Return to the Soil Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
topsoil - new construction
| | |
Posted by
landdesigner27 zone 6, Pa (
My Page) on
Thu, Mar 29, 12 at 15:23
| I'm designing a landscape for a homeowner who had a new home built on his lot. All plant material has been torn out. Septic and propane have been buried. He asked me about putting down top soil. Does anyone know how deep it should be? Should I rent a bobcat? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: topsoil - new construction
| | |
| Depends a lot on the customer, I should think. Is he/she a gardener? Do they just want a lawn? Are they tight with a buck, or do they like to go first class? |
RE: topsoil - new construction
| | |
| Not gardeners. Low maintenance design with lawn. In terms of top soil, would would be the depths for a lawn vs. shrubs, perrenials, small trees? In terms of cost, what would be the low cost method and what would be the high cost method? |
RE: topsoil - new construction
| | |
Kind of subjective. My minimum for lawns has been 3". At this depth a ton covers about 70 SF. For the beds see if you can find a cheap source of compost (bulk, not bagged), get a soil test. Till it up once, add 3" or 4" layer of 'post, till it again. Be sure to include anything deemed missing from the soil test.
The expensive route would be a nice 6" layer of topsoil for lawns and beds. Obviously, at this rate, a ton covers about 35 SF. Big yards can eat up a bunch of topsoil!
hortster |
RE: topsoil - new construction
| | |
- Posted by pt03 2b Southern Manitob (My Page) on
Thu, Mar 29, 12 at 17:21
| I'm sorry but you are a landscape designer and you don't know this? Lloyd |
RE: topsoil - new construction
| | |
| Thanks Hortster! Is there a soil test kit you recommend? |
RE: topsoil - new construction
| | |
Lloyd
he said he was designing a landscape not that he was necessarily a landscape designer. Just looking for advice like the rest of us.
Also waiting for some topsoil comment soon. |
RE: topsoil - new construction
| | |
Test at local extension service. Probably the least expensive. I sense that you need to do some homework.
hortster |
RE: topsoil - new construction
| | |
How deep this "topsoil" should be depends on what it really is. What do you expect "topsoil" to be? Many people I talk with think "topsoil" will be loam and most often it is not. There simply is not enough loam for all of what is sold as "topsoil" to be loam.
Whatever soil you have spread it should end up containing about 6 to 8 percent organic matter. |
RE: topsoil - new construction
| | |
| Did the lot previously have a house on it, or is it in a new development, or what? What I'm getting at is, what happened to the topsoil that was there originally? If that was put back, on a smaller area because of the footprint of the house, it should be at least as thick as it was before. But, in a new development, sometimes the developers strip off all the topsoil and either sell it all off or give only a small portion back to the individual lots. |
RE: topsoil - new construction
| | |
| If it's a custom build, the original topsoil should have been piled up and replaced after construction. Now depending on where it is, there may not have been much original topsoil. There are places in the Poconos that are almost straight rock. It's a very different question there. |
RE: topsoil - new construction
| | |
| True that. Last year I was down in SW Missouri walking a construction site that was covered with red clay that was about 40% gravel and rocks. I said I guessed they'd have to bring in some topsoil to finish off the site, and the guy looked all hurt and said "This *is* the topsoil!" Heehee. Poor b@$tard. |
RE: topsoil - new construction
| | |
| They tore down their old house and built a new custom house. It's close to the same footprint of the original. There is a large pile of soil/rocks in the front that the owner said the builder will spread out. It's in a wooded area with many rocks not unlike the poconos. I asked if any soil had been removed from the site and the owner said "it sounds like we need more." It sounds like the builder said something to him. |
RE: topsoil - new construction
| | |
| I'm with Lloyd - the question sounds a little specious to me. Any attempt at landscape design requires some very basic knowledge that the original post shows as obviously lacking. Not to mention a user name that implies owner is a landscape designer......... |
RE: topsoil - new construction
| | |
- Posted by pt03 2b Southern Manitob (My Page) on
Fri, Mar 30, 12 at 16:28
| Putting a lawn in by seed or sod? Flat or sloped? Shade or sun? Too many variables to answer online and anyone who is doing landscaping should know these fundamentals before they start designing IMO. Lloyd |
Post a Follow-Up
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.
