Laying turf over concrete base?

[f13ldy]

I had a new driveway laid about 4 months ago and have around a 6" wide by 6" deep 'trench' (real rough estimates) between lawn and drive where it was backed up to hold it all in place. My contractor placed top soil and grass seed in it to regrow the lawn up to the edge.

A mixture of birds and my neglect never saw it take as after around the 4th time of re-fixing the netting over the top and applying more grass seeds I lost interest as nothing ever grew.

Now I want it sorted. Can I just buy a few rolls of turf, cut into strips, wedge in the gap and sit back and watch it take?

[spikeyhead]

you could put some turf there, and then sit back and watch it die.

Alternatively, wait until the autumn and rake in a good load of seed. Keep the soil damp as a seed can only germinate once and if it dries out it will die.

Don't try and do anything through this hot summer unless you want to be caring for it several times a day.

[f13ldy]

Bah.

I knew it wouldn't be as simple as I thought out.

Back to fending off the birds in the Autumn then.

Might get an airgun this time round.

[Solitude]

[quote=spikeyhead]you could put some turf there, and then sit back and watch it die.







i seem to remember a big outfit in the wembley area doing just that...more than once !!

[JustinP1]

I would go for seed.

I might have green fingers but I have never had it fail. If you are worried about losing it to birds, I have got great results by sowing thicker then recommended and brushing/raking in.

You will always lose an amount as some won't germinate and some will get eaten, but the sods can't eat it *all* if you oversow.

[Shaolin]

6" deep - it's always going to die, it may make it over the winter, but unless you are happy to water it forever through the summers it will die. I suggest filling it in with gravel - that won't die.

[sherman]

Put some A frames made of canes with old or blank CD's hanging off them along the grassed area. This should help keep the birds off when you are not there.

[hornetrider]

Probably best to put down a small decorative stone border?

[JustinP1]

JustinP1 said:

I would go for seed.

I might have green fingers but I have never had it fail. If you are worried about losing it to birds, I have got great results by sowing thicker then recommended and brushing/raking in.

You will always lose an amount as some won't germinate and some will get eaten, but the sods can't eat it *all* if you oversow.

Sorry, misread the 6 inch deep thing.

That's always going to be a losing battle.

Not impossible though. I have a patch of lawn growing over gravel for drainage and it is literally 3-4 inches of soil. It grows and does well, but is not tolerant to extremes of drought or wetness. In the winter it thins, but grows back quickly in spring.

I would actually consider making a feature of the border of drive to lawn instead. A row of bricks or tiles would be perfect. I wouldn't recommend gravel without a proper border as it will always creep into the lawn and grass will always creep into it.