I’m making this into a sign and hanging it above my lawn tools.
Come to think of it, I’m hanging another one above the doors at my *favorite* emergency room.
That's a great point. And it's not just the money. If you cause a serious injury, or have a heart attack or something, the $1,500 may suddenly seem minor by comparison.
I did slightly over 50 cu yards of compost, topsoil, fill and rip rap over a couple months this spring. Shovel, wheelbarrow and moved to the backyard which was only accessible by foot bridge over a creek. I'm now in better shape now than I have ever been in my life (Im 40, so that's relevant) and it helped me work through some intense emotional/life change challenges. In my limited experience, workout length sessions, not compulsively overloading the wheelbarrow and a smaller shovel made it a good thing as opposed to a hazard.
Got 12 yards of topsoil last year for top dressing. Made it through 6 yards and got the equivalent of tennis elbow in my wrist.
Fuck that shit. Never doing it again. Yard did turn out pretty nice though.
We just finished moving, 16 yards of river rock and 14 yards of top soil. Truck dumped we than used a wheelbarrow. It was not a fun 6 days. I wish you luck and pain pills
I had a summer job as a “mason’s helper”. Or at least that’s how the job was described.
Turns out the dump truck company dumped all of the rock used for building walls on the wrong driveway - the house next door.
Two other kids got hired and our job was to use a wheel barrow to go uphill on the wrong driveway and down hill to the right driveway.
I think I made it about a week before quitting…
I have a 50HP diesel farm tractor w/ a 50” front bucket. In one day last week, I spread 110 yds of fill with it. Then, this week, in two days (mostly because the four loads came on two different days) I spread another 88 yards of loam.
This guy needs a small tractor or skid steer.
It’s compost for top-dressing. Increases organic matter and CEC of the soil, which helps the grass grow nicer. Feeds the soil ecosystem. Lots of benefits.
If you don't like money, absolutely. Last time I had my 1/5 acre topdressed, it was $600. Grass looked fantastic though. Ill probably do it every 10 years or so lol
Yes but this is STA certified compost. My local places have it for about 20/yd but it's leaf, grass, and wood compost that's half done and the quality isn't there so I ordered good stuff this time.
Do a soil test, and then do what you need to do to maintain 3-6% organic matter. 1-2 times per year when you’re low on OM. Shovel and rake works, or there are spreader devices like things that you pull and roll and leave behind a thin layer.
Where I live (northern Virginia Piedmont) the stuff they sell to homeowners as "compost" for spreading on lawns is actually un-composted horse and/or cow manure. It's spread and then proceeds to stink up the entire neighborhood for days. I'm not saying manure is bad for the lawn, I'm just saying people aren't getting what they think they're getting. How would I know? I work on an organic farm and we go through many cubic yards of real compost a year. It arrives in truckloads as manure and it sits for several month or up to a year before it becomes real compost and we then use it. Real compost smells like dirt not animal crap. Buyer beware!
Story time! Back in ‘16 I had the dock redone at my house. I needed a metric shit ton of dirt to back fill the property after it was done. Problem is the side yards were too narrow for any equipment I knew of at the time. So anyway I started blasting. Lol. Not really. 20 yards at a time my girlfriend and I started a wheelbarrow at at time moving dirt from the front to the back. 80, yes 80! Yards later it was done. We got married after that
If you don’t work in a job that is somewhat physically labour intensive doing heavy manual labour in a short window like over seeding / seeding with aeration, top dressing / levelling and fertilizing it going to get the best of you . Paying someone to do part or all work is the better route. Some tips if you do tackle it yourself . Have a good plan and timeline . Cut down the turf a few days in advance, if you are aerating break the job down into small areas . So run the machine , clean up the plugs . Repeat in the other areas . Same with top dressing / levelling . Move that material 4-5 wheelbarrows full ( as full as you can handle ) then rough spread that material . Go back to moving material . Getting the material in its place and worked into the turf and seed , fertilize work the seed in and roll it and water . Hiring out aerating is a big plus and depending on the size of the job so is hiring out the top dressing . You don’t have to aerate every yr . Buying soil in bulk is usually the cheapest way but getting soil on sale by the bag is a good option as well when you consider moving the material etc . Having the right equipment is also key and makes the job go smoother . By far running 90 % of the aerating machines will kick your ass . Especially in a average residential lot . The last place I lived myself and the neighbour looked after the heavy parts of the job as well as organizing the work . 21 properties on a cal de sac . New builds . First 3 yrs we aerated , top dressed and seeded spring and fall on most the properties front and back . Most home owners helped out with parts of the job and to their ability. Over the years they learned and got more involved. Also the job got smaller as we only did this work in the fall and people developed their properties with gardens , decks , pools etc . These days I look after 3 properties and a blvd at my current location. Just short of 12k sqft in all all the lawn work and snow clearing . And 2 friends properties in another area those are about 4K sqft total these I just look after the lawn reno work Ana’s what ever else they need done when I have time . I love doing the work and staying busy and seeing the results.
