Do we need to lay a membrane under new topsoil?

FloFlo

Hubby has just dug over garden and is going to lay new topsoil and turf. We arent experts but money is tight so doing it ourselves so daughter has a decent enough garden for summer.

Now our garden was full of weeds hubby has dug them out and thinks he should put a membrane down to stop any coming back up. What sort of membrane would we need?

Thanks

Lotus-eater

Money is tight, so you are going to have new topsoil and turf? Obviously, money and tight don't mean the same thing to you and me.

So daughter has a decent enough garden in the summer...... please stop me from laughing, my kids wouldn't know a good lawn if it hit them in the face, they do however have a grassed area to play on, when I say grassed, I mean green, it's green, so who cares what's under it.

Maybe I'm too old and cynical, I probably am, in which case, someone else will come and save you from me.

FloFlo

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Money is tight, so you are going to have new topsoil and turf? Obviously, money and tight don't mean the same thing to you and me.

So daughter has a decent enough garden in the summer...... please stop me from laughing, my kids wouldn't know a good lawn if it hit them in the face, they do however have a grassed area to play on, when I say grassed, I mean green, it's green, so who cares what's under it.

Maybe I'm too old and cynical, I probably am, in which case, someone else will come and save you from me.

Thank you for your scathing judgement, for your information we moved house 2 years ago and the garden was a complete and utter mess. There was no grassed area just rubble and muck.

We have been quoted £180 for topsoil and turf from a local supplier which I think is reasonable, I just dont want to waste money by doing it badly so I thought I'd ask advice.

I am glad that it was myself that your horrible comments were directed at as I have been on this site long enough to know that your sort are in the minority.

If any decent moneysaver would like to offer advice I would appreciate it I just didnt realise I had to justify my entire family's financial position before doing so.

Lotus-eater

FloFlo wrote: »

Thank you for your scathing judgement, for your information we moved house 2 years ago and the garden was a complete and utter mess. There was no grassed area just rubble and muck.

We have been quoted £180 for topsoil and turf from a local supplier which I think is reasonable, I just dont want to waste money by doing it badly so I thought I'd ask advice.

I am glad that it was myself that your horrible comments were directed at as I have been on this site long enough to know that your sort are in the minority.

If any decent moneysaver would like to offer advice I would appreciate it I just didnt realise I had to justify my entire family's financial position before doing so.

I will refer you to the above
Maybe I'm too old and cynical, I probably am, in which case, someone else will come and save you from me.
Please use lawn seed and enjoy your garden.

RAS

FloFlo

You do not need membrane under your topsoil and turf.

IF any weeds appear you can dig them uo, zap them with glysophate (not my personal preference) or accept them.

based on my previous experience of trying to grow lawn in very dodgy situations, membrane might make it more difficult, but then i did uncover a layer of bricks and slate 2 - 6 inches under the surface which meant it cooked in sun and drowned in rain.

Vibrant

Definitely do not put membrane under the turf.
The turf will act as a barrier to all but the most persistent weeds. Just use a knife to cut out any weed that pokes its head up.
Are you sure you need the topsoil? Even fairly poor soil will be fine for general purpose turf, if you remove the stones and rake it out well.
Read this page for some useful tips:
http://www.gardeningdata.co.uk/lawns/turf_lawns.php

FloFlo

Thank you both, I have been telling hubby that the membrane wasn't a good idea. The reason we are going to have topsoil is that we hoped it would be easier to level after spreading the topsoil and because the soil/mud we have at the moment is very bog like.
Hubby is not very confident at DIY/gardening so would like this to be successful for him.

RAS

If it is very boggy, then raising the height of the lawn will help but start by going over it with a fork and pushing the tines right into the ground. if you/he encounters anything in the way, dig it out. That may be all that is needed to improve drainage.

Does the ground slope? if so is it the lower section that is wettest? If so consider

a) digging a trench at the top of the lawn to collect the water and then arrange drainage to lead the water away.

b)dig a pond in the lowest part to harvest the water or make a bog garden, but do cover any pond with mesh to keep DD out of it.

If the lawn does end up with lumps and bumps

a) cut the bump withs spade, making a cross shape, peel back the turk and scoop out the soil underneath until the turf goes back flat.

a) fill any dips with a mix of sand and compost - up to a couple of inches if necessary - and the grass will grow up through it.

katiecoodle

We're also having a new lawn laid (at the moment we just have 120 square metres of soil, after removing trees & weeds, it was derelict for 30 yrs before we moved in!). We've been advised to have gritsand laid, instead of top soil. Not sure why, assume its to do with drainage.
But we're going to make absolutely sure that we're going to rake it well, remove all stones and get it level ourselves before the turf people come. We are under the impression that its the preparation which will make the difference. And obviously the other thing is to water it well for the first few weeks.
I was wondering if theres anything else thats blindingly obvious that I haven't considered?

ok_go

Hi,

I agree withall of the above, but there may be a possible extra money saving idea if youare abe to get some top soiil fromm freecycle. Who knows might save you a bit more

Regards

Go

levis2891

were in the same situation and i was also considering putting a membrane as well.

our problem is our garden is full of overgrown perennial weeds (if it was a meadow it would be beautiful, but its not its a back garden that needs turfing :rolleyes:)

so even if everything is dug up properly some roots will no doubt remain, and rotavating will just make it worse (don't want hollyhock etc growing up everywhere). thats why i was considering a biodegradable weed mat under the new turf so at least we have some chance of establishing a nice lawn as its supposed to last 4 growing seasons.

now reading about what others have said i'm not sure.......