Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design Re: Soil preparation for Empire Zoysia 2Mar 26, 2017 9:34 pm Hi All An update and a request for help! Last weekend we removed about 200mm - 250mm of soil. After this, the bobcat cut into the remaining soil (which was very compacted) and we mixed in humus soil conditioner, zeolite and perlite. We then replaced the removed soil with "Magic Lawn Dress' from Bio-Organics (http://www.bioorganics.com.au) (see description below) and mixed some zeolite and perlite into this. Product Description: Bio-Organics’ Magic Lawn Dress is a blended Organic Soil tailored to create a healthy surface spread for all types of lawn. Predominantly made with our fully composted, organic Soil Enricher, it is bulked with quarry-sourced Lawn Sand to encourage quick root development to take advantage of the nutrients within the compost. Product Composition: 66% Soil Enricher (screened -10mm) 33% Lawn Sand Our landscaper then levelled the soil, compacted the soil (but only about half of it before laying the lawn), then laid the lawn and compacted the lawn. All this was done with the soil being dry and using a small compactor from Bunnings. A week on and, as you can see from the photos and video, some parts of the lawn are extremely soggy and just collapse when you walk on it (the photos/video were taken about 2 hours after watering). https://flic.kr/p/TdC8FL https://flic.kr/p/T5PbYZ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvWAEs3opnQ Is this just an issue of the soil not being compacted sufficiently, is it a drainage problem or is there something else going on here? I know the water table is high in this location, there is an old 'smashed up' concrete pool buried underground and the soil they filled the pool with appears to have a high clay content and was very compacted. I think I need some help from a professional (no disrespect, but my current landscaper isn't up to this job). Can anyone recommend someone in Perth who can help? Re: Soil preparation for Empire Zoysia 3Mar 26, 2017 11:36 pm I would hope the pool had been modified with large holes cut to ensure drainage. Otherwise it becomes a pool again, or a bog. Re: Soil preparation for Empire Zoysia 4Mar 30, 2017 3:09 pm The Garden Whisperer I would hope the pool had been modified with large holes cut to ensure drainage. Otherwise it becomes a pool again, or a bog. The previous owner said the old pool was all smashed up before they filled in the area so I don't think the pool is the main source of the problem. As an update, I have cut back the watering to 2 min, 3 times per day and the area has firmed up substantially. A few people have commented that the soil we added has too much organic matter. The topsoil we added has 33% sand and 66% soil enricher / organic matter. Is this an appropriate ratio for the lawn? I think the main problem is that original soil below the topsoil (approx 200mm - 250mm) does not drain very well. I'm hoping the organic matter overtime will actually help improve this. Re: Soil preparation for Empire Zoysia 5Apr 02, 2017 8:24 am Organic matter is like a sponge. Takes heaps of water to get the water down deep iF It is dry AND ages to dry out if it is wet. If you have damp ground then stop watering you don't need more. I don't believe u can have too much organic matter so long as it has had time to compost down and stop producing heat. Stick your hand in after it drys out to take a temp reading. You will find the organic matter as it breaks down further is going to make your soil slump, some top dress with compost or good soil each year. Keep the soil below the height of paths as the grass adds height. Re: Soil preparation for Empire Zoysia 6May 01, 2017 12:09 am dantab The Garden Whisperer I would hope the pool had been modified with large holes cut to ensure drainage. Otherwise it becomes a pool again, or a bog. The previous owner said the old pool was all smashed up before they filled in the area so I don't think the pool is the main source of the problem. As an update, I have cut back the watering to 2 min, 3 times per day and the area has firmed up substantially. A few people have commented that the soil we added has too much organic matter. The topsoil we added has 33% sand and 66% soil enricher / organic matter. Is this an appropriate ratio for the lawn? I think the main problem is that original soil below the topsoil (approx 200mm - 250mm) does not drain very well. I'm hoping the organic matter overtime will actually help improve this. Re: Soil preparation for Empire Zoysia 7May 01, 2017 12:11 am Not sure what's going on with my quote, so here's the reply You shouldn't be watering that often. Even if you were in Perth, we can water 2 times a week and with good soil prep, that's cut to once a fortnight. If you are in the Mexicos (Eastern States) it certainly won't need much, especially at this time of year. It's not too much organic material. I'd still check the pool isn't still there. I am not sure whether Perth has its own way of doing things in regards to this. Most of Perth has class A (sandy soil), except for some areas near rivers or hills. 2 13105 We were lucky in that our old house was so small (86 square metres) compared to the new house, they were able to take enough readings around the old backyard house before… 8 37150 DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair I'm in WA and our sandy soils make drainage a bit easier but this is what I'd be doing. Dig down to your footings and let the wall dry out. Clean it all well by brushing… 1 5197 |