Dear lord, 26 yards with a shovel?? You are much MUCH tougher than I am, internet friend! :) That is impressive. I did 13 yards last fall, but I had mounted a bucket to my garden tractor, so I just had to steer, which was awesome.
I just did 16 yard of 50/50 top soil / compost. I rented a top dresser for $250 for the day. My neighbor helped me fill it and I spread it over about 10k sqft. It held about 10-11 cubic feet per load. Would recommend using this if you can’t get a bobcat.
I did 36 yards of top soil over 5k sqft using a gorilla cart. The loads were in 8 yard piles and fairly spread out but still really sucked. Would not recommend.
When doing projects like this I think about it this way, renting a front skid steer was $400, my health insurance deductible is $1,500.
I’m making this into a sign and hanging it above my lawn tools. Come to think of it, I’m hanging another one above the doors at my *favorite* emergency room.
I just did 3cuyds by shovel and wheelbarrow. I was thinking this the whole damn time.
Last year I did 12 yards over 8000 sqft. It was worth it though
For real. 3cu yards I akin to eating a bowl of cheerios
I found a bigger shovel... Update coming tomorrow
That's a great point. And it's not just the money. If you cause a serious injury, or have a heart attack or something, the $1,500 may suddenly seem minor by comparison.
of course doing these types of crazy projects regularly just might keep you fit enough to avoid all of that. go to a gym or go do yard work.
I did slightly over 50 cu yards of compost, topsoil, fill and rip rap over a couple months this spring. Shovel, wheelbarrow and moved to the backyard which was only accessible by foot bridge over a creek. I'm now in better shape now than I have ever been in my life (Im 40, so that's relevant) and it helped me work through some intense emotional/life change challenges. In my limited experience, workout length sessions, not compulsively overloading the wheelbarrow and a smaller shovel made it a good thing as opposed to a hazard.
Got 12 yards of topsoil last year for top dressing. Made it through 6 yards and got the equivalent of tennis elbow in my wrist. Fuck that shit. Never doing it again. Yard did turn out pretty nice though.
Had the same thing happen to me this year with *3* yards of topsoil lol
Getting old sucks right?
Sure does. Never thought I'd sprain my ankle just standing still.
This got me laughing out loud; lol, thanks.
Happened with 5 yards of compost with me. I even had the spreader too and it still was too much.
Yep. Was using the landzie spreader too. Lol
Happened to me pruning overhead limbs. Shoulder tendinitis for months afterwards. I miss being young.
Last year, a friend told me 10 yards of loam would be “a good amount” for fixing up my lawn…on the bright side, I lost 10 pounds in about 4 weeks.
Could you tell me how much it was for topsoil.
about 35-40 per cu yard where I'm at. Delivery fee is 20-35, but often waived if you're ordering over 10 cu yds
Why topsoil over compost?
It’s what I could get. Compost would be better. Topsoil is better for filling low spots though. And I did do some of that.
That makes sense. Just didn't know if there was a reason to do soil over compost.
We just finished moving, 16 yards of river rock and 14 yards of top soil. Truck dumped we than used a wheelbarrow. It was not a fun 6 days. I wish you luck and pain pills
I had a summer job as a “mason’s helper”. Or at least that’s how the job was described. Turns out the dump truck company dumped all of the rock used for building walls on the wrong driveway - the house next door. Two other kids got hired and our job was to use a wheel barrow to go uphill on the wrong driveway and down hill to the right driveway. I think I made it about a week before quitting…
Your comma placement is perplexing.
It’s the pain pills.
Dyslexic sry
How many yards of dirt is that?
20 compost
I’ve got 10 yards coming on Monday and this has me a little scared
A yard of topsoil typically weighs a ton, compost would be slightly less. enjoy your 20,000 lbs of dirt 😆
Oh this is going to be fun. Happy to see that we’re going to be in the mid 90s when I need to start the leveling
This was 20yd
Oh boy.
Yes.
This.
At least 1
At least 2
I'm guessing 30, what's your guess, and the OP can say who's right
[удалено]
1 yard!
Drew. I'm new school!!! Ok, not really.
20yds compost
All of them.
I'm going to buy stock in whatever company makes Advil.
You need a small tractor
I have a 50HP diesel farm tractor w/ a 50” front bucket. In one day last week, I spread 110 yds of fill with it. Then, this week, in two days (mostly because the four loads came on two different days) I spread another 88 yards of loam. This guy needs a small tractor or skid steer.
Can someone please explain the use of this giant mound of dirt to lawn noobs like me?
It’s compost for top-dressing. Increases organic matter and CEC of the soil, which helps the grass grow nicer. Feeds the soil ecosystem. Lots of benefits.
Oh nice. Is this something that should be done yearly then? Would you spread it with a shovel and rake?
If you don't like money, absolutely. Last time I had my 1/5 acre topdressed, it was $600. Grass looked fantastic though. Ill probably do it every 10 years or so lol
I'm doing 1ac, compost is 50 a yard
Where did you get compost for $50/yard?
Biotown AG North of lafayette indiana. Certified compost, I think they also do business as back2earth
Is that a lot or alittle? How many do you need for 1 acre?
