Compost, top soil, or fill dirt?
jimmyland
12 years ago
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alphonse
12 years agoRelated Discussions
Driveway 'apron', fill dirt, and top soil
Comments (2)If you're looking to establish a nice turf along the driveway, you'll want a minimum of 4 inches of a good loamy topsoil (whatever is recommended in your area) to seed, 6 inches is better. Under that, you can pretty much use whatever clean fill you have (within reason...no ground concrete or asphalt). While the fill should be leveled (more or less) and raked, and maybe compacted some, the topsoil really shouldn't be compacted with more than an empty lawn roller, as too much compaction can prevent good root growth....See MoreWhat to do about trash filled fill dirt
Comments (5)You didn't say how much area is involved. I had a similar problem when I bought this place. And since I truly didn't know what other kinds of crap was in the spot, I just took the time to dig it all up, an area about 15'x 4'. I actually made a sifter (24" x24") out of cedar fence boards and 1/2" hardware cloth. Then I cut most of the bottom out of an old plastic garbage can (left a rim around the bottom for support), set the sifter on top and shoveled dirt and debris into it. I kept several 5-gal buckets nearby to drop the trash into. I started digging at one end, where I suspected the trash began, and gradually worked my way along the wall. It took a while. I returned the sifted soil (still some small debris in it) as I worked my way through the area, leaving a clear area to mark what was done and what wasn't, then raked it level and brought in some clean topsoil for the top 4-6". It was a real pain in the derriere, for sure. But once it was done, I didn't have to worry or think about it again. Sue...See MoreWhat type of dirt to fill large Koi pond?
Comments (1)I would tend to fill with sand, especially in FL. If you want topsoil then put that in the top 6 inches, but I would go with sand all the way to the top. I've had excellent experience with grass on sand. A skidsteer or bobcat is the wrong tool to prep the yard. The pros use a tractor with a boxblade. You can put a boxblade on a bobcat but there is something about the dynamics of how a bobcat works compared to the stability of a tractor that makes the tractor a much preferred tool. Here's a box blade in action. The skid steer has a different tool (maybe a power rake or a tiller). But final prep is the box blade. For a normal yard it would take a tractor an hour to fix. If you tried to do it with a bobcat it might take a day or two. You don't need to do anything to the existing plants. The box blade takes care of them. For 1/3 acre I might try to build a drag and prep it myself. Rent a hand held power rake to take out all the existing grass and brush. Then run the drag over it. If you have a riding mower you could pull the drag behind the mower. Here is a link to pictures of a drag. I made one out of chain link fencing with some boards on it for the weight....See MoreCan I flip sod and plant on top with soil fill?
Comments (5)As I understand you planted the Maple in the wrong spot and wish to move it. The spot where you want to move it to, is on a slope that is gradual enough that you have sod and mow it regularly. Have you ever been in the Mountains and see the slopes that maples and other trees grow? Some of the slopes are such that your riding lawn mower could not get up it let alone mow it. I would say that if the new spot is acceptable I would go ahead and move it. If you are worried about tree getting adequate water, create a slight "u" shaped berm on the down slope side of the tree for a year or so, until the tree is established. After a year, it will find its own water, and you can remove the berm. If you want to use the pieces of so on the berm, go ahead but remember the berm is temporary. I would use the sod remove to plant the tree in other spots in the yard with poor sod....See Moreval_s
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12 years agojimmyland
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