ᐅ Tips for Landscaping a New Garden in a Newly Developed Residential Area
Created on: 27 Apr 2023 08:05
G
Gooosee159
Hello,
We have purchased a newly built semi-detached house in a new development.
The soil here is very clay-heavy. My question is, how should we start preparing the soil so that we can later sow grass and plant shrubs?
The soil in the garden was dumped by the builder’s team and has become heavily compacted due to frequent driving of machinery over it. Water does not drain properly, and large puddles form quickly in the garden.
There are also many stones mixed in the soil.
What would be the best approach for us?
Should we start by loosening the soil? What would be the best way to do that?
Then remove the stones?
And finally, add sand to the soil?
Thank you very much for your advice.
We have purchased a newly built semi-detached house in a new development.
The soil here is very clay-heavy. My question is, how should we start preparing the soil so that we can later sow grass and plant shrubs?
The soil in the garden was dumped by the builder’s team and has become heavily compacted due to frequent driving of machinery over it. Water does not drain properly, and large puddles form quickly in the garden.
There are also many stones mixed in the soil.
What would be the best approach for us?
Should we start by loosening the soil? What would be the best way to do that?
Then remove the stones?
And finally, add sand to the soil?
Thank you very much for your advice.
G
Gooosee15927 Apr 2023 14:43@haydee Thanks for your message.
Yes, it should be faster if possible 😀
So now I should dig up the ground completely and add sand?
What is the best way to add sand? Just loosen everything and spread the sand on top? How much sand?
Or loosen the soil, spread sand, and then mix multiple times?
No plants have spread there yet, hardly anything has grown.
Yes, it should be faster if possible 😀
So now I should dig up the ground completely and add sand?
What is the best way to add sand? Just loosen everything and spread the sand on top? How much sand?
Or loosen the soil, spread sand, and then mix multiple times?
haydee schrieb:
If you have heavily compacted soil, check if oxalis has spread in your area. It’s an ecologically valuable plant, but it reproduces through runners and seeds (similar to dandelions). I’d recommend pulling the roots and removing seed heads before digging and tilling.
No plants have spread there yet, hardly anything has grown.
S
Schorsch_baut27 Apr 2023 14:46The tip about green manure is good. Lupines work great and look nice. In autumn, I would lay down corrugated cardboard and then apply a good layer of humus-sand mix on top. The following spring, I would then work on the individual zones selectively. Smaller stones can be collected over the next few years. Larger ones can be removed when creating the beds next spring. Maybe prepare paths and raised beds already, and plant shrubs in autumn.
Without an excavator and a lot of money, it is almost impossible to improve 230 m² (2,470 sq ft) of compacted clay soil in a short time. We once tried the traditional way on a 100 m² (1,080 sq ft) piece for the vegetable garden. Never again. It was a bumpy surface where weeds actually grew even more vigorously.
Without an excavator and a lot of money, it is almost impossible to improve 230 m² (2,470 sq ft) of compacted clay soil in a short time. We once tried the traditional way on a 100 m² (1,080 sq ft) piece for the vegetable garden. Never again. It was a bumpy surface where weeds actually grew even more vigorously.
Gooosee159 schrieb:
how long is that supposed to take? Three to six weeks? It’s best to check online to research the specific details. We’re not a wiki, after all 😉
Dig up the soil either with a rotary tiller or a spade.
Add sand – washed with a coarse grain size of about 2mm (0.08 inches).
It’s hard to say how much mulch/humus you need since clay soil varies; I would suggest about 1-2cm (0.4-0.8 inches) thick.
When you break up the soil clumps, the sand will mix in naturally.
Compost or well-rotted manure won’t hurt either if you incorporate it.
Is the topsoil still on top, or is everything mixed together?
No matter how evenly you level it afterward, it will settle unevenly.
In the garden, rushing is always a bad idea.
Add sand – washed with a coarse grain size of about 2mm (0.08 inches).
It’s hard to say how much mulch/humus you need since clay soil varies; I would suggest about 1-2cm (0.4-0.8 inches) thick.
When you break up the soil clumps, the sand will mix in naturally.
Compost or well-rotted manure won’t hurt either if you incorporate it.
Is the topsoil still on top, or is everything mixed together?
No matter how evenly you level it afterward, it will settle unevenly.
In the garden, rushing is always a bad idea.
G
Gooosee15928 Apr 2023 09:12Would you recommend buying an electric garden tiller for around €100-150? They usually have a working width of about 40-45cm (16-18 inches) and a working depth of 20-22cm (8-9 inches) with a 1400/1500 watt motor.
Can you recommend a garden tiller? I have already found a few, such as Einhell, Parkside Maso, Scheppach, etc.
We once tried to dig by hand, but the soil is extremely hard.
We have about 250m² (2700 sq ft).
Can you recommend a garden tiller? I have already found a few, such as Einhell, Parkside Maso, Scheppach, etc.
We once tried to dig by hand, but the soil is extremely hard.
We have about 250m² (2700 sq ft).
S
Schorsch_baut28 Apr 2023 09:15For clayey, compacted soils, you need a sturdy tiller with a powerful motor. The inexpensive electric models are only suitable for light soils that have already been loosened. In some hardware stores, heavy-duty tillers can be rented.
But as someone mentioned before: getting the job done quickly in the garden is not possible without significant costs for soil replacement and the use of machinery.
But as someone mentioned before: getting the job done quickly in the garden is not possible without significant costs for soil replacement and the use of machinery.
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