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Do I need to rotivate before adding top soil to turf?

Tom78Tom78 Posts: 23
in Problem solving
Afternoon folks

Over the next couple of weeks I plan to tackle our back garden which is very sorry for itself following our building work. I need to raise the ground level by 3-4 inches and am buying in 4sqm of good quality top soil.

The surface is currently some patchy grass and bare earth. It's not quite level either as when I took out an old patio last year I didn't put down enough new soil to level it .

Do I need to rotivate the old soil and level it/compact prior to adding the new top soil? 

I'm hoping adding the new soil and ensuring this is level and we'll compacted will be sufficient (leaving the remaining tufty bits of grass in situ) 

Many thanks for any help!
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Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Are you planning on reseeding, laying turf or growing flowers or veg?
  • Tom78Tom78 Posts: 23
    fidgetbones said:
    Are you planning on reseeding, laying turf or growing flowers or veg?

    Laying new turf :)

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    You can leave the base layer. You will need to level and compact the new soil before laying turf.
  • Tom78Tom78 Posts: 23
    Ah super that's good news then many thanks! The 3-4 inches I add should be plenty to level the whole garden up. 
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,360
    When I did something similar (probably added closer to 5-6 inches) I was concerned about panning at the existing ground level. I did a sort of OTT aeration - sticking my fork in as far as possible but instead of just wiggling it I loosened the soil as much as I could. Once this was done I walked on it as little as possible as I added the topsoil. Obviously I had to compact and level before laying turf, but I left it for some time before that so that the existing grass could at least start to decompose (which changes the level) and the topsoil could settle.
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • Tom78Tom78 Posts: 23
    That's really handy LG thanks. There's so little grass there i may just skim it off. 

    Levelling the top soil- is it worth hiring a roller? The local places do the water filled ones. Otherwise I've seen people level soil by dragging a ladder or pallet.
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    I believe that rollers are for after the lawn has been laid. Levelling with a ladder/pallet makes sense.
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    If it's not too big an area you can just "tread" the ground. Shuffle over the ground back & forth systematically keeping the weight on your heels. Then rake & rake until its level. Your lower legs & calves will hate you for it, but it ensures there are no air pockets or patches that will sink later.
    AB Still learning

  • Tom78Tom78 Posts: 23
    Thanks folks I'll avoid the roller and tread/rake it! I'll report back with my progress :)
  • Tom78Tom78 Posts: 23
    Right

    My 5sqm of top soil came this morning and after a busy day it's all down. Raked and trod down once so far so plan on doing this a couple more times tomorrow and it'll hopefully be level! 

    I'm planning on turfing on Thursday but have read some comments online saying I should leave the soil soil to settle for longer? 

    There is 3-4 inches of new top soil over the garden now .
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