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How much topsoil needed for laying new turf?

j-boylej-boyle Posts: 3
in Problem solving
Looking for some advice if anyone can help.

I had a 3x5m bit of wasteland in my garden that was uneven and full of weeds and tree stumps.

I decided to dig it all out and level it off. I've also bought some already grown turf rolls from B&Q.

My plan was to put a weed membrane down on the flattened mud, then top soil, then the rolls of turd.

I have now though read online that you should ideally have 70mm of topsoil to lay the grass on to.

Ive only dug to the base of my slabs and I would like the grass to be level with my slabs.

Is there any chance I could get away with using 20mm of top soil on top of the membrane, then laying the turf, and the turf bedding in and surviving?

Don't plan on digging any more out.

Plan B is to forget about the membrane and just out the 20mm of topsoil on directly on top of the mud, but I fear that will results in whatever remains of the previous weeds in the mud quickly growing back through the new grass.

Any advice appreciated.


Posts

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    I don't think 20mm top soil with membrane underneath will be a good idea. There is no easy short cut to this. You need to dig down to remove the weeds and add more top soil in and then allow a period of rest to see what other weeds have been brought to the surface. Weed out further weeds. Then more top-soil on top, but at least 10cm and then even out. It's a good time to be doing this now so the turf can go down in the next month or so. Any small weeds may still come through your new lawn, but again, you can deal with that as part of the lawn maintenance later.
  • j-boylej-boyle Posts: 3
    Not what I was hoping to hear but thanks all the same.

    A gardening novice, should have done a bit more reading on it I guess.

    Wondering whether to cut my losses on the turf and just go for soft play bark instead.

    So weed membrane down then just bark straight on top.

    On a time and money budget so I was hoping to finish it by the weekend. I guess digging down and doing the two runs of top soil will take time and cost as it will take a fair bit of soil.
  • j-boylej-boyle Posts: 3
    edited September 2020
    Maybe another daft question here but if I go down the route of putting down children's play bark rather than the turf, (which I can re-purpose elsewhere) am I best still putting some top spoil down on top of the weed membrane for the bark to 'bed' in to?
    Or am I fine just to put the bark down on top of the membrane?

    Is there any recommendation on what kind of depth you should have with the bark?
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    You shouldn't lay a weed membrane under the topsoil.  Weeds will be supressed by the turf, and the membrane could affect the development of grass roots.  It certainly will if you only have 20mm of soil.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    How are you retaining all the surrounds @j-boyle if you're making the turf the level of the paving?
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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