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I wonder if anyone can offer advice - we have a concrete 'yard' and would like to change it into a garden without digging up the concrete. Patio tubs look fine but a small grassy area also would be ideal. How do you build this - I thought about small rubble/boulders followed by topsoil then some grass seeds. How much depths do you need for the boulders and the topsoil? I have bricks built up around this area. Has anyone made something similar?

Yard ?
First i would ask if you get plenty of sunshine there?
Or you could run into problems with Normal Turf.
(Will die and not grow).

The Rocks and Stone, is only for drainage, to prevent
the soil area becoming boggy.

You need a good foot of top soil to let the grass bind and
grow, anything less would be iffy.

Hope that helps

Hi, thanks for the reply. The area is in the shade until midday then is shaded again from roughly 5pm onwards. The wall is 7 foot high on one side of this. I did not realise how much top soil I needed. How much rock and stone should I use?

Listen to Mark, he is the Lawn Guru!!!!

Ive seen his lawn

You will have to buy shaded seeds or buy shaded Turf ?
You can get them as its used for lawns with lots of trees.

If you don't you wont have any grass to look at in 2 weeks.
Or at best very very patchy.

ok Top Soil 10cm when compressed down.

Hope that helps.

Have you considered artificial grass as;
http://www.asgoodasgrass.co.uk
or
http://www.evergreensuk.com

they use this in the Big Brother Garden.

After looking at this I am considering ripping up my lawn and laying this, no mowing required then lol.

asgoodasgrass have an Ebay store sellinf old stock cheaper;
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/AsGoodAsGrass

Its expensive for what it is, and i'm sure it don't smell like grass lol

I did see a program on the TV and a woman spent 10k
on her back garden just on this stuff because the dog
was forever coming in the house dirty

Get rid of the dog (In a nice way).

Thanks for the replies. I will start to fill in the rubble over the coming weeks.

Just starting on the border but thought that if I put grass down it may block the drains in the garden. If it is a heavy railfall the soil will become soggy and seep through. I saw the astro turf - good idea but very expensive. I'm off now to do a bit of work and see what I can use for patio containers. I like the rustic feel of a garden, more homely. Also - has anyone planted seeds to encourage bees into their garden, they were free from the internet a few months ago? How are the flowers doing - any bees yet?

can i have some seeds that DIScourage bees from coming anywhere near my garden.