Builders rubble - Can I dig it in to my soil or do I have to remove it? 3 July 2020 at 11:20AM in Greenfingered MoneySaving 8 replies 1.2K views

ivavoucher

Hi 
All round the edge of a new patio is builders rubble, I think it may be called crusher run but am not sure.
There is quite a lot of it but the soil is quite clay so wonders if I could just till it in rather than removing it.
link to photos
Thanks

gwynlas

It depends on how large your garden is but personally I would dig it out and replace with topsoil. 

Robin9

Once you start digging you will find even more buried - I've found bricks by the score and long tenths of drainage pipes.  Take it to the tip and replace with decent topsoil.

badmemory

Are you thinking that the rubble will improve the drainage ability of the clay?

DiggerUK

If you are in a newish property, or have had recent works done it could just be lazy builders not clearing up properly. Throw the big stuff out.
As to the clay, dig in broken up plasterboard or buy claybreaker. Don't  forget to add compost to the ground..._

twopenny

That looks like cement and all sorts. That can give you problems.

In this case (unless it's just turf) I agree with the others. Dig it out and use somewhere it can do no harm. Replace with some top soil. Cheap from builders merchants but usually not sterilised so may bring stoic weeds, or more from a nursery if you want to grow beautiful flowers or veg.

ivavoucher

Thank you all.
 I cleared it out and added manure and topsoil.
Here is the bed now.
Lots more to do though.

JGB1955

ivavoucher said:

Here is the bed now.

Wow!  That is amazing.  We are still digging up builders rubble (including complete engineering bricks) 35 years after moving into our new-build house.  Project 2020 is to revamp the garden in anticipation of the next/final 20 years of our occupation - heaven help the landscape gardener who takes on the job!

twopenny

That's impressive!

Definitely worth the extra effort.