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Gardening in Oz

Could you lay turf OVER turf?

20 years ago

I know that sounds lazy. The Leopard tree is getting a whack this weekend, no more seed pods raining down on the roof. Pity, nice tree, a bit too close to the house.

Left with some big surface roots, and lots of crappy areas, packed as hard as concrete. Weeds, not much active grass.

Rather than digging up all the original, could I lay some soil on the top and re-turf over the lot?

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Comments (7)

gardenlen
20 years ago
sure can alison,

might be advantagouse to throw some gypsum down first as well, if the area is not to large use a garden fork or something to punch some holes in to help along the way.

len

Here is a link that might be useful: lens garden page
Liatris
20 years ago
You can, but are you going to be able to water it to get it established?

Btw, it makes terrific firewood (unless you're having it mulched, of course). Maybe you can sell the firewood to subsidise the lopping?!
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alisonoz_gw
Original Author
20 years ago
OK! Thanks to you both. I will work on that plan then, and do some decent prep when the holiday comes.
Pam watering this should be a bit easier its not far from the laundry and downhill so a bit of washing machine rinse occasionally I figure will be OK. And I am actually leaving the trunk & a few bits of branches, for the vines, I thought the timber would be hard enough to resist rot or termites for a good long while. Now just have to get the plumber in to find the stormwater pipe it has crushed .
Ta
Liatris
20 years ago
>Now just have to get the plumber in

Now that could be a whole nother exercise in patience!
My neighbour has been waiting for one to turn up for the past 18 months.
gardenlen
20 years ago
g'day alison,

storm water pipes aren't ususaly that deep under ground, so can be very easily traced and for anyone with handyperson skills just too easy to repair, plumbers!! you'll wait an eternity and pay a kings ransom.

if the soil is hard/compacted run some wash machine water over it for a few days in advance that will make the digging easier, especially if you put some biscuits of hay/straw or the like over it to keep the moisture soaking in.

a crowbar and post hole shovel should do the trick, and no need to glue the pipes if there are no tree roots around most times they push together very tightly, and if they leek a little that will make no difference to the big picture.

not 100% necessary but makes it easier to back fill around the pipes get some course sand for bedding around the new pipe if you can, or some very alluvial loose sandy loam will also work.

len

Here is a link that might be useful: lens garden page
Sparaxis
20 years ago
I have just the man for your pipes. We have a great pumber here in Ballarat who shows up very promptly when needed. When we hit the water pipe, putting in the pergola post, he showed up in 2 hours, reconnected the pipe, and put in a tap against the new post for me. Perhaps he and his wife would like a trip to Qld? Could you put him up?
ashmeri
19 years ago
OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH,

A plumber , what a wonderful thing to have near you.
I have been waiting for one to just come and see if he can do the job in our bathroom for the last 6 months.

They are as scarce as hes teeth round her so if he is coming to Queensland I will give him a room at Gracemere ,even feed him his favourites, ecxept McDonalds LOL.
Marion

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