'Lawn' ideas for shallow, stoney soil

Hi all

I have made drastic changes to my patio plan. I've now nearly complete a new raised area, in a nice quarter circle in a corner. I've used breeze blocks stood edgeways on to contain the soil, and filled the area with rubble. I've then been putting soil on top, but the soil will only be a couple of inches deep at its shallowest points, and I expect it will be very free draining due to standing on top of a rubble base.

My plan was to make it lawn. Its going to be our evening chill-out area for warm summer evenings, and I didn't really want a hard surface on it (hence the lawn plan). The trouble is I have doubts that grass would thrive in it.

What else could I put there? I was thinking something that is matt forming, and preferably fragrant. Thyme springs to mind, as that thrives in well drained soil, but the spot might not get enough sun for thyme to thrive.

All ideas welcomed. This is really one of the projects that doesn't really have a hard and fast plan, it more a case of trial and error.

 

If the soil is only going to be a couple of inches deep Clueless, won't the rubble move around under foot if your going to use it as a chill out area, also it will tear the lawn. Just a thought.

 

Long shot: Astroturf? I wonder if you can get something good enough that your mates won't know is not grass?

 

Thanks for the tips so far. I've been working on it again tonight (even by torch light because I want it finished now, I'm getting tired ).

I think my first description of what I've done isn't very accurate, so I'll try to describe it properly this time

I've built a retaining wall out of breeze blocks. The wall is the height of breeze blocks stood on edge, so about 10 inches high. I've then filled it most of the way up with rubble. I put the larger lumps in first so they are at the bottom, then put the smaller lumps on top. So smaller lumps of rubble are, at their highest, about 2 to 3 inches below the level of the top of the wall, but of course some of the soil I'm putting on top will fall down the gaps between the stones, so for the most part the soil will be a good six inches deep or more. In fact ultimately the soil will work right down so that it will be plenty deep enough, but it will only be the top 2 to 3 inches that are 'rubble free'.

To make sure the rubble doesn't move about too much during use, I came up with a cunning plan I've been putting about an inch of soil on at a time, and then walked all over it to squash it down. Then putting more soil on, and then repeating the process. Its also poured down a couple of times since I started adding the layers of soil, so some of it will have got washed in (hopefully).

So in effect, the top 2 to 3 inches will be good soil, then below that it will be a mix of soil and rubble.

Also, I fully expect it to sink a bit as it beds in, but that's not a big deal because I'll compensate for that by top dressing and overseeding in autumn or next spring.

What do we think? Does this change anything? (Please say it will be fine ).

 

I had a go at being a builder tonight. I made some cement to stick the breeze blocks together to make it all stronger.

It seems I'm not very good at it. I have no faith in it really. I can see it all being ripped out again at the end of summer, and then maybe I'll do it again, applying what I've learnt from this attempt.

 

Rome wasn't built in a day Clueless! :WINK1: