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#1
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Replacing bark with turf
Hello, new to this group,had a quick peak at the faq and found loads of good
advice. I want to lay an area of approx 64sq of turf on a previously wood barked back garden . After shifting all the bark I am left with a very heavy clayey foundation,now I read in the faq I will need to dig in plenty of sharp sand,but my question is can the well used bark be dug back in also along with a few bags of multi purpose compost ? My location is in east yorkshire, thanks in advance. Greg |
#2
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Replacing bark with turf
On Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:29:00 +0100, "Greg"
wrote: Hello, new to this group,had a quick peak at the faq and found loads of good advice. I want to lay an area of approx 64sq of turf on a previously wood barked back garden . After shifting all the bark I am left with a very heavy clayey foundation,now I read in the faq I will need to dig in plenty of sharp sand,but my question is can the well used bark be dug back in also along with a few bags of multi purpose compost ? My location is in east yorkshire, thanks in advance. Greg Welcome to the group. I'll assume you mean 64 square feet - if you mean metres then hiring a rotovator is probably your best bet! As a general rule, I wouldn't dig the bark in. As it breaks down, the bark will draw nitrogen from the soil and that's one of the key components for a lush green lawn. Bark is best used as a surface dressing (in the right place) or stacked away somewhere to really rot down when it's useful for mixing in the compost heap with loads of grass clippings. Equally I wouldn't bother with multi-purpose compost. It won't add anything to the soil and if you use a lot of it, it will simply settle, compress and you'll have a sinking lawn. It sounds like you will need to lighten the soil a bit if it's really heavy clay. A good quantity of coarse grit might be better than sharp sand but difficult for us to judge this without being there. Essentially, I would dig the soil over to about the depth of a fork, removing any stones you find and breaking it up well. Then spread your load of grit or sand over the surface and, working backwards (so you don't compress the soil) turn the soil over to mix the grit or sand in. Rake over the surface to get it level and try to avoid walking on the soil afterwards. Get some stout long boards and use these, including when you lay the lawn. About a week or two before you plan to lay the turf, give the ground a good feed with something like Growmore. Jake |
#3
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Replacing bark with turf
Jake wrote:
On Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:29:00 +0100, "Greg" wrote: Hello, new to this group,had a quick peak at the faq and found loads of good advice. I want to lay an area of approx 64sq of turf on a previously wood barked back garden . After shifting all the bark I am left with a very heavy clayey foundation,now I read in the faq I will need to dig in plenty of sharp sand,but my question is can the well used bark be dug back in also along with a few bags of multi purpose compost ? My location is in east yorkshire, thanks in advance. Greg Welcome to the group. I'll assume you mean 64 square feet - if you mean metres then hiring a rotovator is probably your best bet! As a general rule, I wouldn't dig the bark in. As it breaks down, the bark will draw nitrogen from the soil and that's one of the key components for a lush green lawn. Bark is best used as a surface dressing (in the right place) or stacked away somewhere to really rot down when it's useful for mixing in the compost heap with loads of grass clippings. Equally I wouldn't bother with multi-purpose compost. It won't add anything to the soil and if you use a lot of it, it will simply settle, compress and you'll have a sinking lawn. It sounds like you will need to lighten the soil a bit if it's really heavy clay. A good quantity of coarse grit might be better than sharp sand but difficult for us to judge this without being there. Essentially, I would dig the soil over to about the depth of a fork, removing any stones you find and breaking it up well. Then spread your load of grit or sand over the surface and, working backwards (so you don't compress the soil) turn the soil over to mix the grit or sand in. Rake over the surface to get it level and try to avoid walking on the soil afterwards. Get some stout long boards and use these, including when you lay the lawn. About a week or two before you plan to lay the turf, give the ground a good feed with something like Growmore. I wonder if it's practical in your particular situation to suggest preparing the soil now, and then waiting for winter to settle it down naturally. I'd then rake it over in the spring, get out any deep-rooted weeds that have popped up, check for bumps and hollows, and sow seed: far cheaper than turf, and often gives a better result. But if you don't want a mud-patch for a few months, then of course you have to do it now. -- Mike. |
#4
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Replacing bark with turf
"Jake" wrote in message ... On Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:29:00 +0100, "Greg" wrote: Hello, new to this group,had a quick peak at the faq and found loads of good advice. I want to lay an area of approx 64sq of turf on a previously wood barked back garden . After shifting all the bark I am left with a very heavy clayey foundation,now I read in the faq I will need to dig in plenty of sharp sand,but my question is can the well used bark be dug back in also along with a few bags of multi purpose compost ? My location is in east yorkshire, thanks in advance. Greg Welcome to the group. I'll assume you mean 64 square feet - if you mean metres then hiring a rotovator is probably your best bet! As a general rule, I wouldn't dig the bark in. As it breaks down, the bark will draw nitrogen from the soil and that's one of the key components for a lush green lawn. Bark is best used as a surface dressing (in the right place) or stacked away somewhere to really rot down when it's useful for mixing in the compost heap with loads of grass clippings. Equally I wouldn't bother with multi-purpose compost. It won't add anything to the soil and if you use a lot of it, it will simply settle, compress and you'll have a sinking lawn. It sounds like you will need to lighten the soil a bit if it's really heavy clay. A good quantity of coarse grit might be better than sharp sand but difficult for us to judge this without being there. Essentially, I would dig the soil over to about the depth of a fork, removing any stones you find and breaking it up well. Then spread your load of grit or sand over the surface and, working backwards (so you don't compress the soil) turn the soil over to mix the grit or sand in. Rake over the surface to get it level and try to avoid walking on the soil afterwards. Get some stout long boards and use these, including when you lay the lawn. About a week or two before you plan to lay the turf, give the ground a good feed with something like Growmore. Jake Thanks Jake & Mike, will take on board your suggestions, seems like good advice, and the garden is 24 ft by 24ft which I think converts to 64sq yards so I think I will hire that rotovator. Greg |
#5
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Replacing bark with turf
"Greg" wrote in message . uk... Hello, new to this group,had a quick peak at the faq and found loads of good advice. I want to lay an area of approx 64sq of turf on a previously wood barked back garden . After shifting all the bark I am left with a very heavy clayey foundation,now I read in the faq I will need to dig in plenty of sharp sand,but my question is can the well used bark be dug back in also along with a few bags of multi purpose compost ? My location is in east yorkshire, thanks in advance. Greg No bark will do u no favours hire a rotovator smash it with that then add sand shingle if u can get it gypsum good luck |
#6
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Replacing bark with turf
On 1 Oct, 08:21, "pied piper" wrote:
"Greg" wrote in message . uk... Hello, new to this group,had a quick peak at the faq and found loads of good advice. I want to lay an area of approx 64sq of turf on a previously wood barked back garden . After shifting all the bark I am left with a very heavy clayey foundation,now I read in the faq I will need to dig in plenty of sharp sand,but my question is can the well used bark be dug back in also along with a few bags of multi purpose compost ? My location is in east yorkshire, thanks in advance. Greg No bark will do u no favours hire a rotovator smash it with that then add sand shingle if u can get it gypsum * good luck Remember if you use a rotovator you will be forming a harder pan at the bottom as the blades rub along the bottom of the cut, not good if you are on clay. |
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