Hi all
I want to take up about 20 sqm of lawn to part-extend a patio and add a gravel/shale area.
The lawn rises away from the pation to about 2-3" (50-75mm) above the level of the patio. (Although currently no problems with water draining from lawn onto patio - soil is free-draining loam over chalk.)
I intend to
1. If I hire a turf-cutter and remove the turf, can I use it to go over the bare area and slice off the extra 3-4" of topsoil?
(Or does the cutter need to have a layer of turf bound by roots to cut effectively?)
2. Is it better to use a rotavator to break up the extra 3-4" of topsoil, and then rake/board/shovel(!) off the excess? (Then 'heel-in'/compact before laying slabs/shale)
3. Accept that manual labour is the best way as lifting just the extra 3-4" of topsoil with a spade means that the soil underneath is left in its existing stable state?
If the answer is none of these, "get a mini-digger", I'll leave it until later in the year when I get a mini-digger to do a pond!
Thanks
Checkfirst
I want to take up about 20 sqm of lawn to part-extend a patio and add a gravel/shale area.
The lawn rises away from the pation to about 2-3" (50-75mm) above the level of the patio. (Although currently no problems with water draining from lawn onto patio - soil is free-draining loam over chalk.)
I intend to
- * Take up the turf (20 sq m)
* Remove about another 3-4" (75-100mm) of topsoil to allow for a layer of sharp sand & the new slabs (and a slight drop away from the patio for drainage) ~ about 10 sq m.
* For the shale area (10 sq m) I plan to just remove the turf & enough soil to let the shale be level with the slabs. (I will put weed-fabric under the shale, but no sand layer)
1. If I hire a turf-cutter and remove the turf, can I use it to go over the bare area and slice off the extra 3-4" of topsoil?
(Or does the cutter need to have a layer of turf bound by roots to cut effectively?)
2. Is it better to use a rotavator to break up the extra 3-4" of topsoil, and then rake/board/shovel(!) off the excess? (Then 'heel-in'/compact before laying slabs/shale)
3. Accept that manual labour is the best way as lifting just the extra 3-4" of topsoil with a spade means that the soil underneath is left in its existing stable state?
If the answer is none of these, "get a mini-digger", I'll leave it until later in the year when I get a mini-digger to do a pond!
Thanks
Checkfirst