Our lawn seems to have 'shrunk'! For example, we've got a bark play area in
one corner edged with sleepers, and whereas the lawn was level with the top
of the sleepers, it's now noticeably below. The same effect is noticeable
round a manhole cover. The lawn is about 6 years old, and despite Barratt's
best efforts at killing it (turf on a sprinkling of top soil on to the clay
they'd used to bring the level up a bit), it doesn't look too bad - it's
just shrunk a bit.

Any ideas what's caused it, and how best to build it up again? I'd wondered
about a top dressing (either 'proper' stuff or sieved compost, soil and
sand?) but I'm not sure of when best to apply (certainly after the paddling
pool season!)

Cheers,

Martin

"Martin Richards" wrote in message
...
Our lawn seems to have 'shrunk'! For example, we've got a bark play area
in
one corner edged with sleepers, and whereas the lawn was level with the
top
of the sleepers, it's now noticeably below. The same effect is noticeable
round a manhole cover. The lawn is about 6 years old, and despite
Barratt's
best efforts at killing it (turf on a sprinkling of top soil on to the
clay
they'd used to bring the level up a bit), it doesn't look too bad - it's
just shrunk a bit.

Any ideas what's caused it, and how best to build it up again? I'd
wondered
about a top dressing (either 'proper' stuff or sieved compost, soil and
sand?) but I'm not sure of when best to apply (certainly after the
paddling
pool season!)

Cheers,

Martin

If you are on clay it may come back up of its own accord once this atypical
weather goes.

On Fri, 8 Aug 2003 18:29:36 +0100, "David W.E. Roberts"
wrote:


"Martin Richards" wrote in message
...
Our lawn seems to have 'shrunk'! For example, we've got a bark play area
in
one corner edged with sleepers, and whereas the lawn was level with the
top
of the sleepers, it's now noticeably below. The same effect is noticeable
round a manhole cover. The lawn is about 6 years old, and despite
Barratt's
best efforts at killing it (turf on a sprinkling of top soil on to the
clay
they'd used to bring the level up a bit), it doesn't look too bad - it's
just shrunk a bit.

Any ideas what's caused it, and how best to build it up again? I'd
wondered
about a top dressing (either 'proper' stuff or sieved compost, soil and
sand?) but I'm not sure of when best to apply (certainly after the
paddling
pool season!)

Cheers,

Martin

If you are on clay it may come back up of its own accord once this atypical
weather goes.

only to be replaced by the great autumn floods of 2003?

--
Martin

"Martin Richards" wrote:

Hello Martin

MR Our lawn seems to have 'shrunk'! For example, we've got a
MR bark play area in one corner edged with sleepers, and
MR whereas the lawn was level with the top of the sleepers,
MR it's now noticeably below. The same effect is
MR noticeable round a manhole cover. The lawn is about 6 years
MR old, and despite Barratt's best efforts at killing it (turf
MR on a sprinkling of top soil on to the clay they'd used to
MR bring the level up a bit), it doesn't look too bad -
MR it's just shrunk a bit.

Clay? Clay heaves and shrinks according to its moisture content, I
bet that's the problem here.

--
Simon Avery, Dartmoor, UK Ý http://www.digdilem.org/

The message
from (Simon Avery) contains these words:
"Martin Richards" wrote:

Hello Martin

MR Our lawn seems to have 'shrunk'! For example, we've got a
MR bark play area in one corner edged with sleepers, and
MR whereas the lawn was level with the top of the sleepers,
MR it's now noticeably below. The same effect is
MR noticeable round a manhole cover. The lawn is about 6 years
MR old, and despite Barratt's best efforts at killing it (turf
MR on a sprinkling of top soil on to the clay they'd used to
MR bring the level up a bit), it doesn't look too bad -
MR it's just shrunk a bit.

Clay? Clay heaves and shrinks according to its moisture content, I
bet that's the problem here.

I'm about to raise the level of my 'lawn'. I've (practically) an
inexhastable supply of mushroom compost. I intend sieving it and mixing
it with sharp sand, then spreading say ¼" of the mixture over the area
and raking it into the grass. When the grass has grown through that and
is well established again, I shall repeat the exercise. Etc.

--
Rusty http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/tqt.htm
horrid·squeak snailything zetnet·co·uk excange d.p. with p to reply.

How do you get an inexhastable supply of mushroom compost.


Nick


I'm about to raise the level of my 'lawn'. I've (practically) an
inexhastable supply of mushroom compost. I intend sieving it and mixing
it with sharp sand, then spreading say ¼" of the mixture over the area
and raking it into the grass. When the grass has grown through that and
is well established again, I shall repeat the exercise. Etc.

The message
from (NWalch) contains these words:

How do you get an inexhastable supply of mushroom compost.

I know a mushroom farmer.

--
Rusty http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/tqt.htm
horrid·squeak snailything zetnet·co·uk excange d.p. with p to reply.

"Rusty Hinge" wrote in message
...
The message
from (NWalch) contains these words:

How do you get an inexhastable supply of mushroom compost.

I know a mushroom farmer.

You lucky man. My pet mushroom farmer went bust and moved away.

[Franz Heymann]

Are you really sure you want mushroom compost under the grass? I am
*really* plagued by toadstools now - picked around 100 this morning. No, I
won't leave them because they are around 4 inches high and look a real mess,
as they stick up indiscriminately all over the place, like soldiers.

