Light clay soil

[joeandrews]

I am going to rotivate our bare earth tomorrow ready for turf.

It is light clay.

Should I rotivate mushroom compost into soil, add 50mmm of top soil level and then lay turf?

Many thanks.

 

[r896neo]

hard to know really as your light clay might be very different to my light clay.

Personally, excluding lawns right beside the sea, i have yet to see a lawn that drains too quickly so drainage is paramount.

The compost will help add nutrients and break up the soil a little but grit is probably more important at this point.

Its much easier to improve nutrient balance in a lawn with feeds or top dressing once its established than it is to try and improve drainage once its laid/sown.

You sound like you have a fair idea though so don't worry too much. Simply rotovating the ground will loosen it considerably and improve the soil.