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Improving clay based soil

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Hi, I have very hard clay soil, so when it was really wet about 4 weeks ago I decided to dig up the existing lawn to get some air to the clods (is that the correct term???) my plan is to lay a new turf, incorporating 2000l of soil improver compost with the existing mud with a heavy duty rotavator. It's been very dry in the past 4 weeks and the clods are now brittle, but still quite dense. Is this a good method of doing this? I need to raise the existing level up to the patio. I have also bought 1000l of topsoil to put on top of the improved clay soil, then I want to lay the turf. Does anyone think the heavy duty rotavator will do the job??? Cheers

Posts

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043

    It would work best if the soil is damp, not hard and dry. I would add a load of compost and rotted manure if you can get it, also grit.

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • chile_ukchile_uk Posts: 4

    Thanks! Yes I have bought Jubilee Compost With Great British Grit from an online compost retailer and going to work that in. Will water the plot then in preparation for the rotavator! Thanks for the tip! 

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

    A rotavator will soon break up those heavy clods and you'll be well on you way to a lovely start.
    Rotavate when it's not too wet or it'll be heavy going. A decent rotavator will soon turn quite dry clods of earth into a lovely friable soil in no time.

    good luck


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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