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Grass seed thrown into new borders

TattyMacTattyMac Posts: 81
in Problem solving

Hello, Whilst making a large seeded lawn and 100 sqm of borders my groundsman didn’t cover the new borders before sowing grass seed. A month later I had a layer of turf across all the beds. So I removed the turf and most of the soil in doing so using wheelbarrow, some two tonnes of it throughout the bank holiday. When he returned he said I just needed to turn over the turf since the beds were to be covered for a year anyway and any seed would die with the unwanted grass. Apparently I have wasted my holiday weekend and £500 to replace the soil removed. Is he correct that the seed will die after a year under bark mulch and weed control fabric, or will grass grow and become a nuisance when planting through the fabric next year?


Kent near the white cliffs. Always learning and often the hard way.

Posts

  • Jenny_AsterJenny_Aster Posts: 945
    It will die. The way you've described is a way to kill unwanted weeds and plants. 
    Trying to be the person my dog thinks I am! 

    Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
  • TattyMacTattyMac Posts: 81
    Thank you Jenny. I'll put it all back then. Sigh! 
    Kent near the white cliffs. Always learning and often the hard way.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Who said: "a little learning is a dangerous thing"?
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd be wary. Unless it's really well covered, grass can, and will, grow back if the conditions suit it.
    To ensure it doesn't, it helps to scalp it really well before removal [too late and not suitable for your situation unfortunately ] and it needs a good depth of material on top -6 inches or so.
    As long as you cover it really well, it might be ok, but I've often had turf stacked as I've described, with layers on top of it, and there's still bits that try to escape at the edges. 
    How quickly it breaks down also depends on the conditions - it takes a lot longer than a year here, as cold wet turf takes forever, so if that's the case, it would be better to stack it somewhere, covered, if you can, and it can be used later as a mulch or for other things. I use it in the bottom of large containers etc. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • TattyMacTattyMac Posts: 81
    Alexander Pope I believe. Wait 'till I catch'im!
    Thanks for the chuckle I needed that! On the bright side I have to turn it over to get the flints out anyway. 
    Kent near the white cliffs. Always learning and often the hard way.
  • TattyMacTattyMac Posts: 81
    Must admin Fairy Girl I do have lots of uses for spare grassy soil such as levelling or starting a area at the front. Not sure if I can afford the £500 to replace the hole in the beds though.
    Kent near the white cliffs. Always learning and often the hard way.
  • Jenny_AsterJenny_Aster Posts: 945
    Would grass seed sown a month ago would be grass seedlings? Unless they are super seeds surely they wouldn't be classed as turf? Grass seed I planted just over a month ago are no bigger than needles, a hoe would stop their 'gallop'.
    Trying to be the person my dog thinks I am! 

    Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
  • TattyMacTattyMac Posts: 81
    Yes it would be rather fast. It felt like a month but they were probably sown in Feb/March.

    Kent near the white cliffs. Always learning and often the hard way.
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