Question
Carlo, I have been planning a raked Japanese garden.  The Botanic Garden in Chgo. was using "Arkansas Pearls" from Menoni & McCogni, but they are discontinued and I can't find them anywhere.  They suggested "Cherrystone grit" for fowl.  I found crushed granite poultry grit called GRAN-I-GRIT, and the starter size appears to be a lovely color and just right size so that it (hopefully) won't blow around in the wind and will show the rake lines.  Is there anything less expensive?  This product is running about $6 for 50lbs and I'll probably need 50 bags for two 19x4ft. adjoining terraces. I considered 12/40 grit shotblasting material called "Black Magnum" but decided its black color, though dramatic, might not show the rake lines.  That is about $9 per 100lbs. I might decide to combine some of these materials or perhaps some larger cheap river rock into separate areas to infer an island, a stream or still water around the Twisty Baby Locust tree I have in the far right of the upper tier.  I have collected a number of boulders over the years also and will choose 1 or 3 of the best to balance the Twisty Baby at the other end of the bottom terrace.  I plan to limit my materials whatever I decide on so that it doesn't get too busy, but cost is a factor and decomposed limestone is basically ugly paver base that compacts. Do you think I have estimated correctly for approx. 2-3inches of product over landscape fabric for the two areas I mentioned?  Was I correct in assuming the black shot-blast would not give the desired effect? I've been to every stoneyard for miles and I'm calling local quarrys tomorrow, but so far the chicken grit looks best.  Also, the medium chicken grit is more of a salt/pepper color than the lovely white,rosebeige w/black specks of the starter grit.  MUST I mix the two for best raking effect or to limit blow around?? I'd prefer the lighter, starter grit alone unless you suggest something cheaper and just as nice.
Thanks!

Answer
Hi Lucy!

Unfortunately it is still very hard to find good gravel in the US.
I have been using the chicken grit myself
Good idea to limit the materials.
Simplicity is the secret.

Good Luck!

Carlo









For better raking yes, use the medium chicken grit with the starter grit.