|
Wed, Mar 28, 12 at 13:55
| A while back, I had a basement waterproofing company come out to look at my house and one of the recommendations he made was to add about 3 inches of topsoil at the foundation and grade it away from the house to help water get away from the house. Instead of adding soil, I was wondering if I could put my grass clipings down and then add some mulch on top, for aesthetics. Would the grass clipings and mulch turn to compost or soil over time, espically if I do multiple layers? Does anyone know if this will help water to move away from my house? Any input would help. Thanks. |
Follow-Up Postings:
|
| I would think that any water that penetrated the mulch and grass clippings would be held there even longer than normal because of the moisture retaining effect of both those things. But the main reason for the additional soil is to create positive drainage and prevent water from running toward the foundation, sinking in, and creating moisture in your basement. Sounds like right now you have negative drainage toward the house or so little slope that water ponds by the foundation. I would use the soil - actually, a "heavier" soil (more clay content) would shed moisture even better. hortster |
|
| I concur. Organic matter will retain moisture, exactly what you don't want around your foundation. You should have a noticeable slope away from the house for as much as 3 feet, and your rain gutters should conform to that distance as well. You can still add a decorative mulch, but it should be one that will drain, rather than retain moisture. |
|
- Posted by toxcrusadr (My Page) on Wed, Mar 28, 12 at 15:12
| And, the grass clippings and mulch will decrease in volume by about 90% as they decompose, leaving you right back where you started. You need some soil with actual mineral content, not compost. |
|
| Ok, I'm not going to do it. I thought I was trying to kill two birds with one stone by finding something to do with my grass clippings. Thanks for the info. |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Soil Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.