Preparing clay soil for grass

[Snow and rocks]

I'm in the process of levelling and clearing around half an acre at the rear of our house with a slew digger and am now thinking about how best to prepare the ground for seeding. 

 

The top soil (50cm+) was stripped to allow the subsoil to be levelled out and then replaced with the digger. It is quite heavy clay but seems in reasonable condition. 

 

I'm up in Aberdeenshire but have managed to find local hire company with both a Blec stone rake and various sizes of rotavator available to hire. 

 

Will the stone rake work on heavy soil and would i need to rotavate first? Any tips or suggestions welcome. 

[coppice cutter]

20 inches of topsoil, you sure you've got that correct?

 

If that's the case you probably need to give it a year to settle or at least layer and compact it during the summer when dry or you'll end up with a very uneven area in a couple of years time when it settles properly.

[waterbuoy]

There may be a difference between 'top soil' and 'topsoil'?

[openspaceman]

27 minutes ago, waterbuoy said:

There may be a difference between 'top soil' and 'topsoil'?

And don't try and work wet clay, even when dry you can overwork it into too fine a tilth.

[peds]

Scatter it with white clover or mustard, leave it for a year, plough it in, level it if needed, grass seed next year. 

[trigger_andy]

6 hours ago, coppice cutter said:

20 inches of topsoil, you sure you've got that correct?

 

If that's the case you probably need to give it a year to settle or at least layer and compact it during the summer when dry or you'll end up with a very uneven area in a couple of years time when it settles properly.

Is 20” unusual? I’m about the same just a bit further south than the op with clay under as well. 

[waterbuoy]

We have about 4" of topsoil (ie dark with high organic levels), then maybe 12-15" of soil before you get to the regolith.

Edited February 27, 2023 by waterbuoy

[waterbuoy]

 

 

[Snow and rocks]

8 hours ago, coppice cutter said:

20 inches of topsoil, you sure you've got that correct?

 

If that's the case you probably need to give it a year to settle or at least layer and compact it during the summer when dry or you'll end up with a very uneven area in a couple of years time when it settles properly.

 

Yeah it varies a little but certainly more than a foot with quite a bit deeper in places. It has been very dry up here or we wouldn't have even entertained doing the work at this time of year. 

 

The plan is to wait for the first warm dry spell (often late April/Early May) and then hopefully have a go at sorting it out. 

 

Has anyone used a Blec Stone Rake on a heavier soil? 

[dumper]

Do you mean stone rake or power box rake forget stone rake. power box if moisture is correct will leave respectable finish better if power harrowed first, with clod board .don’t use rotavator or stone burier. Make sure you don’t over work or destructure the soil by being heavy handed with digger