Mixing Soil and Sand

[morpheus83uk]

Hello,

Very quick question.What would you guys recommend for mixing large amounts of sand and top soil for top dressing so that it is much quicker to mix opposed to with a shovel / spade? I am thinking currently its taking quite a bit of time to do the mixing and not long to put out the top dressing (as I am trying to sort out the soil structure for my grass). Anything which would help with this would be great.

All suggestions welcome.

James

 

[Nige F]

Cement mixer? are you using horticultural sand - I understand it's important, but have only heard this.

 

[morpheus83uk]

Thanks its sharp sand mixed with top soil as I have clay soil I think its pretty much the same thing.

I was thinking that are they expensive to hire for a day as I would only need one for a few hours. I had a quick look at these with my SDS drill would these be of any use?

http://www.screwfix.com/p/berg-wr-85-s-mixer-paddle-8mm-hexagonal-x-500mm/82334

Thanks

James

 

[ntb]

If it works at all a paddle mixer will be slower than shoveling it. I think a cement mixer is your only option.

 

[Brigadier]

Thanks its sharp sand mixed with top soil as I have clay soil I think its pretty much the same thing.

I was thinking that are they expensive to hire for a day as I would only need one for a few hours. I had a quick look at these with my SDS drill would these be of any use?

http://www.screwfix.com/p/berg-wr-85-s-mixer-paddle-8mm-hexagonal-x-500mm/82334

Thanks

James

You can hire a cement mixer for less than a tenner a day.

 

[r896neo]

I dont really get this? Normally when top dressing I shovel alternately into the barrow, one soil, one sand and so on. Then when you tip out the barrow the raking and brushing it in will do the rest?

You obviously need recently screened dry top soil for this technique, although trying to top dress with wet soil will be nigh on impossible.

Not sure it needs an engineered solution?

 

[morpheus83uk]

I am buying them in bags so 6 bags of sand and 6 bags of top soil (25l / 25kg bags) opposed to say a ton bag of each which is where I presume the shovelling in one of each is from? So I empty a bag of each and then mix in the wheel barrow. I am just looking at a way of saving time and my back if possible.

 

[r896neo]

Yea throw a bag of each into a barrow and give it a 1 minute flick about with a shovel or fork and that will be plenty.

Do it on a dry day and keep the sand and soil dry if you can it will make the whole process much easier. Spread it roughly with a rake and then use a stiff brush to work it in and lift the sward back up.

 

[morpheus83uk]

Ah right I was told that it needed to be a nice sandy mixture so I have been giving it a good mix in with a shovel. I did it at weekend so it was very warm! What is the sward? I haven't ever heard of that before? Is that something to do with the grass or something else?

I will keep all this in mind for next year though as the grass seems to be getting better after last years efforts and it seems not to be overflowing which is nice.