Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Jun 02, 2011 11:16 am Hi everyone, we're laying turf in a couple weeks and just had two quick questions. 1. After rotary hoeing our clay soil and mixing in compost and all the soil amendments, there are lots and lots of rocks in the resulting blend of soil. Some of them are hard clay but many are actual rocks that don't break up at all. They are on average about the size of a golf ball. Do we need to take all these out to ensure a nice smooth lawn, or will the turf grow 'on top' of it and give a smooth finish anyway? 2. I've seen it mentioned many times to use a plate compactor rather than a roller for compacting the surface before and after laying the turf. Is this definitely still ok in Brisbane clay soil? Also, does it damage the newly laid turf to be compacted it like that? Everyone I mentioned this to said there's no way they'd use a plate compactor because it would just damage the turf and/or compact the clay too hard. Can somebody please clarify this or put my mind at ease? Thanks for the help! Re: Two questions before laying turf next weekend 2Jun 05, 2011 11:30 pm Its nonsense. Of course it doesn't damage it If that were the case the entire WA landscpae industry would be in trouble. No need to compact till its concrete like. Just to firm up the soil. So it stays level or more so and so that your feet don't leave great big divots when you walk over the area. A roller will make for a very lumpy finish and that will look terrible for years. It will also mean more expense and effort to fix later. The rocks are just best left. Like any farmer will tell you, if you get rid of them more show up soon enough. Re: Two questions before laying turf next weekend 3Jun 06, 2011 11:00 am Thanks for the help fu. I've had some pretty epic sessions with the rake over the last couple nights, but funnily enough the rocks do keep coming back. Most of the lumps seem to be just hard clay though so I'm hoping they'll break down over time anyway as the compost and amendments all do their thing. Hopefully a good go with the compactor will get the finish pretty smooth in the meantime. Re: Two questions before laying turf next weekend 4Jun 06, 2011 9:38 pm Not a good go, just a quick go. Just firm it a little so no big foot prints happen when laying Re: Two questions before laying turf next weekend 5Jun 07, 2011 9:41 am Ok, gotcha. You know, it's weird - it's already so hard that hardly any footprints are left. There's a 1cm 'crust' baked on top, but when I put the pitchfork into it it goes in easily and the mixed up soil underneath is lovely. I'm worried that the turf roots might have trouble getting through this crust into the good stuff below, but even after I turn the soil and rake it all smooth again, the crust comes back in a couple days. Two questions before laying turf next weekend 6Jun 07, 2011 12:51 pm Because it's exposed to the air. Get the turf down and it won't be. Problem solved. Lots of humus rich organic compost is critical. That will also change your situation. This is very different to topsoil or lawn mix. Re: Two questions before laying turf next weekend 7Jun 07, 2011 2:40 pm Yep it's got a whole lot of organic compost mixed through it now and down to a good depth too. It's also been rotary hoe'd and raked smooth. With this crust that's formed, do I need to turn the soil and rake it smooth again immediately before laying the turf, or will the turf roots get through the crust ok? I'm guessing (hoping!!) that when I lightly water the soil before laying that might soften the crust enough for the turf roots to get through it ok. Or is this just wishful thinking and I have a whole lot of re-turning and re-raking before me? I'll try to get a picture up soon. Two questions before laying turf next weekend 8Jun 07, 2011 4:00 pm I'd rake it again but it depends on how level it is. Hard to say without being there. Then again maybe I'd say to myself, "I can't be arsed with it" and just chuck it down. Re: Two questions before laying turf next weekend 9Jun 07, 2011 5:20 pm Well it's pretty level already, but I'm not as concerned about raking it again as I am about turning all 150sqm again with the mattock! I'll see how it's looking on the day. I believe we have some rain forecast so with some luck that will help soften up the surface. Thanks for all the advice and for putting up with the pedantic and finicky questions - I just want to make sure we get the laying right after such careful prep work Re: Two questions before laying turf next weekend 10Jun 08, 2011 8:54 pm That's a fair call too. It will be fine in the end. I'm about to put down some Merbau. Is it necessary to oil underneath the boards before laying? 0 1938 Hey There. 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