some advice wanted from a pro gardener/landscaper

[suzie1]

TURF: What is the process of laying turf i.e how do you prepare the surface? what is the best thing to stop weeds coming through it? if there are a few paving slabs going from bottom of garden to top like a path, should they be removed first, or is it ok to leave them and turf over them. How would you and any other pro landscaper do this the garden already has grass, and is being turfed with fresh turf.

PAVING: is sand underneath and cement in the gaps the best way? or is membrane, sand and cement underneath each slab better, also would it collapse if only sharp sand spread under the slabs and a bit of
cement in the gaps.

DECKING: we have a lot of decking wood and it seems gardener knows what hes doing, but im also anxious that it may collapse if alot of people stand on it, should that happen? and why

thank you

Suzanne x

[Buenchico]

The Royal Horticultural Society has a relevant video, relating to turf:
http://www.rhs.org.uk...wn-from-seed-and-turf

Chris

[dennisb66]

Suzanne,i have a 20 x 10 patio area which I laid 9 years ago . I laid the 2 x 2ft. slabs on sand leaving a gap between each one then filled the gaps with cement. I'm glad to say that the patio is still in perfect condition.

If your decking was built properly then you should have no worries.However if it creaks badly or dips in places then maybe it should be lifted and the cross members checked.The main frame should have been built with 100 x 50mm timber and spaced no more than at 400mm centres.

Hope this helps.

[landscaper2]

TURF: apply weedkiller containing glyphosate (eg Roundup) to area to kill off pereniel weeds and weed grasses. Take up old paving slabs and any bedding they may have been on. Hire a good rotavator. Rotavate to 150mm, roughly level removing debris, r/vate again to fine tilth, consolidate by shuffling back and forth (looks a bit silly but it works) Rake over and grade again, removing any debris over 25mm dia. Apply a base fertilizer (eg growmore) and lightly rake in. Water surface (dont walk on it again!)working off boards, start with nice straight row, then working from boards on turf, away you go, not forgeting to halve the joints. Make up a wooden beater and 'pun' the turf, water and dont let it dry out.

PAVING
A concrete base is always better. For a patio we use a 75-100mm concrete base and bed the slabs on sand/cement bedding mix.(I dont want any comeback!) Some slabs will butt joint and some need to be pointed with 3/1 mix soft sand/cement.

DECK
If your deck is raised, then 150 x 50 bearers are required at 500 centres. A G/L deck will need 100 x 50 bearers at 500mm centres mounted across rows of brickwork at 1250 centres with dpc membrane protecting the timber...............or just make up a big frame of 150 x 50 timber and slap it down on the bare ground per that well known TV make-over prog. Oh yes and use screws, coach screws, bolts and more screws - forget the nail gun!!

[suzie1]

thank you everyone. my gardener has started the decking, but when he went home i looked at it and it didn't look strong, but hey, he has still got to do the rest of the base so it might be strong when base complete, were having a party in july and about 50 people + kids will be on the decking and patio, dont want the decking to collapse, so just wanted to know what im talking about when chatting to him and nit picking about things, don't want to look stupid and not got clue about landscape etc so hence asking on here. you are a helpful bunch.xx