Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Sep 19, 2014 4:48 pm Ok, I swear I've read the lawn threads (or a lot of them anyway - they are huge) but basic though they may be they are still beyond me. We are building a new house in Perth metro and will have two small areas where we want to put down lawn. About 44 sq m total. My question is about soil prep. I wouldn't call the existing stuff soil. To me it looks like stone and sand. I can't see how it could be turned into anything useful, no matter what we add to it. I'm not a native aussie so maybe that's part of the problem, but to me I think the only choice is to start from scratch - i.e. scrape off the rubbish and trek in new soil. Everything I read in the forums and on soil websites seems to be about improving existing soil, rather than starting from scratch. Can I scrape off our rubbish and replace it with something good? If so, what? I just want a straightforward solution - something like use soil x and soil conditioner y, install retic, lay lawn z good to go. I would be very grateful for any advice. Also any advice for a lawn that is soft for kids to play but can handle the shade? Thanks guys, Maggie Re: Really stupid soil lawn question 2Sep 20, 2014 7:27 am If you are laying turf .... and your soil description is correct ... I'd be taking off some - ripping the rest and levelling slightly - then getting some good top soil. Then the turf rolled out on that. I'd also put in a good watering system - ie pop ups. Its not that dear and really means the lawn can be watered properly. A simple auto device on the tap - you can water the lawn every second morning for 5-10 minutes at - say - 4 am. No evap and it will really sink deep. You need the turf to deep root - not shallow. You're only talking - say - 8 x 5 - so shouldn't be too expensive. But if you want a good long lasting lawn - that grows and lives well - you must look after it. If you can afford it - I'd also go turf not seed. AND - speak to the experts - what is the best turf for your area. Do you have drought times, long periods with no water etc. Some of the turfs have very different "abilities". Mind you - synthetic lawns can look very nice too - and over time are cheaper ... Depends what your lawn is used for - where it is etc. Re: Really stupid soil lawn question 3Sep 20, 2014 11:03 am If your lawn area is on the south side of the house, nothing much will work... except plastic lawn... dada. Yeah I know it sounds funny but that's what they're doing in well worn area too in Melbourne Leonardo_23 Re: Really stupid soil lawn question 4Sep 20, 2014 11:12 am Hi Maggie 10, Lost my opportunity to add at the end of the plastic lawn idea... ask a silly question and you get a silly answer... small joke Leonardo_23 Re: Really stupid soil lawn question 5Sep 21, 2014 11:31 am Leonardo_23 Hi Maggie 10, Lost my opportunity to add at the end of the plastic lawn idea... ask a silly question and you get a silly answer... small joke Leonardo_23 Nothing silly about "good" synthetic grass. In the right spot etc. We have some - the top line - and people always start by saying - "oh, I thought it was real ... " ... do not pay until you are satisfied with workmanship windows require flashing over the head archithrave and up under weatherboards 3 28256 the leaves that are now underground go yellow, the tips that poke through photosynthesise and have chlorophyll, same reason they grow rhubarb in the dark. 5 4824 Thanks for your reply. I will just wait and see I guess. Trying to get some more information from our builder. 9 29929 |