Another Topsoil Question

[Carl_NH]

John,

Straw will decompose slower than hay so will hold back a slope better long term however mulch hay (previously had gotten wet before baling) will decompose faster add more organic material , so I would get some mulch hay - cheaper and as effective until the grass grows in. Also you can use hay for the surface after tilling and cover coat of topsoil if you don't mind the various hay seeds also contributing to your "lawn".

As you state you have put rocks in some places, so when you till this mix you will bring these to the surface, so I would mix hay and till in, then grade smooth and add 2-3" of fresh loam on top, seed and cover.

Carl

Carl

 

[mrcaptainbob]

Thanks for the 'rambling', soundguy. I learned a lot from that. You answered some questions about the 'suspicious' activity of the slope in the front yard. 15 or 20 years ago, I had about a 150 yards of top added to the west side of the yard. The base is clay. Suitable for the kiln clay. Now that part has 'eased' it's way down so that it's probably close to a couple of feet lower than when I had it graded. And the side has 'eased' it's way further west and more ramped. Another 100 years or so and should have the field next door just about filled!

 

[Soundguy]

Thanks. I've got to watch myself better. Sometimes I come home from work and start telling the wife about such and such a project I was working on today, and so forth...then I'll glance up to see her eyes glazed over....

As for the gradual migration you are seeing.. might even be closer to 'creep', as a 'slump' generally occours on / around a steeper slope... but then again.. 20 degrees is steep enough.

Soundguy

<font color=blue>Thanks for the 'rambling', soundguy. I learned a lot from that. You answered some questions about the 'suspicious' activity of the slope in the front yard. 15 or 20 years ago, I had about a 150 yards of top added to the west side of the yard. The base is clay. Suitable for the kiln clay. Now that part has 'eased' it's way down so that it's probably close to a couple of feet lower than when I had it graded. And the side has 'eased' it's way further west and more ramped. Another 100 years or so and should have the field next door just about filled!"

 

[bnixon]

While we are on the subject of soil....I have a few questions.

I need to bring in some dirt to level and grade my place.

Here in Houston we have what we call Gumbo Clay. I was thinking about bringing in a sand/top soil mix. This will be used to fill holes and build up the pad where my house will be built (in about 3 years). I want to start now so I can give it time to compact and settle.

Is this the type of dirt you would use?

Would crushed stone be any good for a house pad base?

Most people around here use sand. But it seems to wash real easy.

What would you guys recommend? By the way, my place is flat.

Thanks,

 

[Egon]

Crushed gravel would be the best for the house pad and other concreted areas. For the rest clay,topsoil and a little sand would work well as long as the the top 6/8 inches can be well mixed to form a sod bed for the grass to grow in.

Egon

 

[cowboydoc]

I agree with Egon on the crushed gravel. If you can for the topsoil I would try and find some black dirt to bring in. I have no idea what's available in your area but around here they usually will bring in the black dirt for projects like yours.

 

[dmccarty]

bnixon,

Before you spend money and time doing this house pad you
might want to talk to a soil engineer and see what they say
to do.

I'm finishing up the first phase of a driveway. I think I put
down or will put down about 336 tons of ABC. It was about
16 tons per dump truck load. ABC is a mix of fines up to
angular rock maybe 2 inches long. I got lucky given we are
in a drought and got some real heavy rain on various stages
of building the drive. This stuff locks up like concrete. I'm
very impressed. I have only had one rut from the 20 some
dump truck loads backing up the drive. And the rut was
caused when I spun my rear tractor tires spreading the
ABC. I have seen very little, maybe a 1/16 or 1/32 of an
inche compaction due to 54,000 pound trucks. Where I have
a flat stretch of drive I'm only spreading 4 inches or so deep
but I am using geotextile fabric which I'm sure is helping.

Part of the driveway has to go over a culvert. The culvert
is in a 100 foot section of drive that dips about two feet
down. So I have a good two feet from grade to cover the
culvert. The ABC is pretty much verticle in some spots, up
to that two foot height and it has not washed down at all. I
sat there one afternoon in a heavy downpour and watched
the culvert and the road to see how well things where going
to work. Everything was fine and nothing washed away.

But I would check with an engineer to see what they say. I
have seen building pads built in south east Florida that where
made of sand. Some where compressed and some where not.

Good Luck,
Dan McCarty