What is the right topsoil to use for turf or seed

With the improvement in the weather you might be eager to get started on laying your new lawn.

In my experience, gardeners and even some landscapers, will spend a lot of money on specifying the best turf available but will often overlook the most important constituent of good grass - the top soil that is needed to maintain a good root-zone.

I have been around landscaping for a lot of years and a common mistake - and I have been guilty of this too - is to buy freshly screened top soil from site clearance and demolition contractors.

On inspection, and especially as it comes through the soil screen looking moist and fluffy, the soil can look right and to the touch feel airy and light.

However, when levelled into a garden and allowed to settle and weather, this soil can quickly turn to mush when wet. Retaining excess water and not allowing proper drainage or compacts excessively and denying grass roots access to sufficient air.

As dug and screened soil is great for filling in and providing a sub-zone but if you want to create the right conditions and see your new lawn thrive then I would splash out that little bit more and buy the right mix of soil so provide the right root-zone.

The minimum depth of soil you will need is 75mm but if you can afford it, add 100-300mm average depth.

Rolawn Turf & Lawn Seeding Topsoil

Rolawn Turf & Lawn Seeding Topsoil is a free flowing friable topsoil formulated for use in conjunction with Rolawn turf to ensure early establishment.

It provides a level surface and firm foundation required for laying turf or applying seed and is easy to spread, even when moist.

It is also blended with Rolawn GroRight base dressing fertiliser to help ensure a lawn gets off to the best possible start.

Specification

* Typically classed as a 'Sandy Loam'
* Screened
* Safe
* Analysed to BS3882:2007
* Contains GroRight® Lawn Establishment Fertiliser
* pH is typically 7.4
* Friable, even in wet conditions
* Minimal stone content
* Organic content typically 8%

More details here on the range of Rolawn soils.

Comments

[stu]

Is there anyone out there who is interested in gabion stone/ walls? guess this passion of mine is unique.
Maybe i should start my own blog on this subject
i am trying to find companies that have a variety gabion stone supplies
to get some wider srpead oppinions on this matter,
hope this site gets more pictures and viewers its a great site.
I am looking for different densitiy's of stone 100 - 200mm 153kn, there are very few stone supplies in my area Surrey,
so would be very interested to hear from anyone who is

[moe]

Have bee studying various types of topsoil but am unsure about how the certification works,does anyone know what
different types of grading mean,
or is there a site dedicated to this subject.