Hi,

We moved into our house just over a year ago and the front 'garden' was very
'ground force' in style with a brick-bordered cat's toilet of white stones
surrounded by pink stones. The front of the garden had a very overgrown
laurel 'hedge'.

We have removed all of the stones and have added compost to the central
circle and planted bulbs and a small green 'tree'.

We have reduced the height and the depth of the hedge so that it doesn't
obscure the house/garden and so that the back of it doesn't take over lots
of the front garden.

We have dug over and 'sieved' the area which was covered in pink stones (on
top of a carpet of black cloth) in readiness to turf the area.

We now need to raise the level and then turf on top.

Some sources suggest adding compost before adding topsoil followed by turf.
Others suggest just topsoil to raise the level followed by turf.

Any ideas from the experts?

Thanks in advance,

Kroma

On Apr 19, 9:02 pm, "Kroma" wrote:
Hi,

We moved into our house just over a year ago and the front 'garden' was very
'ground force' in style with a brick-bordered cat's toilet of white stones
surrounded by pink stones. The front of the garden had a very overgrown
laurel 'hedge'.

We have removed all of the stones and have added compost to the central
circle and planted bulbs and a small green 'tree'.

We have reduced the height and the depth of the hedge so that it doesn't
obscure the house/garden and so that the back of it doesn't take over lots
of the front garden.

We have dug over and 'sieved' the area which was covered in pink stones (on
top of a carpet of black cloth) in readiness to turf the area.

We now need to raise the level and then turf on top.

Some sources suggest adding compost before adding topsoil followed by turf.
Others suggest just topsoil to raise the level followed by turf.

Any ideas from the experts?

Thanks in advance,

Kroma

No expert, but it probably should be "loam" - a mixture of soil and
compost. If you've got really good quality organic rich topsoil then
that's probably OK. make sure it's free draining. I add sharp sand
to mine too but again I'm no expert.

Either option is fine, if you are buying quality top soil no need to add to. But... there is always but right, check that the hight you are raising to, does not break regs re. your DPC. Clearance should ideally be 250mm however, you can get away with 150mm.

Just had the garden of our new build turfed. The company who laid it have
worked for my builder for years. I've seen past work they've done and it
looks great. They rotovated the whole area about three times using a
rotovator towed by a small tractor.. Each time removing all the large stones
and builders rubble that came to the surface. Then they leveled it using a
"grading plate" on the back of the tractor and human powered rakes. Then the
surface was rolled using a vibrating roller. Any hollows were filled with a
mixture of sand and topsoil. Then the turf was laid. The problem has been
keeping it wet in this dry weather. Sprinklers going almost continuously.

I would not use compost or any organic matter, as an additive to soil.

This will encourage dampness and thus moss. Also as the organic part
decomposes the ground will sink slightly.

Just go for plain old soil, if its clay based then add sharp sand.

Do not use any FYM as this can burn the tender roots.

I buy premixed builders bags of soil for turf laying from our local
quarry at about £30 who mix our local soil with sharp sand.


No expert, but it probably should be "loam" - a mixture of soil and
compost. If you've got really good quality organic rich topsoil then
that's probably OK. make sure it's free draining. I add sharp sand
to mine too but again I'm no expert.