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Topsoil on pea gravel

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  • 02-05-2020 9:02pm
    #1
    lazyman
    Registered Users Posts: 260 ✭✭


    Hi all
    I have a 12x12 meter area which has pea gravel and bigger rocks at the moment
    I've taken away a lot of the gravel and it's hard enough ground now
    Can I put top soil now on top and then plant grand seed?
    I was thinking maybe 6 inches of top soil might be enough?Thanks


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    #2
    Lumen
    Registered Users Posts: 31,071 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    Grass grows on my driveway with zero topsoil so I'd say six inches is loads.

    Maybe keep some of the gravel underneath for drainage.


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    #3
    con747
    Registered Users Posts: 6,394 ✭✭✭con747


    Found this in an article if it helps, "Lawn grass needs a layer of topsoil that is at least 6 inches thick in the beginning. Over the course of a few years, the topsoil layer will settle to become 3 to 4 inches thick. Because grass needs at least 4 inches of topsoil for healthy root growth, however, plan to make the topsoil layer about 12 inches thick; eventually, it will settle to about 6 inches thick"

    Don't expect anything from life, just be grateful to be alive.



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    #4
    Dave elle
    Registered Users Posts: 13 ✭Dave elle


    You might want to put a filter fabric between the pea gravel and top soil to prevent fines migration.

    If you have pea gravel (not crushed stone) it is essentially like having marbles (or peas) sitting one on top of the other. Needs minimal compaction however there are a lot of voids between the stones. Over time rain water might wash fine particles from the soil into the pea gravel voids thereby reducing the strength of the top soil layer.


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    #5
    blackbox
    Registered Users Posts: 4,312 ✭✭✭blackbox


    Dave elle wrote: »
    You might want to put a filter fabric between the pea gravel and top soil to prevent fines migration.

    If you have pea gravel (not crushed stone) it is essentially like having marbles (or peas) sitting one on top of the other. Needs minimal compaction however there are a lot of voids between the stones. Over time rain water might wash fine particles from the soil into the pea gravel voids thereby reducing the strength of the top soil layer.

    I wouldn't worry about this. If there is a mixture of gravel and soil, the roots will find the soil.


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    #6
    lazyman
    Registered Users Posts: 260 ✭✭lazyman


    Thanks for all the advice
    I've cleared away the thick layers of pea gravel that was there so now there is only the gravel and stone that is embedded into the ground so I do thing a nice 8 or 9 inches of top soil should be fine on top


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