Hey everyone! I need some guidance on removing artificial turf and replacing it with real grass. We just moved into our new home last year and are finally tackling the garden. I've managed to take off the artificial turf, along with some grey sand and a membrane underneath. Now, I see a layer of red, compacted gravel on top of clay soil. I want to know what layers should be in place for the new grass. Specifically, should I: (1) Remove the red gravel before adding topsoil? (2) Loosen it up a bit and then put the topsoil down? (3) Just lay the topsoil on top as is? Also, do I need to aerate or rotavate any layers, and is sand needed for drainage? Can I use the grey sand I removed for that? I'm still getting the hang of all this terminology, so any help would be appreciated! Thanks!
1 Answer
First off, it's important to clear out anything that shouldn't be there, including the grey sand and any plastic bits from the turf. You generally want to loosen and level the existing subsoil to ensure it has a slight slope for drainage. Then, add enough topsoil to create a good seedbed, and don’t forget to rake it out evenly before seeding. Good luck!
Thanks for the tips! When you mention loosening the subsoil, should I keep the red gravel and mix it with the clay, or just get rid of it? How deep do I need to loosen everything?