Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

New build house, lawn is terrible. How to start over?

StonedofmooStonedofmoo Posts: 3
in Problem solving

Hi everybody. I'm new here and I found this site by searching on lawn issues.

First of all hopefully I'm posting this in the right place . 
A bit of background, we moved into a new build house of which we are the second owners and is roughly 6 years old. We noticed straight away that during winter the lawn becomes waterlogged and dies in the worst hit areas, and dries out very quickly in summer.

This has resulted in a poor quality, patchy lawn which is far from level and looks awful. My neighbours all have the same issue and blame the lawn foundations as being full of rubble and waste and have mostly removed their lawns and used fake grass instead.

Although I'm no gardener, we don't really want our two children running around on a fake lawn and I'm willing to put in the work to rectify this.

I have no experience with laying lawns so that's where I need your help, I have some questions around this if you'll be kind enough to help

1) I'm thinking of digging out all of the current grass and the waste rubble underneath to clear the area, but how deep would I need to go to best results?

2) What's the best way to remove it? I could take it to the tip but I think they have policies on receiving rubble these days, something like 6 bags a month so I think I need another option

3) Once I've removed the junk rubble and waste, what type of soil do I replace it with and where I would be best advised to go and get it?

4) Do I just level off the replacement soil and then call in a lawn turfing company to finish the job and put new turf down?

Any help or tips would be very welcome.

Posts

  • RainbowfishRainbowfish Posts: 276

    Sounds a lot like ours. We are the first owners and didn't try to turf it. We had lots of 'rubble' including bathroom tiles from our own property to clear out but now its mail'y patio and raised flower beds, with little patch for wild flowers. No kiddies needing space to run.

    Good luck with yours

  • Dave MorganDave Morgan Posts: 3,123

    Well let's take it step by step.

    Step 1 yes take up or kill of what grass there is. 

    Step 2 dig it over with a fork and go a a fork depth down removing the rubble as you go.

    Step 3 most skip companies will take rubble away, they're licenced to get rid of it.

    Step 4 have a look at the type of soil you have. It may be clay as it seems not to drain. If so you need to incorporate grit and manure, as much as you can get and you can do this with a Rotavator.

    This  will take time to rot down so it's best tackled in the Autumn and leaving it till the following spring before thinking of laying or sowing a lawn.

    Just dumping topsoil on top of clay doesn't really solve bad drainage so it's worth taking the time and making the effort to get things right in the first place.

    If however your soil isn't clay, then you can buy in topsoil by the ton which is available from good builders merchants. 

    This you spread to a decent depth 4-6 inches is the optimum. You'll have to wait a few weeks for it to settle properly after which you can lay turf or seed it.

    There is no easy option I'm afraid. Especially as you'd like a decent lawn for the kids to play on. Plus you'll be the only house with proper grass unlike your neighbours.

  • Goldfinch 60Goldfinch 60 Posts: 143

    Dave, I love reading your advice, its so informative.

  • StonedofmooStonedofmoo Posts: 3

    That's brilliant advice thank you. I'll dig up a square at the weekend and see what I'm dealing with, I don't think it's going to be clay to be honest, but I'll let you guys know what I find.

    Regards, Chris

  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543

    I had problems with my lawn and was thinking of tackling it myself but in the end I got a lawn expert to come in and they did a grand job and was not as expensive as I had thought.

    They removed the old lawn,dug out a layer of compacted clay underneath,then rotovated the whole area to break things up,then a layer of good soil topped wih good quality turf.

    Only a small lawn and it only took 2 days in all.

    So really depends on how big the lawn is and if you have the time and energy to tackle it yourself,sometimes it is better (and quicker) to get professionals in!

    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • StonedofmooStonedofmoo Posts: 3

    Hi there

    Would you be willing to share what that cost?

    Cheers

  • KveeKvee Posts: 1

    Hi, 

    I have the same problem

    My advice is to  contact HNBC, as this insurance covers you, even for things like this.

    The builder is not allowed to leave rubble in the garden.

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Old-ish thread, Kvee - I expect the OP has sorted it out one way or another by now!

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Sign In or Register to comment.