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Help, turf over crushed slate chippings
seancasey1989
Posts: 7
Hi all, I need some advice. My garden is currently covered in crushed slate clippings, am I able to lay turf over these with minimal top soil between.
The area of garden that needs to be grassed is 8.7 metres by 4.5 metres so it's not going to be cheap especially if I have to start putting down 4-6 inches of top soil.
If I remove the stones I will encounter another problem, there is a manhole in the middle of the garden and this would cause the manhole to be raised too far out of the soil and mean that I would need even more top soil to ensure that it was at the same level.
Please help, I really am struggling
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Posts
Hi sean. If the slate chippings have been laid on top of soil then all you would need to do is cover the slate chippings with about 2 inches of top soil before laying the turf. Good luck.
Sow seed instead of laying turf, and spend the money on the soil and prep. The base is more important - get that right and the grass will be good.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Ladybird, the slate clippings are on top of soil but it is very very compacted underneath them now. Almost clay like.
Is that still going to be ok ?
How deep is the slate? Good drainage is essential but if the turf is just set on top of the slate it'll be like biscuits in a week.
PP - the Slate is a couple of inches deep, it is quite big stuff to be honest.
Remove the slate, prepare the soil properly and sow grass seed - you'll have a better lawn and the money saved from not using turf will allow you to buy some topsoil to bring the level up.
If a job's worth doing it's worth doing well
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Bad news:- you're going to have to do the prep.
Good news:- what you save on turf will buy you topsoil and seed. Check gumtree/freecycle etc.
Better news:- you'll have a better lawn and you'll never be sorry you did it.
Best news:- when people admire your lush lawn you can say "I did that from scratch"!
Out you go!
PP - so either way, whether I use turf or seed I'm gonna have to get rid of the slate chippings anyway. I will do that first and then make my decision on whether to use seed or turf. I was thinking turf due to the extra benefit of the turf repelling weeds.
another major constraint would be the time I have. I am re fencing the whole garden this week and was looking to put down turf straight afterwards so the garden is ready almost instantly for summer. (What we have of it)
regarding top soil from free cycle/gumtree I would struggle to get it home that's all. Would be a nightmare
Depending on where you are you might find a supplier who can deliver.
I think your main problem, as it tends to be on here, is this "instant" business.
In the garden, as in all other things, you must weigh your time against your money. If you want it right now you can have it but you'll pay for it. You go out to work, a team comes in and it's done by the time you come home. That'll be £2000 please.
The other way is to do the prep and wait a while. Even with turf you shouldn't walk on it for three weeks to a month. It's not carpet.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=410
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=424
Have a read and cool your jets.
Hmmmmm you aren't making this easy lol. Both of the methods have their particular pros and cons.
I am thinking maybe just sort my soil and that this week with my fencing and turf or seed in a few weeks.
Thanks for for all your advice and no doubt I will be back shortly asking more questions haha.
by the way I have always had a problem with patience haha