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#1
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Weeds and Rubble
I have an area of land beyond my garden that requires a lot of work to
make it presentable. Over the summer, it was full of brambles and weeds. I've nearly cleared it now, but the ground was full of rubble, which I've dug up. I've tried to get the roots of the brambles up as best I can. By mid-October I hope to turf some of the area, but what do I need to do to the soil? It's still very stony, and I'm concerned that the turf won't settle properly, and also that the weeds will start coming through agin in the spring. Any advice greatly appreciated! Thanks. |
#2
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"Capone" wrote... I have an area of land beyond my garden that requires a lot of work to make it presentable. Over the summer, it was full of brambles and weeds. I've nearly cleared it now, but the ground was full of rubble, which I've dug up. I've tried to get the roots of the brambles up as best I can. By mid-October I hope to turf some of the area, but what do I need to do to the soil? It's still very stony, and I'm concerned that the turf won't settle properly, and also that the weeds will start coming through agin in the spring. Any advice greatly appreciated! Thanks. Grass needs good drainage so provided it's not all stones it should be OK. The brambles will be killed by you mowing should they try to reappear. I cleared a large area of brambles simply by mowing every week, no digging at all, and no brambles at all the next season. -- Regards Bob In Runnymede, 17 miles West of London |
#3
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Bob Hobden wrote:
"Capone" wrote... I have an area of land beyond my garden that requires a lot of work to make it presentable. Over the summer, it was full of brambles and weeds. I've nearly cleared it now, but the ground was full of rubble, which I've dug up. I've tried to get the roots of the brambles up as best I can. By mid-October I hope to turf some of the area, but what do I need to do to the soil? It's still very stony, and I'm concerned that the turf won't settle properly, and also that the weeds will start coming through agin in the spring. Any advice greatly appreciated! Thanks. Grass needs good drainage so provided it's not all stones it should be OK. The brambles will be killed by you mowing should they try to reappear. I cleared a large area of brambles simply by mowing every week, no digging at all, and no brambles at all the next season. I wouldn't waste money and effort on turf. It sounds as though you're going to have a rather bumpy surface, as I'd expect it to settle unevenly, so I'd just rake it over and sow some grass seed now. Then in the spring you can start the routine of mowing and some weed-and-feed, and a bit of spot levelling and stone-picking where it's needed. It'll be a decent lawn in twelve months if you keep it up, and with turf it'll take just as long because of the bumps and the weeds coming through. If the ground is still settling, turf is the worse option, as you could end up with voids below: at these points, the turf won't be able to root properly, so you may get dead patches which will be a nuisance to deal with. These funny areas actually turn into lawns in the end if you cut them regularly even if you don't sow seed: grass is a great invader. People here say brambles regrow from the roots, but my experience suggests they don't: I think they grow only from a piece of _crown_ left in the ground (and from seed, of course: that'll happen for a year or so, but the mower will cope as Bob says). Nettles resist the mower a little longer, but only as long as there are little hollows for them to grow low in. Note that ground which has been covered with brambles for years is usually in excellent soil-condition because of all the humus they produce -- swings and roundabouts! -- Mike. |
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