We had a bit of a messy garden full of half bricks and bits of tiles, we just dug it over and slowly picked out all the rubble, build raised beds out of decking wood and filled them with part top soil and part compost, it's a slow job but it's worth it, look at it now
Ignore my sweet peas
This raised bed is about 10ft long you just can't see it all
Hi Flumpy. You've certainly done a good job, I've got a bed that the men that made the raised bed secretly filled with all sorts of rubble. Sadly, I didn't find out until I'd planted lots of shrubs, roses, and bulbs.So, now I just get them out one at a time when they appear. Grrr!
I know they are a pain, we've been here for seven years and still find the very odd one now and the plants are looking healthier since putting more and more compost and fertiliser in, Pat I've left you instructions on how to rotate your picture on Happy Marion's forum
Ajp45, there are many different types of weedkiller. Some stop weeds coming up, some have to be sprayed on foliage and left for at least a month. Some are diluted for you, some are full strength, some are painted on to leaves. It's a big subject!
AJP - this is probably not going to be a quick job.
1. Your first step should be to remove as much of the rubble and other rubbish from the top 18" of soil as you possibly can.
2. While you are doing that you should remove as many weeds (with their roots) as you can. The only way to do both these jobs is by digging with a fork.
3. When it's been dug once - leave it for a couple of weeks. New weeds will almost certainly appear - either dig them out or apply weedkiller to the leaves. You should use a glyphosphate based weedkiller to kill the weeds and their roots. It takes time for the glyphosphate to work it's way through the plant so they may not appear to be dying for several days - sometimes a couple of weeks depending on the weed.
4. You will probably need to repeat step 3 at least once.
5. Once you are sure all the weeds & rubble have gone you can start mixing in your topsoil
6. Then you can start levelling / firming / raking. Repeat this 2 or 3 times
7. Then you can sow the grass seed ..
So - much as you said - but with more emphasis on spending several weeks clearing the site of rubble and weeds before you bring in top soil.
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
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ive straighened your picture up
We had a bit of a messy garden full of half bricks and bits of tiles, we just dug it over and slowly picked out all the rubble, build raised beds out of decking wood and filled them with part top soil and part compost, it's a slow job but it's worth it, look at it now
Ignore my sweet peas
This raised bed is about 10ft long you just can't see it all
Good luck with your project
Hello Pat
Hi Flumpy. You've certainly done a good job, I've got a bed that the men that made the raised bed secretly filled with all sorts of rubble. Sadly, I didn't find out until I'd planted lots of shrubs, roses, and bulbs.So, now I just get them out one at a time when they appear. Grrr!
I know they are a pain, we've been here for seven years and still find the very odd one now and the plants are looking healthier since putting more and more compost and fertiliser in, Pat I've left you instructions on how to rotate your picture on Happy Marion's forum
Yes, thanks Flumpy. I found I, so will give it a go.
Just thought id put the weedkiller down to make sure everything is completely dead...
Has anyone ordered from lawnsmith, seems quite good stuff.
AJP - this is probably not going to be a quick job.
1. Your first step should be to remove as much of the rubble and other rubbish from the top 18" of soil as you possibly can.
2. While you are doing that you should remove as many weeds (with their roots) as you can. The only way to do both these jobs is by digging with a fork.
3. When it's been dug once - leave it for a couple of weeks. New weeds will almost certainly appear - either dig them out or apply weedkiller to the leaves. You should use a glyphosphate based weedkiller to kill the weeds and their roots. It takes time for the glyphosphate to work it's way through the plant so they may not appear to be dying for several days - sometimes a couple of weeks depending on the weed.
4. You will probably need to repeat step 3 at least once.
5. Once you are sure all the weeds & rubble have gone you can start mixing in your topsoil
6. Then you can start levelling / firming / raking. Repeat this 2 or 3 times
7. Then you can sow the grass seed ..
So - much as you said - but with more emphasis on spending several weeks clearing the site of rubble and weeds before you bring in top soil.
This seems a better buy than roundup thats quite expensive for a small bottle. Plus my dad has the backpack sprayer so will get done quicker...