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Sloped garden turf

dennewCuJfFFUqdennewCuJfFFUq Posts: 9
in Garden design
Hello everyone!

I am currently in the process of renovating our garden and I have recently removed a old large concrete path which ran up the garden in a L shape. We live on a hill so our garden has a slope from the fence down towards the privets on the opposite side. I would like to just lay turf where the existing path was and have a garden bed where the fence starts possibly 0.5 metres then the turf would start, but I understand that I need to fill in some areas which were removed when I took the path out. What I’m wanting to known is how do I fill these areas in ? Should I turn over the soil and then add some topsoil to the craters to get a nice even slope up to the fence ? I know photos can’t be difficult to judge but it’s a very small slope up to the fence. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Posts

  • dennewCuJfFFUqdennewCuJfFFUq Posts: 9
    Bump
  • StephenSouthwestStephenSouthwest Posts: 445
    I personally wouldn't turn the soil, but you might need a later of topsoil over the whole area perhaps? I would cover with topsoil and rake to smooth surface, leave it to settle for a few days, and then re-rake smooth, then turf (or seed)...
  • dennewCuJfFFUqdennewCuJfFFUq Posts: 9
    I think the soil may be clay should I not turn it over and add compost ?
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 6,448
    If the soil is clay you'll need to try to reduce compaction. If you put a layer of compost straight onto the clay on a slope, it'll just wash off when you get heavy rain. So yes, you probably need to dig it over, rake it level and then see if you need to add some topsoil to get it all to be even. Then reseed it or lay turf.
    Mowing on a slope, even quite a gentle one, is a nuisance. You wouldn't consider having a long grass border with some wild flowers instead?
    “Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first” 
  • dennewCuJfFFUqdennewCuJfFFUq Posts: 9
    raisingirl said:
    If the soil is clay you'll need to try to reduce compaction. If you put a layer of compost straight onto the clay on a slope, it'll just wash off when you get heavy rain. So yes, you probably need to dig it over, rake it level and then see if you need to add some topsoil to get it all to be even. Then reseed it or lay turf.
    Mowing on a slope, even quite a gentle one, is a nuisance. You wouldn't consider having a long grass border with some wild flowers instead?
    It could be a option but the slope is so small I don’t mind the ache of cutting it. So once I’ve turned the soil over I lay some topsoil to get a even layer then turf ?. Should I leave the topsoil for a few days before I turf ?
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 6,448
    dennewCuJfFFUq said:

    Should I leave the topsoil for a few days before I turf ?
    Yes, especially if it's going to rain hard - it'll settle the new soil and then you'll be able to rake it again as the bumps and dips inevitably appear. The turf will then be more level
    “Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first” 
  • dennewCuJfFFUqdennewCuJfFFUq Posts: 9
    Just to be a bit for more specific when I turn the original soil over do I rake/walk over it then add the top soil or once I’ve turned the soil add the topsoil then rake/walk over it? 
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