On Jun 22, 11:13*pm, Jason Moody wrote:
On Jun 22, 2:42*pm, alanbrook
wrote:





Hello Everyone
Your advice would be greatly appreciated.
First off, I will admit to knowing nothing about gardening.
We bought a house with a badly overgrown back garden. It measures about
30ft *X 30ft, and was a mixture of rotten sheds and weed filled dying
grass. I *have cleared the sheds, and removed the old turf, which has
left a hard clay base and areas full of sand. We went off on holiday,
and came back to a sea of ivy and horsetail. Roundup and Weedol dont
seem to be eradicating the horsetail.
I want to lay new turf and get a decent garden quickly. Should I lay a
weed membrane, then a layer of topsoil and then the turf on top? Or can
you recommend something better.
Thanks in advance

Alan

--
alanbrook

Alan,

I don't think I would worry about a weed membrane. I think I would
definetly put down as much topsoil as I could get over the clay, and
then lay the sod. Then get to know Weed and Feed. Not many things
other than your grass can live through a properly applied regimine of
Weed and Feed.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Weed membrane is used for beds, where you put it down before covering
it with material, eg mulch, rock, etc. that weeds will not grow in.
Even there it's benefit is questionable. It has no use in turf and
will at a minimum be useless and depending on what kind and how deep
it is, screw up the sod.

Weed N Feed is one of the worst products you can put down, especially
in terms of overusing herbicides. It should not be needed on a lawn
established from sod. I can see using it to get a lawn under control
that is full of weeds, but if you have scattered weeds the better
solution for typical size lawns is to apply a selective herbicide
directly to the weeds using a tank sprayer. For the typical size
lawn, a 2 gallon one works well. That puts the herbicide where it's
needed, which mazimizes it's effectiveness on killing the weeds and
minimizes the amount of herbicide used, which is better for the
environment, pets, etc.

The most important thing is to finish killing off the weeds and then
establish at least 6" of good topsoil. That could be achieved by
tilling in amendments to what you have or buying good screened
topsoil. To kill tougher weeds make sure you mix the Roundup or
equivalent stronger, 3% or so. You are buying the concentrate
right? Not the pre-mixed that is the least product for the most money?