can i lay turf topsoil on sharp sand
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Subject Author Date
can i lay turf topsoil on sharp sand scott&kerry 04-24-2008
Posted by scott&kerry on April 24, 2008, 1:23 pm
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I wonder if someone could give me some advice please? I bought a home
recently and it had the whole front garden slabbed which i promptly dug
up. I laid a nice new path and i want to lay turf at either end of this
path. I have got a deep base of sharp sand that the old slabs were on
and i was wondering if i can put topsoil and turf on top of this. I
have been told the sharp sand will provide good drainage but i am not
so sure and dont want to lay my new garden on this if i am going to
have to tear it up later. If this is a good base how much topsoil
should i use under the turf?




--
scott&kerry

Posted by Ed Taylor on April 25, 2008, 7:03 pm
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 Hello:
Am not a professional, but can only speak from experience. I have a home
along one of Eastern NC's sounds. I get a lot of wash over the bulkhead
from waves generated by both wind and from large boats along the inland
waterway. Had a hard time getting grass started because of the constant
wash. We put sod (Bermuda) over a base of sand and approximately 1" of
topsoil. This has solved our problem well. The sand allows excellent
drainage and the sod has had no trouble getting established. We selected
Bermuda for it's durability and excellent root structure. I can't speak for
how this would have worked with another turf variety.
Ed in NC


>
> I wonder if someone could give me some advice please? I bought a home
> recently and it had the whole front garden slabbed which i promptly dug
> up. I laid a nice new path and i want to lay turf at either end of this
> path. I have got a deep base of sharp sand that the old slabs were on
> and i was wondering if i can put topsoil and turf on top of this. I
> have been told the sharp sand will provide good drainage but i am not
> so sure and dont want to lay my new garden on this if i am going to
> have to tear it up later. If this is a good base how much topsoil
> should i use under the turf?
>
>
>
>
> --
> scott&kerry


Posted by Bob F on April 26, 2008, 8:19 pm
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>
> I wonder if someone could give me some advice please? I bought a home
> recently and it had the whole front garden slabbed which i promptly dug
> up. I laid a nice new path and i want to lay turf at either end of this
> path. I have got a deep base of sharp sand that the old slabs were on
> and i was wondering if i can put topsoil and turf on top of this. I
> have been told the sharp sand will provide good drainage but i am not
> so sure and dont want to lay my new garden on this if i am going to
> have to tear it up later. If this is a good base how much topsoil
> should i use under the turf?

Where you are might make a difference in potential answers.




Posted by old perennial on April 28, 2008, 12:44 pm
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I think that the layer of sharp sand will give far too much drainage and
starve the turf of water.

Sharp sand is ideal for adding openess, air and making soil freer
draining say in heavy areas. Depending on the surrounding levels,
remove most of the sand and dig in the remainder into to top soil
beneath. If you need to add top soil as maybe they have removed
original cover down to clay, then loosen the subsoil and mix with the
remaining sand then add the top soil.

Think of adding one ten litre bucket of sand to a barrow of soil to get
an idea of the ratio required.

Just a thought, youre certain that its sharp sand and not fine sticky
builders sand. Sharp sand is nice and gritty and doesnt stick together
when compressed in your hand. Remove lumps of dry morter if the flags
have been laid over piles of cement.

When turf is laid, mix sand with fine sifted soil and fill in the
joints. Dont trim the turf back to your line until your sure the truf
edges have 'taken' or you may get a bit of die back which may disturb
your boundary line.

OP




--
old perennial

Posted by Alexander SuperTramp on May 27, 2008, 2:07 am
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>
> I wonder if someone could give me some advice please? I bought a home
> recently and it had the whole front garden slabbed which i promptly dug
> up. I laid a nice new path and i want to lay turf at either end of this
> path. I have got a deep base of sharp sand that the old slabs were on
> and i was wondering if i can put topsoil and turf on top of this. I
> have been told the sharp sand will provide good drainage but i am not
> so sure and dont want to lay my new garden on this if i am going to
> have to tear it up later. If this is a good base how much topsoil
> should i use under the turf

As an aside, what is "sharp" sand?



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