Hello 
During digging up old turf, digging down to remove a gradual slope and levelling of our garden last month, the weather turned and we had a lot of rain for 7-10 days. Due to the digger compacting the sub soil during the project, we were left with lots of the areas being flooded. Thankfully, after dispersing as much as possible and with the warmer weather, this has eventually dried out but drainage was quite poor due to the compaction. The whole area is now fully compacted and not even a garden fork or shovel can get into the ground.
I’m after some advice if the following plan sounds good in order to get the best possible chance of reducing risk flooding again and for new grass turf to root well:
1). Rotavate all the area to loosen all the compacted sub soil.
2). Remove excess sub soil as need to reduce soil height 6-8” below patio level to allow for top soil and turf to be added to eventually become flush with patio.
3). Add 4” top soil
4). Rake over and level
Questions:
1). Do we need to add sharp sand to top soil to help with drainage? I have read conflicting views about this.
2). What are people’s thoughts on maximum temperatures for laying turf? Obviously plan to water extremely well both morning and evening everyday but this aside, as the weather is getting quite hot now, is is not as advisable to lay new turf?
3). How long can prepared ground sit untouched awaiting new turf to be put down? If we end up not laying turf until after summer due to the heat, will the prepared ground and topsoil be okay left until lower temps? This could be several months.
Any help/advice most appreciated
During digging up old turf, digging down to remove a gradual slope and levelling of our garden last month, the weather turned and we had a lot of rain for 7-10 days. Due to the digger compacting the sub soil during the project, we were left with lots of the areas being flooded. Thankfully, after dispersing as much as possible and with the warmer weather, this has eventually dried out but drainage was quite poor due to the compaction. The whole area is now fully compacted and not even a garden fork or shovel can get into the ground.
I’m after some advice if the following plan sounds good in order to get the best possible chance of reducing risk flooding again and for new grass turf to root well:
1). Rotavate all the area to loosen all the compacted sub soil.
2). Remove excess sub soil as need to reduce soil height 6-8” below patio level to allow for top soil and turf to be added to eventually become flush with patio.
3). Add 4” top soil
4). Rake over and level
Questions:
1). Do we need to add sharp sand to top soil to help with drainage? I have read conflicting views about this.
2). What are people’s thoughts on maximum temperatures for laying turf? Obviously plan to water extremely well both morning and evening everyday but this aside, as the weather is getting quite hot now, is is not as advisable to lay new turf?
3). How long can prepared ground sit untouched awaiting new turf to be put down? If we end up not laying turf until after summer due to the heat, will the prepared ground and topsoil be okay left until lower temps? This could be several months.
Any help/advice most appreciated
