tegwin
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| posted on 31/10/11 at 04:32 PM |
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Plate compactor for a new lawn?
Anyone know much about grass?!
Have been putting this one off for weeks, but its about time I get the seed down before it gets too cold!
I turned over all the soil to a depth of around a foot... then added 4" of topsoil ontop of the lot...
Let it settle for around a month now but I find its still quite spongey.
Before I put the seed in, I am thinking it might be wise to hire a vibrating plate compactor and whack it all down to make it less
"springy"... fill in any recesses and then rake the surface to take the seed...
Does this sound like a bad idea? Will a vibrating plate just sink into the mud and be lost?! 
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 31/10/11 at 04:52 PM |
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The usual trick is to get a few mates round and do a "Zorba the Greek" walk across the ground - side-by-side, shuffling along in very
short steps (one footprint just in front of the previous one) and putting your weight on your heels. The idea is to compress it down a bit,but not
squash it completely. You'll have to rake it flat again afterwards.
I think a vibrating plate would be OTT.
BTW: you're getting a bit late for grass seed! That's usually a September job, maybe early October, not heading into November!
[Edited on 31/10/11 by David Jenkins]
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tegwin
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| posted on 31/10/11 at 04:54 PM |
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Yeah I know im a bit late... But I am down in the South... its almost tropical here ALL THE TIME  If I get it in this week I think I should
be ok.
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Would the last person who leaves the country please switch off the lights and close the door!
www.verticalhorizonsmedia.tv
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Benzine
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| posted on 31/10/11 at 04:58 PM |
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does it have to be grass?
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mark chandler
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| posted on 31/10/11 at 04:59 PM |
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I know your pain, its as David says, shuffle walk to pack it down then rack in some seed and roll if possible....
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coozer
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| posted on 31/10/11 at 05:16 PM |
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You just need some friends round to help....
Or, go the whole hog
1972 V8 Jago
1980 Z750
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britishtrident
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| posted on 31/10/11 at 05:37 PM |
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You want a gritty sandy base for grass carefully graded and not too compacted, just stamping it down by walking on a plank is usually enough,
the grass roots will soon lock it into a solid surface.
Sowing grass at this time of year is 2 months too late, it just won't sprout.
[Edited on 31/10/11 by britishtrident]
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Dingz
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| posted on 31/10/11 at 06:05 PM |
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My son out law seeded a lawn after a lot of pushing! 3 1/2 weeks ago it is coming up at the moment but I thought that was too late. We have been lucky
that the weather has been so mild. That was just walked over after preparing .
Phoned the local ramblers club today, but the bloke who answered just
went on and on.
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Litemoth
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| posted on 31/10/11 at 07:19 PM |
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A roller (and not a tarmac compacting one!!), a rake and a straight edge are recommended by those in the know.....the roller will show up the low
spots....rake the high spots into the low spots.......level with a straight edge ...and repeat. .....or do the shuffle as suggested above.
Spongey is good...young grass hates hard-compacted soil...don't Whacker for gawd sake
[Edited on 31/10/11 by Litemoth]
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