Recent work

[sy76uk]

Absolutely Dan.
I know what you mean by creating a pan. Solid surface layer and over compaction will result in the turf not rooting deep.
The topsoil we use is screened to 3-6mm and has sharp grit added to help with ariation and drainage.
We just give it a quick once over with the wacker because if you don't then the finished level would go down dramatically when settled.
I wouldn't use my process on soil that had only been rotorvated unless it was mixed well with sharp sand or grit.

[mickg]

I lay new turf a similar way, top soil walked in to make it firm and a sandy loam on top screeded flat then lay the turf, likewise I have never had any problems either

on large areas I have built up the height of the soil for the new lawn and tracked it in using a machine then levelled the surface with a aluminium straight edge

[DempseyLiverpool]

Nice work sy

I tread in then screed too, no problems.

[sy76uk]

Cheers Ashley and Mick.
Nice to know I'm not the only one that screeds soil.
Never seen anyone do it in my years doing commercial work.

[dig dug dan]

Nice work sy

I tread in then screed too, no problems.

Thats the correct way. Tread in and screed. It was the wacker plate I was having issues with

[sy76uk]

I knew that Dan. I can also see why you voiced your concerns but I've been out to the job in question today, lifted the turf and put my finger in the soil to check it and it was absolutely fine.

[dig dug dan]

I knew that Dan. I can also see why you voiced your concerns but I've been out to the job in question today, lifted the turf and put my finger in the soil to check it and it was absolutely fine.

Its more long term damage to the soil structure. Especially in winter when more rainfall is the problem. Short term is fine. We have a saying, it needs to last as long as it takes for the cheque to clear

[sy76uk]

Giving the stuff we use a quick once over with the wacker won't harm the soil structure anymore than me walking up and down it at 10 to 2 with my size 12 boots Dan.
What it does do is save me a lot of time and ensure it's all compacted evenly.
Anyone that knows what they are doing knows when a bed of any description is right or not.
I want all my work to last a lot longer than it takes the cheque to clear.

[lutonlagerlout]

these mean dan is joking sy

I know what you both are saying,turf is a strange mistress
sometimes you do everything right and it dies

and visa versa,

there isnt a man on this forum who has never had turf fail on him at some point
its called mother nature
LLL

[John156]

Tried and tested technique is to 'heel in' and then screed or level with rake. I've been tempted to wack before but I could hear the landscape gods screaming at me. Or it might have been dan :;):

The one thing that heeling in does do is get little pockets that a wacker might miss.

Looks like nice soil Sy. Where is it from ? Are they only local to you?

[sy76uk]

Tony I think the majority on this forum go above and beyond to ensure we do a job that both looks nice and stands the test of time.
I know that Dan may have been joking but this forum is also looked at by potential customers so I had to make my point and I doubt that turf will fail. In fact I think it will end up more like a bowling green.

John I know treading in turf is the tried and tested way of compacting soil that has been freshly dug over or rotorvated but that isn't the way we prepared that bed.
We did rotorvate at first but we took out the top 70 mm and chucked it then we used fresh top soil that is screened, dry and a fine crumb that had been mixed with around 30% fine aggregate.
Now the only time you can wacker topsoil is when it has been mixed with aggregate so we have done nothing wrong and because it's such a fine crumb and it's all gone into the same thickness I doubt very much that there will be any soft spots.
We get the topsoil from the same place the turf comes from local to me.
Know idea where they get it from.

[r896neo]

I once saw guys turfing on a development using a pedestrian vibrating roller on the turf after laying.

[London Stone Paving]

Nice job SY.
fully appreciate the effort you go to with the turf. When laid properly the turf is the coupe de grace of any landscaping job. I used to spend ages prepping a lawn when I was a landscaper (all the lads used to moan like hell at me) but never screeded it. I would just heel and rake. I had a very good eye for a level so I always got a great result but I'm definitely going to give that screeding method a try. I'm re-turfing my old mans lawn in a few weeks so your post has come at the perfect time. Do you use Reo for the screeding rails same as block paving?

Cheers

Steve

[lutonlagerlout]

I am not going to say the many ways I have laid turf or I would get destroyed on here
suffice to say
green side up.....
LLL

[sy76uk]

Lol Tony.

Thanks Steve. Yes we use rails and top of paving to get levels. Once it's compacted you usually get your 20mm recess for your turf.