancements like sand or compost added to a quality topsoil.  Topsoil from most providers is good dirt that they dug up somewhere, and loaded it in a truck.  However, RSI’s Topsoil comes from a process  where we screen out any large debris and blend just the right amount of sand and compost to improve its quality, so our Topsoil is both a high-quality topsoil that can be used for a gardening. 

Pea gravel or pea pebbles make a great surface to walk on.  The small gravel is not slick and drains water rapidly.  Pea gravel creates a relatively smooth surface compared to larger gravel that you can feel the edges beneath your shoes and tends to shift your feet. 

Dredging can be done in one of two ways.  Mechanical dredging is done by an excavator or clamshell digging sediment from a reservoir.  Hydraulic dredging is performed by a floating barge with a pump sucking the sediment from the lake bottom and pumping it in a pipeline to another location. 

Topdressing helps reduce excessive thatch and organic matter that will lead to a spongy soft playing surface.  The right type of sand helps maintain a smooth, firm green for optimal play.  Sand topdressing also encourages air and water to enter the rootzone for a healthy turf. 

Topsoil is used for making gardens, planting shrubs, spreading to lay turf of plant grass seed, and filling in holes in your lawn.  Topsoil is one of the most commonly used materials for landscaping and gardening.  A good soil is critical for healthy plants.  Potting soil is slightly different and better for potted plants and not ideal for use in the lawn. 

All dredges are not made the same.  Gold dredges have a very specific purpose and do not pump sediment past the surface of the water.  Small 4” and 6” dredges may be suitable for sludge but not for silt within a pond or lake.  Small dredges cannot pass debris through the pump easily and don’t have enough horsepower to pump sand long distances.  Larger 8”, 10”, 12”, and 14” dredge pumps may be too large for small ponds or lakes but suitable for reservoirs.  Large dredges can be difficult to mobilize and may pump too much water.  Dredges for sand are designed with pumps for highly abrasive materials.  Auger dredges work best in fine silt and sludge.  Walking dredges are best when cables cannot be anchored nearby.  Before you purchase or rent a dredge be sure to select the dredge designed for your application.  Before you select a contractor, be sure they know what type of dredge is suitable and not just the only one they have or can afford.  You may end up with a project that is not completed properly.

Divot Sand or Divot Mix is a type of material golf courses leave on golf carts for golfers to fill back in the holes they make in the turf.  A lot of times the sand used is the same type of sand that is used to topdress a course.  However, many courses prefer a green or off-white colored sand to help disguise the many chunks of turf missing before they the turf recovers.  Divot Mix can also be a blend of sand with peat, fertilizer, or grass seed to help the turf recover more quickly. 

Potting soil mix is a lightweight soil, unlike topsoil, made from compost, peat, bark, perlite, dolomite, or other light soil that drains rapidly.  It is used for planting in pots, vases, or other containers.