Hi all

I've just removed 4" thick gravel and a weed membrane. Most of the soil
underneath the membrane is fine, however there is a large patch where
underneath the membrane is another layer of gravel. This bottom layer of
gravel has been compressed into the soil underneath and is rock hard.

I am reluctant to remove this layer of compressed gravel unless I have no
option. The reason being is the physical quantity, It's one thing shifting
many tonnes of loose stuff, but I really could do without shifting another
good few tonnes of compacted almost cemented stuff.

So here's my plan. I am thinking of using my pickaxe to break the surface up
and then remove any of the bigger chunks. I could then lay between 4" and 6"
of soil on top of the surface, which will take the level to the top of the
retaining wall.

So the question is, will 4-6" of soil with a compacted base underneath be
enough to allow grass to grow from seed, or do I need to completely shift
this compacted base?

Thanks for any advice

Andy

"aaj" wrote in message
news:1121928105.a02fe4bb25a0b7e03925daa0f9b6ce6f@t eranews...
Hi all

I've just removed 4" thick gravel and a weed membrane. Most of the soil
underneath the membrane is fine, however there is a large patch where
underneath the membrane is another layer of gravel. This bottom layer of
gravel has been compressed into the soil underneath and is rock hard.

I am reluctant to remove this layer of compressed gravel unless I have no
option. The reason being is the physical quantity, It's one thing shifting
many tonnes of loose stuff, but I really could do without shifting another
good few tonnes of compacted almost cemented stuff.

So here's my plan. I am thinking of using my pickaxe to break the surface
up and then remove any of the bigger chunks. I could then lay between 4"
and 6" of soil on top of the surface, which will take the level to the top
of the retaining wall.

So the question is, will 4-6" of soil with a compacted base underneath be
enough to allow grass to grow from seed, or do I need to completely shift
this compacted base?

Thanks for any advice

Andy


Bear with this story :-)

2 or 3 years ago a patch appeared on my lawn, it was *perfectly* round, and
about 15-18 inches across. Over a few weeks the grass in it went completely
dead. The grass around it was fine. I was mystified as to the cause and the
very clear delineation between growing and dead, and started digging. Only 2
inches underneath the dead grass was a round paving slab that the grass had
gradually grown over eventually completely covering it, and I had forgotten
it was there. It had been there over the slab for 5 or 6 years at least
before the grass died. The cause was a very dry summer. So, I'd say that yes
it will germinate and grow happily, and it will probably be OK most of the
time, but in v a dry summer, even the 4-6 inches of soil might not have
enough stored moisture to keep it going.

--
Tumbleweed

email replies not necessary but to contact use;
tumbleweednews at hotmail dot com

In article , Tumbleweed thisaccountnever
writes


So here's my plan. I am thinking of using my pickaxe to break the surface
up and then remove any of the bigger chunks. I could then lay between 4"
and 6" of soil on top of the surface, which will take the level to the top
of the retaining wall.

So the question is, will 4-6" of soil with a compacted base underneath be
enough to allow grass to grow from seed, or do I need to completely shift
this compacted base?


Bear with this story :-)

2 or 3 years ago a patch appeared on my lawn, it was *perfectly* round, and
about 15-18 inches across. Over a few weeks the grass in it went completely
dead. The grass around it was fine. I was mystified as to the cause and the
very clear delineation between growing and dead, and started digging. Only 2
inches underneath the dead grass was a round paving slab that the grass had
gradually grown over eventually completely covering it, and I had forgotten
it was there. It had been there over the slab for 5 or 6 years at least
before the grass died. The cause was a very dry summer. So, I'd say that yes
it will germinate and grow happily, and it will probably be OK most of the
time, but in v a dry summer, even the 4-6 inches of soil might not have
enough stored moisture to keep it going.

But he's breaking the surface of the compacted stuff. Then adding 4-6
inches of soil on top of that. And the compacted stuff isn't free
draining. It's a very different situation to grass growing over a paving
slab on whatever soil accumulates between the grass roots.


--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

"Kay" wrote in message
...
In article , Tumbleweed thisaccountnever
writes


So here's my plan. I am thinking of using my pickaxe to break the
surface
up and then remove any of the bigger chunks. I could then lay between 4"
and 6" of soil on top of the surface, which will take the level to the
top
of the retaining wall.

