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Preparing for new lawn in Spring
Dan Almond
Posts: 32
Good morning,
I am currently undergoing a revamp of the garden, and have a few questions regarding the digging/replacement of quality top soil come the Spring, before laying new turf.
The house is pretty much a new build, built on clay soils (slightly grey in colour), with little or next to no top soil. Garden suffers from compaction, slightly squelchy after heavy rainfall, but the drainage issue of clay soils doesn’t impact, as I have areas of hard landscaping within the garden to use if it does get a bit wet. I intent to remove circa 150 mm of top/sub soil and bring in imported sand/loam mix to make up the levels before laying new turf.
Questions...
When will be the best time of year (appreciate it needs to dry out a bit) before i dig down, and bring in new top soil? Will a sand/loam mix be suitable, or do I need to add additional grit into the soil? How long to let the soil 'settle' after I’ve levelled it? Is mid spring a suitable time to be paying new turf? Anything I can be doing now, so save time come spring?Appreciate your advice.
Dan
0
Posts
Ed,
Thanks for your reply. If i was staying at the house longer, i would probably address the drainage issue. The garden sloped towards the house, so even if i add french drains or perforated pipes, i have nowhere suitable to position to install a soakaway.
I'm hopeful quality top soil will improve surface water drainage. Assuming i run with simply replacing the current soil, what spec and thickness of gravel would you advise before i import the new topsoil?
Would i need a sand/loam mix, or just a normal topsoil mix for the soil?
By the time i start digging will be after Christmas no doubt. Will this have any impact on the further compaction of subsoils etc?
Ed, thanks.
No flooding problems no. The problem seems to occur after heavy rainfall. Water drains/percolates away as would expect, but given there is little to no topsoil, the grass is very thin as i believe the roots cannot penetrate the clay, and when you do walk on it, its like walking on wet mud (if that makes sense).
Gents,
Thanks for your input, backs up what i have read and understood to date. Last question (and i understanding how to prep the new top soil), but when should i did out the old stuff, given that it will be very much bog like, until it dries out a bit.
Are you saying, dig it out now (Say December), leave it at a reduced level until spring, and import the new top soil to make up levels in March.
Will that give the sub soil enough time to dry out, or will be be doing the penguin shuffle whilst getting very muddy boots?
Advise on timescales will be great!
Thanks Edd. Not the biggest area in the world, so all by hand hand
I guess it will. Ill probably dig and remove what i can, before chucking down some rotted manure and let that do its thing for a few months over the Winter.
Couple of photos. Started work in June, and now building a raised hardwood deck to make the most of the view.
Lovely view you have John
The 'boys' have given you good advice. Digging out the area a bit at a time will make it easier and I'd go for it now as well. I've been doing something similar to make new paths and a lawn and it's amazing how quickly you can see an improvement. The ground will be messy over winter but a bit of frost etc will help it and you'll be rested and ready to start the next stage in spring. Disposing of the clay is the worst bit - I now have a nice earth 'bank' behind my shed...
PS - I'm going for seed for mine too.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It'll certainly be magic when it's done Verd...I hope!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...