Planting a lawn on clay soil

angeltreats

We bought our house last year and after a lot of long months working on the interior, it's time to start sorting out the garden which has been really quite neglected.

We have a small area of about 12 sq m where a previous owner laid some weedproof membrane and put down gravel on top of that, I think they were trying to create some sort of budget patio. We have pulled this up and would like to create a bit of lawn where the gravel used to be. Unfortunately the soil underneath turned out to the clay, and is extremely compacted from having the weight of all the gravel on top.

I know nothing about lawns, but I do know (from having an allotment) that clay soils are a massive pain and I can't just stick a bit of turf on top. Presumably I'm going to have to dig in some sand or something, but we have an access problem in that there is no way we can get a vehicle anywhere near the garden and any sand/manure/whatever would have to be brought in one wheelbarrow at a time.

I wondered if anyone could offer any advice on how best to go about this?

wallbash

At least you have started with a clean slate. No weeds??
Get someone with a rotavator to turn over clay patch . Incorporate some 'sharp' sand . Rotovate. Level .Light compaction Cover with a couple of inchs of top soil . level again .

Buy good turfs , green side up !

Access wont be a problem , if you can get a wheel barrow in .

Leif

What wallbash said, except that you could seed if you prefer. For such a small area, turf would be quicker, and not expensive.

I would have thought that laying turf on 3" of sharp sand would kill it.

wallbash

I would have thought that laying turf on 3" of sharp sand would kill it.

Would be very well drained!!
3 inches of sand? sounds like making a lawn on the beach.

Leif

wallbash wrote: »

Would be very well drained!!
3 inches of sand? sounds like making a lawn on the beach.

Perhaps Marram grass turf would be advisable.

angeltreats

Many thanks all for the advice, much appreciated. I'll pick up a few bags of sharp sand from Wickes next time I'm there and start digging.

angeltreats

Right, silly question.

I went out yesterday to have a good look at the soil. It's so compacted that I literally can't even get a fork into it. I'm worried that a rotavator might just bounce off the surface!

It hasn't rained since we uncovered it - is a bit of rain likely to loosen it up much when it's this hard?

annie123

They could have put gravel down for a reason.
Being clay soil it would have been compacted prior to the gravel as it's unlike to have been cultivated ie, beds or borders, and may become waterlogged due to poor drainage. Previous lawn may have not thrived due to shade, or have ended up as moss and weeds.

Clay soil needs organic matter added not sand to improve it.

I would add drainage and use lots of organic matter, the rotavator will churn it in for you.
Having got this far I would wait until its rained hard, then you will be able to see where the water drains and where it puddles.
No point in putting in a lot of effort now only to have to sort out problems later.

useful info:
http://www.tillersturf.co.uk/guides/turf-specification-and-laying-guide

Leif

If it is hard because it is dry, then I'd wait for some rain to soften it. I have compacted clay soil with many large flints, some over 1 foot across. A rotavator does loosen the soil, but slowly. You have a small area, so maybe a days work to till it down to 6". The sharp sand will help the drainage, maybe a 1" layer dug in. I have areas where rain puddles, and I will dig in sharp sand.

angeltreats

According to the next door neighbour, they put down the gravel to make a patio area in the bit of the garden that gets the most sun - there is already a bit of lawn just beside it, separated by a few paving stones, that isn't doing too badly despite total neglect. It is actually bordered by beds that seem to be fairly well drained, although they're another problem as they've been over run with mint and a triffid-like climbing jasmine, which we've also been tackling. There doesn't seem to have been much compost/organic matter/anything dug into any of these areas and I've never seen any water pooling so don't think drainage is actually that much of a problem.