Complete beginner - First New build garden advice needed!

Looks almost like it was partly built and finished later on.

Just a thought but if you do need to get rid of some soil it would be nice if it was possible to scrape the topsoil off and actually dump just the clay from underneath.

 

I was thinking it either had only been partly acid washed or like pete said, a different batch of bricks as they don't build the roofs for months after the inital foundation.

I managed to get some time in my lunch break to dig a small hole about 2ft down, attached the pictures. It doesn't look appalling to my untrained eye but maybe some of you can tell me what you can see.

Thanks

 

Hello again, if you use grit, it will increase the volume of the soil slightly, but organic matter just disappears after a few months so although the level might look high once the soil is dug over, it will sink again as the manure or compost is absorbed into the soil. Just one other tip: If it's all going to be laid to lawn, make sure the turf is higher than the slabs, so the mower blades don't catch on concrete. I'd also think about laying a mowing strip (perhaps 1/2 slabs?) all around wherever the grass might grow up to a wall otherwise. It will save you hours of strimming
That soil doesn't look too bad at all. Did the hole fill up with water from below? If not, it's draining OK. Probably down to your neighbours

 

Looks great to me. The fact you were able to dig it says a lot. it would take me all day to dig a hole that size in my garden.

 

Maybe the light in the picture but it looks almost gritty to me, I was expecting solid slimy clay.
Certainly looks better than expected drainage wise.

 

A couple of very simple tests you can do with that loose soil your have dug out.

Mix a handful with a bit of water into a dough type of consistency, then sqeeze it in your hand, does it feel gritty/sandy and fall apart or hold together more like real clay.

The other is to again take a small handful, put it in a glass jar, filled with water, shaken until it disolves and leave for 12 -24 hours.
It will settle into various layers of grit,sand,clay, humus etc so you might be able to see what it is.

Though as already said it does look quiet decent for a good depth despite your original pics.

 

I remember my dad digging the garden for the first time after we moved into our brand-new council house. He came upon a lump of concrete and started to dig it out. Eventually found it was an 8' x 4' sheet of plywood they had been mixing cement on.

 

Thanks all for your comments!

Feeling a lot more positive about what lies ahead now.

Tomorrow I will try some soil tests recommended by loofah (thanks for the videos) and ricky and post the results!

 

Can do better than that! It wasnt a mix board, it was a FULL concrete mixer, and elsewhere, the barrow. Became a raised rockery bed.

 

One of my neighbours dug up a crate full of empty milk bottles some years ago.