Broken asphalt drive to plant in?

OK the driveway next to my house is broken asphalt (like the black stuff) and although the surface is rough there's no holes in it and is relatively sound and flat.

I would like to move my gate around to give me a larger patio area but this will mean my border extends onto the asphalt area so what I want to know is what's my best plan - dig the asphalt up or just put soil on top? I suspect my best bet is attack the stuff with a pick-axe and if I can't get anywehere give up and put soil on top though this will mean a very shallow bed or using a raised bed which may look a bit odd...

 

Yep, get the pick axe out and see what underneath the asphalt. Fingers crossed no concrete.

 

If its part of the driveway could u not get something bigger in to get it up?

 

Hire a pneumatic drill and do the job properly

 

If it has been done by an itinerant worker that knocked at your door - it will be less than a quarter of an inch thick :D

But seriously I would agree with the others - you must remove it. It is surprising how deep the roots of some plants go. I dug up some Centranthus rubra (Red Valerian) in the process of removing a bank and some roots went down two feet and more. I understand that bindweed roots can go down over 15 feet.

 

:D :D :D

 

My back garden boarder conflicts all this good advise. When I moved into my present house the back had a long time back been concreted over (all over for wheel chair access), then the last occupants decked the majority of it to make it more appealing and left a 2foot boarder around 2 sides. The soil (well 100% peat/compost) is only about 8inches deep on a 2inch bed of small stones and then directly onto the original concrete.

As all the advise would indicate this isn't something I would have done but its well too late to do anything about now, yet surprisingly I've had better results and foliage from these shallow soil boarders than my main front garden area ???
The soil always stays just wet enough as the majority of rain drains away well, yet not too damp as to cause any rotting.
I've got 3 well established conifers, 4 clematis, 2 climbing rose, strawberry plants and did have a reasonable 5foot sun flower in the summer, all in just 8inches of soil ??

As I say, I wouldn't recommend it if there's an option to do it properly first time, but my boarders seem testament that it can still work.

John

:gnthb:

 

Sounds like it really depends on what you want to plant then. As an example, I planted lavender bushes next to the patio, but they have never really done well there. They have plenty of moisture, enough sun but the soil depth is very shallow as the patio concrete extends somewhat under the bed they are in. I'm moving them this winter and building a raised bed in their place.

 

Dig it up, tarmac will break easily with just a pickaxe, no need to hire a breaker.

 

I bought one of these



And I could do with something to take my frustration out on due to a DIY dilemma/disaster...

 

Have fun :gnthb: