Laying Turf on New Build Top Soil...

Afternoon all,

Need some advice, looking at laying new turf on top soil left by our builders in the back garden - around 140m² worth.

Looking at compost and whether I need to rotovate new compost into the existing to help prepare it for the new turf. Any advice on which compost is best? Do I need to rotavate new compost into the existing top soil - does that help? Planning on laying a couple of lengths of french drain to help with drainage but nothing major on that front.

Been looking at mushroom compost to improve the existing soil. Once that's added and rotavated in (or not, if the case may be), is it just a case of compacting it in preperation for laying the turf?

Look forward to contributing to this board!

Cheers

 

Hi,

Welcome to the forum,

There is a Lawn section to the forum where you might find some good tips and where some of our lawn gurus reside like @Liz the pot
Lawns

As for your lawn, we would first ask what kind of top soil is it, sandy, peaty, clayish ? and does it really need expensive compost adding ?

Second how deep is the top soil and whats beneath it, clay ?

Assuming it reasonably level, what it might be worth doing using a long garden Fork and go around the area pushing the folk deep down and seeing if it hits any rubble or bricks that would be better to remove before the turf is laid.

 

Thanks for the reply Ricky!

The soil looks half decent to me (novice gardener). We’ve had a dry spell recently so it looks good just now. There is what I would consider clayey clumps on top which I guess is a result of the builders stripping the soil for use in the gardens.

Do you think my plan may be overkill?

My garden is pretty level, only a small corner seems to have a slight fall but I reckon that’s more to do with not being enough top soil.

Thanks again for the reply.

 

How deep is the top soil and has it been compacted by heavy machinery ? The top soil should be at least bare minimum 10cm ideally 15cm + of free draining soil . Personally I'd wouldn't be added compost unless you have a serious clay problem, it can make the lawn spongy, and mushroom compost is a no no most grasses prefer a more acidic or at least neutral PH levels , mushroom compost has a alkaline PH .

 

I’m not sure how deep it is I will investigate and report back.

If not mushroom compost, would manure be better?

Thanks for the reply Perki!

 

Sorry should also add that it didn’t look badly compacted the day we moved in and then they’ve since come in and rotavated it.

 

I'd see what soil you have before amending it. Yes manure or multi purpose compost can be used if you wish.

 

I'm not keen on applying anything to the soil I don't need to - added expense! If I can get away with just preparing the existing soil and laying the turf (with a couple of lengths of gravel trenches for peace of mind) then that's what I'll do!

To me, the topsoil just looks like soil with a few 'hard to break by hand' clumps of what I would say clay. The rest is easy to dig through, soily material.