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Hi Guys

I am having difficulty finding the kind of gravel/sand used in traditional Zen gardens (or at least suitable substitute).

Can anyone please help with suggesting then name and grade of gravel typically used?

I am in Melbourne (Australia) and would like to know places I could buy them.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Hey NcgOsh!

A typical zen garden with sand is called silica sand. A good substitute for this would be dessert sand it is light weight just like the silica sand and it is a very light color as well. As for the rock zen gardens I don't know the type that they use but I suggest trying a pond or river pebble. I hope this helps!

Hi NcgOsh
The best thing to use in your Zen garden is Limestone chippings the size being 8 to 10mm as this size is ideal for raking, any smaller and it is like sand which is to fine and any larger it dosn't rake to well.
I used it in my Japanese garden and found it ideal.
koiboy01

Hi,
WHY do people ask questions?, but do not have the decency to reply to the answers that people give.
koiboy01

Happens constantly here, but they may not have felt it needed any reply, you didn't ask any return questions. But yeah there are lots of times even when I do ask follow up questions, that I'm just left wondering if my answer was any help, what happened after that, etc. We have to just get used to the fact that most of the stories that start here, are left incomplete. Make up your own ending!

(alternate story ending choices:

hey koiboy, thanks for the help, I tried the limestone chippings and it was just what I wanted.

OR

koiboy, I've been looking around for limestone chippings and can't find any. Where do you get them?

)

Hi Rainbow gardener,
I am used to the fact that some people do not reply to posts when asking a question, as I have been a member of this forum for many years also other forums too.I just happened to be makeing a statement,
By the way am I supposed to find YOUR made up answers funny, well I don't, I think you are trying to be slightly clever.
koiboy01

Yes, I was trying to be slightly clever. Sorry if it didn't work.

I appreciate the 'clever'ness. It's instructural as well. Thanx!

Some folks learn by example.

Answers to replies may not be coming because some pople are not on the forum as much as some of us who make this forum part of our life! RIGHT? Gardening to me s like a religion with sunday everyday!RIGHT?

Hi Koiboy

Please let me know from where I could buy Limestone Chipps in Melbourne.

Thanks

NcgOsh

Alternate ending number 2, two months later!

Welcome back NcgOsh!

Doubt any of us in UK or USA would know where to buy something in Melbourne, Australia. You will need to look for some more local sources of information.

Hi,
I second rainbow gardeners answer.
koiboy01

Hi all
Traditional sand may be very expensive even in Japan.
You already recieved usefull informations.

This is my 2cents
caluculate necessary amount of sand. order 25% more or less . scren it ,discard fine slit and wash good sand. About 30% of sand you get are not able to use if you want to have uniform texture.

George
Do you still have my e-mail address and address in Japan?
Plum will bloom within two weeks,and planing to start to work soon.

mike

Hi Mike,
I don't have your new email address or your address in Japan.
I hope you are keeping well and busy.
All the best George.

Well if this is still open, there is an alternative to shirakawazuna that is also often used in Japan, small pebbles. That is what we have used.

For some pictures on how this shows, have look at our garden site [url=https://www.zen-garden.org/html/page_obj_ginshanada.htm]The Ginshanada[/url] page and scroll down a page.

[img]https://www.zen-garden.org/img/img_0355p201.jpg[/img]

We used 2-8 mm pebbles. Of course an important aspect is the overall color impression one gets from the average viewing distance and angle.
This should be considered in sun shine, in shadow and during the night, as well as dry and after a rain shower.

Wisdom and good luck,

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