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curtisfarmer · 05-16-2008, 08:16 PM

Someone mentioned leach fileds and lawns.....I do alot of lawn installs and many atop leach fields. First is the fact that all contractors suck *** when it comes time to do thelawn right the first time, the usually put down just enough to get germination and then close on the loan. Second problem is unknowing homeowners or stupid landscapers use wheeled machines atop leach fields to do the rebuild. A BIG no no. Wheeled machines hauling dirt atop a leach field compacts the soil of the leach system and eventually eroding the lifespan of the system. The ground pressure from wheeled machines is too much for the porisity required for the designed system. I use L48s for my company and with dirt in the bucket I simply refuse to work atop septics in case of compaction. I bucket the dirt on the side and then use my KX121-3 with grading bucket to spread the topsoil. The tracked machine is low ground pressure and is the only safe way to install such a lawn. My average lawn install is over 100 yards of sifted topsoil with a 4" minimum depth. People don't realize how expensive lawn installs are, except the scamming contractors who know exactly how much it costs....and how much they can save by skimping. At least 25-30% of my business is fixing things that where not done right the first time. I take every bit of dirt home to my yard and I must have 400+ yards of soil "aging" and ready to be sifted and shipped out. I pay $18 a yard delivered, others charge $25 + delivery. I use my raw topsoil for landscape construction and things where sifted isn't needed much. When you add up the soil, seed, machines, and warranty costs..it adds up big time. Last year I did more lawns than I ever have, then had the driest August on record, and many warraty reseeds which eats at the profit. This year I am only doing hydroseeding which I pass the warranty claims along to my hydro sub contractor. Lawns take at least 1 year+ to establish, and only with regular maintenece, spot reseeding, fertilzing and thatching do they come out great. Lawns are one of the toughest parts of landscape construction.

05-16-2008, 08:16 PM	#11 (permalink)
curtisfarmer Silver Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Southern NH Posts: 236	Re: Soil screening question Someone mentioned leach fileds and lawns.....I do alot of lawn installs and many atop leach fields. First is the fact that all contractors suck *** when it comes time to do thelawn right the first time, the usually put down just enough to get germination and then close on the loan. Second problem is unknowing homeowners or stupid landscapers use wheeled machines atop leach fields to do the rebuild. A BIG no no. Wheeled machines hauling dirt atop a leach field compacts the soil of the leach system and eventually eroding the lifespan of the system. The ground pressure from wheeled machines is too much for the porisity required for the designed system. I use L48s for my company and with dirt in the bucket I simply refuse to work atop septics in case of compaction. I bucket the dirt on the side and then use my KX121-3 with grading bucket to spread the topsoil. The tracked machine is low ground pressure and is the only safe way to install such a lawn. My average lawn install is over 100 yards of sifted topsoil with a 4" minimum depth. People don't realize how expensive lawn installs are, except the scamming contractors who know exactly how much it costs....and how much they can save by skimping. At least 25-30% of my business is fixing things that where not done right the first time. I take every bit of dirt home to my yard and I must have 400+ yards of soil "aging" and ready to be sifted and shipped out. I pay $18 a yard delivered, others charge $25 + delivery. I use my raw topsoil for landscape construction and things where sifted isn't needed much. When you add up the soil, seed, machines, and warranty costs..it adds up big time. Last year I did more lawns than I ever have, then had the driest August on record, and many warraty reseeds which eats at the profit. This year I am only doing hydroseeding which I pass the warranty claims along to my hydro sub contractor. Lawns take at least 1 year+ to establish, and only with regular maintenece, spot reseeding, fertilzing and thatching do they come out great. Lawns are one of the toughest parts of landscape construction.