can i lay turf topsoil on sharp sand

[scott&kerry]

I wonder if someone could give me some advice please? I bought a hom

recently and it had the whole front garden slabbed which i promptly du up. I laid a nice new path and i want to lay turf at either end of thi path. I have got a deep base of sharp sand that the old slabs were o and i was wondering if i can put topsoil and turf on top of this. have been told the sharp sand will provide good drainage but i am no so sure and dont want to lay my new garden on this if i am going t have to tear it up later. If this is a good base how much topsoi should i use under the turf

-- scott&kerry

[Ed Taylor]

Hello: Am not a professional, but can only speak from experience. I have a home along one of Eastern NC's sounds. I get a lot of wash over the bulkhead from waves generated by both wind and from large boats along the inland waterway. Had a hard time getting grass started because of the constant wash. We put sod (Bermuda) over a base of sand and approximately 1" of topsoil. This has solved our problem well. The sand allows excellent drainage and the sod has had no trouble getting established. We selected Bermuda for it's durability and excellent root structure. I can't speak for how this would have worked with another turf variety. Ed in NC

"scott&amp"; "kerry" wrote in message news: [e-mail]...

[old perennial]

I think that the layer of sharp sand will give far too much drainage an

starve the turf of water.

Sharp sand is ideal for adding openess, air and making soil free draining say in heavy areas. Depending on the surrounding levels remove most of the sand and dig in the remainder into to top soi beneath. If you need to add top soil as maybe they have remove original cover down to clay, then loosen the subsoil and mix with th remaining sand then add the top soil.

Think of adding one ten litre bucket of sand to a barrow of soil to ge an idea of the ratio required.

Just a thought, youre certain that its sharp sand and not fine stick builders sand. Sharp sand is nice and gritty and doesnt stick togethe when compressed in your hand. Remove lumps of dry morter if the flag have been laid over piles of cement.

When turf is laid, mix sand with fine sifted soil and fill in th joints. Dont trim the turf back to your line until your sure the tru edges have 'taken' or you may get a bit of die back which may distur your boundary line.

O

-- old perennial

[Alexander SuperTramp]

; "kerry" wrote in message news: [e-mail]...

As an aside, what is "sharp" sand?