So the question is, will 4-6" of soil with a compacted base underneath
be
enough to allow grass to grow from seed, or do I need to completely
shift
this compacted base?


Bear with this story :-)

2 or 3 years ago a patch appeared on my lawn, it was *perfectly* round,
and
about 15-18 inches across. Over a few weeks the grass in it went
completely
dead. The grass around it was fine. I was mystified as to the cause and
the
very clear delineation between growing and dead, and started digging. Only
2
inches underneath the dead grass was a round paving slab that the grass
had
gradually grown over eventually completely covering it, and I had
forgotten
it was there. It had been there over the slab for 5 or 6 years at least
before the grass died. The cause was a very dry summer. So, I'd say that
yes
it will germinate and grow happily, and it will probably be OK most of the
time, but in v a dry summer, even the 4-6 inches of soil might not have
enough stored moisture to keep it going.

But he's breaking the surface of the compacted stuff. Then adding 4-6
inches of soil on top of that. And the compacted stuff isn't free
draining. It's a very different situation to grass growing over a paving
slab on whatever soil accumulates between the grass roots.



Its certainly different. But his exact words are "will 4-6" of soil with a
compacted base underneath be enough?". So, maybe, but if it gets really dry,
maybe not. Portions of my lawn are looking completely dead at the moment and
they have a lot of soil underneath!

FWIW when I peeled the grass off the slab, it was just like turf, maybe an
inch or so of soil.

--
Tumbleweed

email replies not necessary but to contact use;
tumbleweednews at hotmail dot com

"aaj" wrote in message
news:1121928105.a02fe4bb25a0b7e03925daa0f9b6ce6f@t eranews...
Hi all

I've just removed 4" thick gravel and a weed membrane. Most of the soil
underneath the membrane is fine, however there is a large patch where
underneath the membrane is another layer of gravel. This bottom layer of
gravel has been compressed into the soil underneath and is rock hard.

I am reluctant to remove this layer of compressed gravel unless I have no
option. The reason being is the physical quantity, It's one thing shifting
many tonnes of loose stuff, but I really could do without shifting another
good few tonnes of compacted almost cemented stuff.

So here's my plan. I am thinking of using my pickaxe to break the surface
up and then remove any of the bigger chunks. I could then lay between 4"
and 6" of soil on top of the surface, which will take the level to the top
of the retaining wall.

So the question is, will 4-6" of soil with a compacted base underneath be
enough to allow grass to grow from seed, or do I need to completely shift
this compacted base?

Thanks for any advice

Andy



break the gravel up also replace the other gravel use a sandy soil mixture
and sow with a fescue and bent seed mixture this species of grass will
thrive in sandy conditions and the gravel is great for drainage so keep it
well watered.
Four to six inches is fine we lay most our bowling grens and cricket squares
on 5 inches over gravel

Thanks for the replies

I got my pick axe and fork out last night, managed to remove about 50%, and
broke the rest up.

I'll give it a go, if it doesn't work out, I can always do a bit more
digging in a few years time

thanks

Andy


"aaj" wrote in message
news:1121928105.a02fe4bb25a0b7e03925daa0f9b6ce6f@t eranews...
Hi all

I've just removed 4" thick gravel and a weed membrane. Most of the soil
underneath the membrane is fine, however there is a large patch where
underneath the membrane is another layer of gravel. This bottom layer of
gravel has been compressed into the soil underneath and is rock hard.

I am reluctant to remove this layer of compressed gravel unless I have no
option. The reason being is the physical quantity, It's one thing shifting
many tonnes of loose stuff, but I really could do without shifting another
good few tonnes of compacted almost cemented stuff.

So here's my plan. I am thinking of using my pickaxe to break the surface
up and then remove any of the bigger chunks. I could then lay between 4"
and 6" of soil on top of the surface, which will take the level to the top
of the retaining wall.

So the question is, will 4-6" of soil with a compacted base underneath be
enough to allow grass to grow from seed, or do I need to completely shift
this compacted base?

Thanks for any advice

Andy