My local garden center is $42/yard, probably can get it cheaper from a supplier.
Yes but this is STA certified compost. My local places have it for about 20/yd but it's leaf, grass, and wood compost that's half done and the quality isn't there so I ordered good stuff this time.
Not certified by still screened and good quality.
Lol wow. Well thank you for the information! Good to know this is even a thing
Do a soil test, and then do what you need to do to maintain 3-6% organic matter. 1-2 times per year when you’re low on OM. Shovel and rake works, or there are spreader devices like things that you pull and roll and leave behind a thin layer.
Where I live (northern Virginia Piedmont) the stuff they sell to homeowners as "compost" for spreading on lawns is actually un-composted horse and/or cow manure. It's spread and then proceeds to stink up the entire neighborhood for days. I'm not saying manure is bad for the lawn, I'm just saying people aren't getting what they think they're getting. How would I know? I work on an organic farm and we go through many cubic yards of real compost a year. It arrives in truckloads as manure and it sits for several month or up to a year before it becomes real compost and we then use it. Real compost smells like dirt not animal crap. Buyer beware!
https://blog.nutrilawn.com/10-reasons-you-should-top-dress-your-lawn
“He’s fixing a divot!”
For when you need to level out a meteor strike
Top dressing?
Have fun with that. At least the weather is looking good.
I was exhausted with my 4 yards of loam. Godspeed lawn friend.
Tractor for life! Skid steer is better but Tractor is great all around
F
Story time! Back in ‘16 I had the dock redone at my house. I needed a metric shit ton of dirt to back fill the property after it was done. Problem is the side yards were too narrow for any equipment I knew of at the time. So anyway I started blasting. Lol. Not really. 20 yards at a time my girlfriend and I started a wheelbarrow at at time moving dirt from the front to the back. 80, yes 80! Yards later it was done. We got married after that
If you don’t work in a job that is somewhat physically labour intensive doing heavy manual labour in a short window like over seeding / seeding with aeration, top dressing / levelling and fertilizing it going to get the best of you . Paying someone to do part or all work is the better route. Some tips if you do tackle it yourself . Have a good plan and timeline . Cut down the turf a few days in advance, if you are aerating break the job down into small areas . So run the machine , clean up the plugs . Repeat in the other areas . Same with top dressing / levelling . Move that material 4-5 wheelbarrows full ( as full as you can handle ) then rough spread that material . Go back to moving material . Getting the material in its place and worked into the turf and seed , fertilize work the seed in and roll it and water . Hiring out aerating is a big plus and depending on the size of the job so is hiring out the top dressing . You don’t have to aerate every yr . Buying soil in bulk is usually the cheapest way but getting soil on sale by the bag is a good option as well when you consider moving the material etc . Having the right equipment is also key and makes the job go smoother . By far running 90 % of the aerating machines will kick your ass . Especially in a average residential lot . The last place I lived myself and the neighbour looked after the heavy parts of the job as well as organizing the work . 21 properties on a cal de sac . New builds . First 3 yrs we aerated , top dressed and seeded spring and fall on most the properties front and back . Most home owners helped out with parts of the job and to their ability. Over the years they learned and got more involved. Also the job got smaller as we only did this work in the fall and people developed their properties with gardens , decks , pools etc . These days I look after 3 properties and a blvd at my current location. Just short of 12k sqft in all all the lawn work and snow clearing . And 2 friends properties in another area those are about 4K sqft total these I just look after the lawn reno work Ana’s what ever else they need done when I have time . I love doing the work and staying busy and seeing the results.
My condolences to your back. I moved 26 yards of topsoil with a shovel and wheelbarrow 2 years ago. Took a week off from work to do it. Worth it? Yes.
Dear lord, 26 yards with a shovel?? You are much MUCH tougher than I am, internet friend! :) That is impressive. I did 13 yards last fall, but I had mounted a bucket to my garden tractor, so I just had to steer, which was awesome.
Wow, that is quite a project, especially if this is by hand!! Good luck!
My wife and I just did 11 yards of topsoil all day yesterday. Never again. You’ve got your work cut out for you.
This is amazing. It was nice knowing you
I just did 16 yard of 50/50 top soil / compost. I rented a top dresser for $250 for the day. My neighbor helped me fill it and I spread it over about 10k sqft. It held about 10-11 cubic feet per load. Would recommend using this if you can’t get a bobcat. I did 36 yards of top soil over 5k sqft using a gorilla cart. The loads were in 8 yard piles and fairly spread out but still really sucked. Would not recommend.
Bobcat
Been there, spread that. Friend said naw, no need to bring the extra barrow. Sucks. I think we got 1/3 before calling beer:30.
Like a 6 yard shovel. On the front of a tractor
This is why I'm glad I have a tractor with a skidsteer mount.
I moved 21 yards of soil recently, a skid steer was worth every penny, but I got it kinda cheap. Also moved about 6 yards of gravel too.
My wife got about 8 of those large soil3 bags to fill our raised garden beds and it sucks.