New-build garden, top soil issues

Hello all,

Just looking for a bit of advice. I've recently purchased a new-build property which has come with the typical new-build square of mud, roughly 26x26 feet.

I wasn't planning to do much with it until after Christmas, but today thought I would keep on top of it by fork rotivating the topsoil and removing the inevitable debris and bits of root etc.

Anyway, when i started turning the soil I quickly noticed that under the 4-5 inches of topsoil there was only a thick layer of fill sand, and in some patches what looked like red building sand.

I'm new to gardening, so I don't know what to think about this as I was expecting to be digging quite far down until I came across something other than soil.

My plan by spring was to have a lawn and borders. Does it sound like this is possible with the current situation? Is it just a case of adding more topsoil?

If I turn the topsoil with the fork and inevitably mix it in with the filler sand, will that cause an issue later on?

I'm a bit stuck so I guess what I'm after is advise on how to best approach preparing the garden for turf and borders...

Thanks

 

Welcome to Gardeners Corner

You're lucky its just sand, usually allsorts under newbuild gardens

The sand will be fine mixed in with the topsoil, good for drainage

Might pay to dig in a load of spent mushroom compost while you're at it, to add some nutrient and organic matter.

 

Thanks for the reply Zigs and warm welcome, I have a feeling I'll be spening plenty of time on this forum over the coming months and beyond.

Builders have walked up and down the garden over the last few weeks meaning the 'mud' or topsoil as they call it has become compacted. If I turn it all over with a fork, mixing it with the sand beneath, will I need to add a new layer of topsoil later on, particularly thinking of prior to laying a lawn, I know I will need to add topsoil to prepare the borders.

Cheers.

 

Where do you get spent mushroom compost from? I've never grown mushrooms tho keep thinking I'll give a try. In the meantime......need spent compost from another source.

 

Plenty of companies will deliver, sometimes garden centres have some.

http://www.gardenscapedirect.co.uk/products/soft-landscaping/9

 

The mushroom compost will help build a decent topsoil, i'd go with adding things rather than buying in more topsoil, which could be any old rubbish.

If you can compost your kitchen waste together with layers of crumpled cardboard then thats another good thing to add

 

Ok thanks. I have access to a decent compost heap at my folks house, so providing I can arrange to transport some of it then I think I'll start with that. The spent mushroom compost is a new one on me due to my gardening naivety, but its certainly worth a read up on. Thanks again.

 

Same here as regards mushroom compost. Will ask around locally to find out if any mushroom growers nearby. Thank you for the suggestion.

 

Check out the link in post #5 JJ

 

Hi,and welcome to the forum If it was my garden I would dig it with a spade ,not with a fork,dig it down to the spade depth and leave it rough so that any frost that we get can do it's work by breaking down the soil.leave it for a few weeks then when you think it is right to dig again dig with a fork and it should start to break down.As Zigs says if you could find some mushroom compost it would help a lot or maybe some well rotted horse manure.
good luck with it and enjoy your gardening

 

Thanks a lot for the advice. Appreciate it. Tomorrow I'll put it into practice and turn it all over, roughly, with the spade - see what happens! Will report back.

Cheers.

 

I did look at the link - don't think they do small bags of spent mushroom compost. A 1000l bag seems rather daunting.....

 

You'll be alright, something to get a sweat going with

 

Quick update. Decided to fork the soil this morning as when I got up and looked out there were dozens of small pools of standing water, which on closer inspection was caused by heavily compacted topsoil. Anyway, took around two hours, and it was back breaking, but I've now got less of a mud-bath and more of a dirt patch which seems to be draining better in the latest downpour.

I've added nothing yet, I'm going to see how it drains. Top soil was thin in patches and I pulled out about 15 concrete slabs and a few roof tiles. Once I'm happy with that I'll be forking through some compost.

Thanks all.