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Heavily compacted soil

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  • 11-09-2019 1:47pm
    #1
    oleras
    Registered Users Posts: 2,721 ✭✭✭


    Hi folks, I had some work done between last summer and this and the soil has become very compacted from heavy machinery, it didnt help when a lot of work was completed on a very rainy day !

    Its holding water now, which it never did before, im ready to reseed it but wondering will a good rotovate and a few inches of topsoil sort it or would i need to get the soil/mud removed. Its really only the left hand side, the rest has been sprayed and it ready for seed.

    I really need a few dry days.

    lawn1.jpg

    lawn2.jpg


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    #2
    Lumen
    Registered Users Posts: 31,010 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    I'd been inclined to sow a green manure and let the roots break up the soil.

    https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/sites/www.gardenorganic.org.uk/files/Sort-Out-Your-Soil-Final.pdf

    "Some green manures species are particularly good at improving problems with soil structure. Lucerne, chicory and sweet clover have a strong tap root that can break through compacted soils or those with a plough pan. The fibrous root system of cocksfoot is good at improving soil crumb structure."


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    #3
    oleras
    Registered Users Posts: 2,721 ✭✭✭oleras


    Quick update.

    I really wanted to have grass seed down before the end of the month so i hired a mini digger, removed the earth bank that i never wanted and the few days of sunshine and lots of hard work and sweat blood and tears ill be spreading seed later today hopefully.

    IMG_20190918_103623286_HDR[1].jpg

    I had never driven one of these before, a steep learning curve, and i really felt i left the ground in as bad condition as when i started.

    IMG_20190918_143720040_HDR[1].jpg

    IMG_20190920_093855920[1].jpg

    I then hired a heavy duty rotovator/cultivator, this thing was a beast, really impressed with how effective it was. felt it in my arms and shoulders the next day but was worth it.

    IMG_20190920_104510754[1].jpg

    After a few passes.

    IMG_20190920_123611769_HDR[1].jpg

    I wasnt able to hire a stone rake so had to do it by hand, amazed the amount i got out.

    IMG_20190921_152549307_HDR[1].jpg

    A light roll yesterday afternoon and then it started to rain so will finish it later and spread the seed.

    IMG_20190921_152529837_HDR[1].jpg


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    #4
    listermint
    Registered Users Posts: 33,640 ✭✭✭✭listermint


    Nice one, alot of sweat went into that. I'd say your delighted with the finish though.


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    #5
    oleras
    Registered Users Posts: 2,721 ✭✭✭oleras


    listermint wrote: »
    Nice one, alot of sweat went into that. I'd say your delighted with the finish though.

    Lets just say i never want to see a rake ever again.

    Raked it again today and seeded it, then lightly raked it again.

    IMG-20190922-155501098-HDR-1.jpg

    IMG-20190922-163430292-HDR-1.jpg


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    #6
    Ghetofarmulous
    Registered Users Posts: 175 ✭✭Ghetofarmulous


    This is class. Very well done. Bet it feels great


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    #7
    oleras
    Registered Users Posts: 2,721 ✭✭✭oleras


    Ghetofarmulous wrote: »
    This is class. Very well done. Bet it feels great

    Its still fairly bumpy in places, i wasnt looking for a putting green but im sure a heavy roll next march/april will even things out a tad.


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    #8
    ShiverinEskimo
    Hosted Moderators Posts: 18,115 ✭✭✭✭ShiverinEskimo


    Lie a ladder flat and drag it along with rope. Acts as a giant leveller and will help you spot bumps and divots.


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    #9
    oleras
    Registered Users Posts: 2,721 ✭✭✭oleras


    Just a quick update, a few months on and looking ok, still a bit patchy but a nice improvement on what i started with.

    Applied Evergreen 4 in 1 around 10 days ago.

    IMG-20200506-163034.jpg

    IMG-20200506-164748.jpg

    IMG-20200506-171150.jpg


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    #10
    albernazj93
    Registered Users Posts: 94 ✭✭albernazj93


    Wow, looks great :D


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    #11
    promethius
    Registered Users Posts: 1,103 ✭✭✭promethius


    That is excellent! I'm sure you're looking with great pride at it now, and you should be.


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    #12
    Zardoz
    Registered Users Posts: 5,548 ✭✭✭Zardoz


    That looks great .
    What type of grass seed did you use out of curiosity ?


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    #13
    oleras
    Registered Users Posts: 2,721 ✭✭✭oleras


    Zardoz wrote: »
    That looks great .
    What type of grass seed did you use out of curiosity ?

    No. 2 Lawn Seed from https://seeddirect.ie/index.php/lawn-seed.html


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    #14
    ShiverinEskimo
    Hosted Moderators Posts: 18,115 ✭✭✭✭ShiverinEskimo


    Looks amazing. Well done. After 6 years of settling my lawn is undulating a good bit and it filled with tramlines from the lawnmower. Be a bit of a job now to level it out but it's annoying all the same. I also get a lof of weeds blown in from an idle field next door so the work never stops.

    Will tackle the tramlines at some stage this year when I can get a pallet of peat moss delivered. My advice to everyone is: mow your lawn a different pattern week by week if you can. Advice I wish I had 6 years ago before I really had reason to learn about lawn management.


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