I rang the turf suppliers yesterday and the lady assured me that I could get
rid of them with diluted Epsom Salts. Does anyone have any experience of
using this, or am I just being fobbed off?

Best regards to all,

Aileen
"Franz Heymann" wrote in message
...

"Rusty Hinge" wrote in message
...
The message
from (NWalch) contains these words:

How do you get an inexhastable supply of mushroom compost.

I know a mushroom farmer.

You lucky man. My pet mushroom farmer went bust and moved away.

[Franz Heymann]

"Rusty Hinge" wrote in message
...
The message
from (NWalch) contains these words:

How do you get an inexhastable supply of mushroom compost.

I know a mushroom farmer.

Rusty, Have you ever tried growing fingi?
Have you read the book "Mushrooms in the garden" by Helmut Steineck?
If so, should I read it?
Perhaps in my state of slowly advancing decrepitude I should not venture on
a foray if I can actually grow some at home.
There appears to be quite a large range of spawns on the market.
[Franz Heymann]

"Franz Heymann" wrote in message
...

"Rusty Hinge" wrote in message
...
The message
from (NWalch) contains these words:

How do you get an inexhastable supply of mushroom compost.

I know a mushroom farmer.

Rusty, Have you ever tried growing fingi?
Have you read the book "Mushrooms in the garden" by Helmut Steineck?
If so, should I read it?
Perhaps in my state of slowly advancing decrepitude I should not venture
on
a foray if I can actually grow some at home.
There appears to be quite a large range of spawns on the market.

I used to buy mushroom compost and spread it as a mulch. The first few days
I alway got mushrooms and it slowed down and then stopped.

I have stopped buying it because I read (here?) that there is not a lot of
nutrient in it.

O

"Ophelia" wrote in message
...

"Franz Heymann" wrote in message
...

"Rusty Hinge" wrote in message
...
The message
from (NWalch) contains these words:

How do you get an inexhastable supply of mushroom compost.

I know a mushroom farmer.

Rusty, Have you ever tried growing fingi?
Have you read the book "Mushrooms in the garden" by Helmut Steineck?
If so, should I read it?
Perhaps in my state of slowly advancing decrepitude I should not venture
on
a foray if I can actually grow some at home.
There appears to be quite a large range of spawns on the market.

I used to buy mushroom compost and spread it as a mulch. The first few
days
I alway got mushrooms and it slowed down and then stopped.

I have stopped buying it because I read (here?) that there is not a lot of
nutrient in it.

A vast amount has been said on both sides of the argument. I like it
because it is a much cheaper mulch than bark or wood chippings. The worms
seem to like it, since it disappears underground quite quickly.

[Franz Heymann]

The message
from "Aileen Howard" contains these words:

Are you really sure you want mushroom compost under the grass? I am
*really* plagued by toadstools now - picked around 100 this morning. No, I
won't leave them because they are around 4 inches high and look a real mess,
as they stick up indiscriminately all over the place, like soldiers.

I shall water the grass assiduously with infusion of
horse-sh^^something-or-other in the hope of having my lawn carpeted with
mushrooms.

I rang the turf suppliers yesterday and the lady assured me that I could get
rid of them with diluted Epsom Salts. Does anyone have any experience of
using this, or am I just being fobbed off?

Haven't heard of that, but copper sulphate might do the job. Or if you
can't get it, ask for Bordeaux mixture in your local hardware/gardening
shop/centre.

--
Rusty http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/tqt.htm
horrid·squeak snailything zetnet·co·uk excange d.p. with p to reply.

The message
from "Franz Heymann" contains these words:
"Rusty Hinge" wrote in message
...
The message
from (NWalch) contains these words:

How do you get an inexhastable supply of mushroom compost.

I know a mushroom farmer.

Rusty, Have you ever tried growing fingi?

I have grown eight fingi and two thumbi.

Have you read the book "Mushrooms in the garden" by Helmut Steineck?
If so, should I read it?

No. The library will get it for you. You need a room or shed you can
completely seal, ventilation provided through very fine mesh. It is
advisable to have access via two doors: pass through the first, close
it, squirt all round with a good flyspray, then pass into the Holy of
Holies. Mushroom flies are very small, and they can smell mushrooms from
an amazing distance.

My (step)father used to grow mushrooms in our air-raid shelter. The
instructions came with the spawn. The sterilisation of the growing boxes
is another chore.

Perhaps in my state of slowly advancing decrepitude I should not venture on
a foray if I can actually grow some at home.

Forays are much easier and less time-consuming than growing them - believe me!

There appears to be quite a large range of spawns on the market.

--
Rusty http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/tqt.htm
horrid·squeak snailything zetnet·co·uk excange d.p. with p to reply.

The message
from "Ophelia" contains these words:

I used to buy mushroom compost and spread it as a mulch. The first few days
I alway got mushrooms and it slowed down and then stopped.

I have stopped buying it because I read (here?) that there is not a lot of
nutrient in it.

Most mushroom medium is peat and horse manure mixed. You can grow
mushrooms on spruce litter the acidity of which has been neutralised
with chalk or slaked lime.

There may not be a great deal of nutrient, but it improves the soil, and
Heaven knows, my soil needs improving. All I need is a potter's
wheel.......

--
Rusty http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/tqt.htm
horrid·squeak snailything zetnet·co·uk excange d.p. with p to reply.