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Lilydale/Tuscan /CastellaToppings
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Author:  jamesnkelly [ Jul 26, 2008 9:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Lilydale/Tuscan /CastellaToppings

Can someone please help me. I want to know when laying Lilydale or Tuscan topping, does the ground need to be made flat first or can it still have its lumps and bumps and once the topping goes on it will become flat? hope this make sense thanks.

Author:  davinci [ Jul 27, 2008 9:58 am ]
Post subject: 

the sub ground needs to be relatively flat small bumps etc are fine
after you have layed down topping rack it out with a lawn rack and give it a slight squirt with hose and run a plate compacter over it
then the compacter lines use the back of the lawn rack to scrub these out
after that use a large broom over the entire surface to even the finish out

Author:  pommybloke [ Jul 15, 2010 2:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Lilydale/Tuscan /CastellaToppings

Hi all,

Im laying some tuscan topping this weekend over a base of roadbase that i have previously laid.

Having never done this before, I want to make sure I do it right.

Weve hired a plate compactor.

Im planning on a 50mm depth of tuscan topping.

Is it a good idea to water the topping and mix in some cement dust before using the compactor?
With the cement dust, should it be mixed in before laying or just sprinkled over the top before compacting?

Author:  Redman [ Jul 17, 2010 2:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Lilydale/Tuscan /CastellaToppings

Lylidale toppings make a great mulch, I have a peppermint gum across the road and the leaves blow over my garden, the toppings are slightly alkaline and the gum leaves slightly acid. The 2 mix, nutrients are released from the leaves, trace minerals from the toppings. The soil underneath is black and soaking wet. I just flip it around from time to time and re apply a washed top coat to finish off after weeding and turning. It looks great, Gypsum stops it binding and no need to go deeper than an inch. Your plants take off like crazy...

Author:  kek [ Jul 17, 2010 3:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Lilydale/Tuscan /CastellaToppings

pommybloke pommybloke
Hi all,

Im laying some tuscan topping this weekend over a base of roadbase that i have previously laid.

Having never done this before, I want to make sure I do it right.

Weve hired a plate compactor.

Im planning on a 50mm depth of tuscan topping.

Is it a good idea to water the topping and mix in some cement dust before using the compactor?
With the cement dust, should it be mixed in before laying or just sprinkled over the top before compacting?


You don't need cement. Some rain (or a sprinkle with the hose if you have tank water or some other way around water restrictions) will water it in well and the toppings will pack down nice and hard.

Laying toppings for our paths was one of the best things we did - and so cheap! :z:

Author:  Nott [ Jul 17, 2010 8:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Lilydale/Tuscan /CastellaToppings

kek, do u have rd base laid beneath the toppings? Tks
I also would be v relieved if that task could be done v soon.

Author:  kek [ Jul 17, 2010 11:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Lilydale/Tuscan /CastellaToppings

There's no road base under the front paths, or along the side of the house, and those have been down since early last year with no problems.

The paths out the back, with the stepping stone pavers set in them, were done a bit differently though - the photos are in my landscaping thread.

Roadbase:
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i18/kerrynw/IMG_5881_4_1.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i18/kerrynw/IMG_5909_5_1.jpg

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Author:  Nott [ Jul 18, 2010 9:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Lilydale/Tuscan /CastellaToppings

Thanks for ur explanation, Kek :D

Author:  pommybloke [ Jul 19, 2010 11:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Lilydale/Tuscan /CastellaToppings

Well I think i messed it up !

Got part of the topping a bit too wet and when i compacted it all of the sand colouring etc has come to the top, its compacted well but theres just the coloured sand all over the top and still looks wet.

Im hoping it will come good once its dried out a bit, otherwise looks like I may have to get a small amount of topping to put over the top.......

Author:  Cozmo [ Jul 19, 2010 3:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Lilydale/Tuscan /CastellaToppings

pommybloke pommybloke
Well I think i messed it up !

Got part of the topping a bit too wet and when i compacted it all of the sand colouring etc has come to the top, its compacted well but theres just the coloured sand all over the top and still looks wet.

Im hoping it will come good once its dried out a bit, otherwise looks like I may have to get a small amount of topping to put over the top.......


Dont worry it will come good, just let it dry out... then attack it with a hose (or just wait till you get some decent rain) and all the finer partials will wash down and she'll look as good as gold :wink:

Author:  pommybloke [ Jul 21, 2010 11:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Lilydale/Tuscan /CastellaToppings

Cozmo Cozmo
Dont worry it will come good, just let it dry out... then attack it with a hose (or just wait till you get some decent rain) and all the finer partials will wash down and she'll look as good as gold :wink:


Thanks Cozmo.

I tried the hose last night and it wasnt working too well. There were big patches where the sand has joined together which was making it look worse.

After trying the hose, i used my boot to rough up the sand in these patches and then hosed them down again and it seems to have done the trick.

Now just going to let it dry out (and have a proper look at it in the daylight!) and might just hire a roller to smooth it down a bit again.

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