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#1
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Using decomposed turf as topsoil?
"'Mike'" wrote in message ... "mattyh" wrote in message oups.com... So I'm best off getting rid and buying some proper topsoil? Can't I kill it off with some weedkiller? If you have room to turn it upside and stack it, like building a wall somewhere, it breaks down on its own to a super fine tilth you can put back onto the flower/veg beds. It will 'sprout' on the outside and all you need to do is chop those growing bits off with a spade and turn them upside down on the top. cover it with old sacking, carpet or whatever to kill off any side growth. Let it sit as described by others and wait. Closer to the time you want to start using it take a spade to it and chop it in to smaller pieces. Depending what you want to plant in to it after several months it will make decent planting material and get better with age. The only thing you may not be able to use it for is direct seeding, small plants will be fine. If you mulch over the top this will kill off any not fully dead grass. rob |
#2
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Using decomposed turf as topsoil?
Hopefully someone can tell me if this is feasible. We've recently cut
away flowerbeds from a (newly) fully turfed back garden, and currently have all the excess turf piled up in one corner. Our idea was to let this die off and hopefully let it break down so that in the spring we can use it as topsoil for the flowerbeds. The turf that's in the middle of the pile has started to die, and i've re-piled it so that the stuff at the top that's still alive is now in the middle etc, but is it feasible to expect this will have broken down enough to use in the Spring? Should I be using any sort of grass killer? Or is this a daft idea and i should just dispose of this and order some topsoil?! Any advice would be most appreciated, thanks |
#3
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Using decomposed turf as topsoil?
mattyh wrote:
: Hopefully someone can tell me if this is feasible. We've recently cut : away flowerbeds from a (newly) fully turfed back garden, and currently : have all the excess turf piled up in one corner. : : Our idea was to let this die off and hopefully let it break down so : that in the spring we can use it as topsoil for the flowerbeds. : : The turf that's in the middle of the pile has started to die, and i've : re-piled it so that the stuff at the top that's still alive is now in : the middle etc, but is it feasible to expect this will have broken : down enough to use in the Spring? Should I be using any sort of grass : killer? Or is this a daft idea and i should just dispose of this and : order some topsoil?! : : Any advice would be most appreciated, thanks It'll make a wonderful loam but I have no idea if it will be ready that soon |
#4
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Using decomposed turf as topsoil?
"Robert" wrote in message
... mattyh wrote: : Hopefully someone can tell me if this is feasible. We've recently cut : away flowerbeds from a (newly) fully turfed back garden, and currently : have all the excess turf piled up in one corner. : : Our idea was to let this die off and hopefully let it break down so : that in the spring we can use it as topsoil for the flowerbeds. : : The turf that's in the middle of the pile has started to die, and i've : re-piled it so that the stuff at the top that's still alive is now in : the middle etc, but is it feasible to expect this will have broken : down enough to use in the Spring? Should I be using any sort of grass : killer? Or is this a daft idea and i should just dispose of this and : order some topsoil?! : : Any advice would be most appreciated, thanks It'll make a wonderful loam but I have no idea if it will be ready that soon No it won't. Where we have done this operation and piled the turf up, it has taken up to 3 years to break down. Please note 'UP TO' :-) Mike -- .................................................. ......... Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association www.rnshipmates.co.uk www.nsrafa.com |
#5
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Using decomposed turf as topsoil?
So I'm best off getting rid and buying some proper topsoil?
Can't I kill it off with some weedkiller? |
#6
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Using decomposed turf as topsoil?
"mattyh" wrote in message
oups.com... So I'm best off getting rid and buying some proper topsoil? Can't I kill it off with some weedkiller? If you have room to turn it upside and stack it, like building a wall somewhere, it breaks down on its own to a super fine tilth you can put back onto the flower/veg beds. It will 'sprout' on the outside and all you need to do is chop those growing bits off with a spade and turn them upside down on the top. We stacked/layered ours under the hedge. The secret it, upside down :-) Not a hard job and certainly not exhausting work! Don't use weedkiller, won't be required. Mike -- .................................................. ......... Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association www.rnshipmates.co.uk www.nsrafa.com |
#7
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Using decomposed turf as topsoil?
"mattyh" wrote in message
ups.com... Hopefully someone can tell me if this is feasible. We've recently cut away flowerbeds from a (newly) fully turfed back garden, and currently have all the excess turf piled up in one corner. Our idea was to let this die off and hopefully let it break down so that in the spring we can use it as topsoil for the flowerbeds. The turf that's in the middle of the pile has started to die, and i've re-piled it so that the stuff at the top that's still alive is now in the middle etc, but is it feasible to expect this will have broken down enough to use in the Spring? Should I be using any sort of grass killer? Or is this a daft idea and i should just dispose of this and order some topsoil?! Any advice would be most appreciated, thanks Whatever you do don't waste it. I normally dig out the bed and put the chopped up turf in the bottom. All you need to do is cover your heap with some black plastic or a bit of old carpet, then it'll be fine to use on your borders etc after the grass has died and rotted. Composted turves used to be the basis for true John Innes compost made to the JI institute recipe. -- Rod My real address is rodthegardeneratmyisp |
#8
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Quote:
I've thrown turves from new planting areas into a composting bin. Now in theory if you have the mix right, ie lots of non-soil to mix with it, then it ought to compost quickly. But in practice I didn't have enough of the other stuff for the right mix, so it has taken a good two years to become lovely stuff. |
#9
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Using decomposed turf as topsoil?
"mattyh" wrote in message oups.com... So I'm best off getting rid and buying some proper topsoil? Can't I kill it off with some weedkiller? Have a little patience, in time it will be suitable to spread on the top, but you could dig it into the ground now. Alan |
#10
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Using decomposed turf as topsoil?
"mattyh" wrote in message
So I'm best off getting rid and buying some proper topsoil? No. Use it. I don't have more than about an inch of stuff that could be described as "topsoil" and even then it is only a darker colour than underlying poor, decomposed ancient rock or clay. When I make a new bed, I just turn everything and leave it in place and then start adding manure and sand. sometimes I'll top it all with leaves and anything else that has ever lived and leave it and sometimes I jsut add all these things and start turning and turning. Any weeds or old grass that pops up alive is weeded out and its all turned again etc. Virtually a situation of sheet composting or big sloppy compostng on top of the ground. Can't I kill it off with some weedkiller? You could but you also do it by some hard work of turning that breaks it up too. |
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