Hello everyone,
this is our first post; until now, we have only been active readers.
We are planning a complete renovation of an old timber-framed house and want to start working outside first since we can only begin inside the house around December. Over the past two weekends, we have already removed a lot of overgrowth, such as small hazel trees and especially a huge tangle of blackberry thorns to even make the house accessible.
The current status is that the house is now accessible, but almost everywhere in front of the house, stumps and roots are still sticking out of the ground.
We are now considering the best approach. Our plan:
A) Remove and dig out all thorn roots, etc., before they grow back in the spring. How do you think we should proceed with this?
Our idea is to use an excavator (a friend can help us) to remove the top layer of soil (about 40cm (16 inches)?) along with as many roots and stumps as possible and transport it away. We are already wondering where the best and most cost-effective place to dispose of this would be.
Then we would dig out another 30cm (12 inches) and temporarily store the soil, which we hope is "good" and root-free, on our property because we will probably need it later for uneven areas and holes in a meadow that is also part of the property. Does this make sense, or will the soil up to one meter (3 feet) deep be full of blackberry roots that eventually grow back?
B) Create a construction site driveway or "parking area."
The street does not offer space to park in front of the house, so we urgently need a parking and storage area in front of the house. Here, we want to fill the excavated area with gravel. Later, most of this area will become a paved courtyard, so we can reuse a large portion of the gravel for that.
Does this seem reasonable to you, or do you have any tips and/or alternative solutions?
We look forward to all suggestions and advice!
Best regards, Kimbasson
this is our first post; until now, we have only been active readers.
We are planning a complete renovation of an old timber-framed house and want to start working outside first since we can only begin inside the house around December. Over the past two weekends, we have already removed a lot of overgrowth, such as small hazel trees and especially a huge tangle of blackberry thorns to even make the house accessible.
The current status is that the house is now accessible, but almost everywhere in front of the house, stumps and roots are still sticking out of the ground.
We are now considering the best approach. Our plan:
A) Remove and dig out all thorn roots, etc., before they grow back in the spring. How do you think we should proceed with this?
Our idea is to use an excavator (a friend can help us) to remove the top layer of soil (about 40cm (16 inches)?) along with as many roots and stumps as possible and transport it away. We are already wondering where the best and most cost-effective place to dispose of this would be.
Then we would dig out another 30cm (12 inches) and temporarily store the soil, which we hope is "good" and root-free, on our property because we will probably need it later for uneven areas and holes in a meadow that is also part of the property. Does this make sense, or will the soil up to one meter (3 feet) deep be full of blackberry roots that eventually grow back?
B) Create a construction site driveway or "parking area."
The street does not offer space to park in front of the house, so we urgently need a parking and storage area in front of the house. Here, we want to fill the excavated area with gravel. Later, most of this area will become a paved courtyard, so we can reuse a large portion of the gravel for that.
Does this seem reasonable to you, or do you have any tips and/or alternative solutions?
We look forward to all suggestions and advice!
Best regards, Kimbasson
K
Kimbasson17 Oct 2021 20:30Thanks for your tips about the geotextile fabric. I’ll check that depending on how the roots look.
@allstar83 well, that’s why we’re putting gravel on top. If we didn’t, we really wouldn’t have any space for vehicles in front of the house, which obviously isn’t possible during the construction phase...
What do you think, how deep should I excavate around the roots and for the gravel that will later be paved over? About 40 cm (16 inches)?
I’d also consider the advice to roughly sift it and keep as much topsoil as possible.
Is there a machine that can be rented for a weekend at a hardware store, or is it better to just see how it goes?
I’m asking because we plan to do this in one weekend with friends using an excavator and a tractor, so it should probably be done quickly to avoid holding them up too long. You don’t want to ruin the mood. ;-)
@allstar83 well, that’s why we’re putting gravel on top. If we didn’t, we really wouldn’t have any space for vehicles in front of the house, which obviously isn’t possible during the construction phase...
What do you think, how deep should I excavate around the roots and for the gravel that will later be paved over? About 40 cm (16 inches)?
I’d also consider the advice to roughly sift it and keep as much topsoil as possible.
Is there a machine that can be rented for a weekend at a hardware store, or is it better to just see how it goes?
I’m asking because we plan to do this in one weekend with friends using an excavator and a tractor, so it should probably be done quickly to avoid holding them up too long. You don’t want to ruin the mood. ;-)
The base layer for driveways is excavated to a depth of 60-80 cm (24-31 inches), or deeper if the soil is not stable. Your friend operating the excavator should know this.
However, this applies only to the driveway area. If it’s going to be a garden, the excavation should not be as deep.
However, this applies only to the driveway area. If it’s going to be a garden, the excavation should not be as deep.