Need advice - I've made a big clay bowl mess

[snaphookerTN]

Hello I'm brand new to the forum. I'm needing some advice on the best way out of a mess I've made.

I had a big pile of mediocre topsoil and gravel mix from where we did some drainage work on our driveway ... I set out to spread and level it right where it was, which would ideally level out the surrounding area. Once I got the pile knocked down and started spreading, I realized I was in a jam....

The center area, which was more or less underneath the pile, is extremely soft clay. My JD 3033R has regular tractor tires and started to create ruts .... like a big dummy, I kept going hoping that I had enough gravel and topsoil mixed in that it would keep the clay from further compacting.... I was wrong. It got worse and now I have a big wet clay bowl that I can't get in there to level out because it's too soft.

I should have stopped and called someone who has a Bobcat but I didn't. Now I'm under the gun to get this filled in, smoothed over and grass growing in time for Easter which is now 31 days out... the wife is not pleased.

I have 8 yards of good topsoil getting delivered today. If I start spreading it (mostly by hand) and fill in the bowl area, do you think I'll be okay? Or should I get some gravel and sand in there first? I know the best solution would be to get someone with a Bobcat out here but frankly I don't have the money.

I am willing to get a small load of gravel hauled in, if that would be a better plan.

I'll have enough of the new topsoil to fill in the ruts and get all of it and the surrounding areas about 3 to 4 inches deep coverage with topsoil. The bowl area and rutted areas will hold a lot more obviously, so some of those areas will be about 15 to 20 inches deep.

I'll post photos shortly.... go easy one please my pride is already bruised enough!

Any suggestions for this dummy? Thanks in advance.





used my 3033R I started

 

[snaphookerTN]

Photos showing the mess I've made

 

[old and tired]

It doesn't look too bad or too rutted up. I would go with a metal rake to try and flatten what you can of the side of the ruts (knock them down into the ruts). Stomp down with your foot. No easy or faster way. Then spread out the top soil.

You might be able to scoop and drop top soil near the edges of the mud and rake or shove it into the middle...

 

[snaphookerTN]

It doesn't look too bad or too rutted up. I would go with a metal rake to try and flatten what you can of the side of the ruts (knock them down into the ruts). Stomp down with your foot. No easy or faster way. Then spread out the top soil.

You might be able to scoop and drop top soil near the edges of the mud and rake or shove it into the middle...

Ok thanks. You make me feel a little better. I might see if I can get a few yards of #57 gravel hauled in today or tomorrow. I think that would definitely be a safer approach to ensure a good rough grade underneath the topsoil....

Thanks again.

 

[old and tired]

I can see adding gravel if you are planning to drive the tractor through this area more often. Gravel tends to make it's way to the surface and if children run, fall land on a piece of 57 gravel, it hurts more than sliding in the mud.

I would do what you can to make sure this area drains away water so it's not always wet. I would put a lot of top soil down to achieve that...

Do you have another area that you can dig dirt from your property and fill in this area???

 

[jaxs]

All I see is soil too wet for proper grading. Is there any reason you can't wait until it'd dry? I also don't see why gravel is needed before adding topsoil. We've all got in too big of hurry and wound up with a mess but letting things dry out will take care of it.

 

[suburbanfarmer]

All I see is soil too wet for proper grading. Is there any reason you can't wait until it'd dry? I also don't see why gravel is needed before adding topsoil. We've all got in too big of hurry and wound up with a mess but letting things dry out will take care of it.

Totally agree, wait for it to dry out a bit. I did that couple yrs ago and ended up burying the tractor down to axles. Wait it out and then grade it.

 

[deezler]

Why the heck would you need grass by easter?!
Tell wifey it'll be green by the fall.

Agree with others, when an area is too wet, you should just wait it out longer. Shoot, a few sunny days in a row and you might be able to start pushing the delivered top soil onto the area from the perimeter. Go easy.

I wouldn't want to put any more gravel into an area destined to be yard. Once you add the topsoil to even it out, with proper surface drainage it should remain more stable in future years.

Personally I'd be more worried about that big unsightly leaner tree in the woods behind the wet area, haha.

 

[hosspuller]

I think adding gravel will work against you, if you want grass. Gravel is for driving on. Wait for it to dry and grade the land to drain the water. It's a "bowl" is creating the wet soft spot.

 

[snaphookerTN]

I think adding gravel will work against you, if you want grass. Gravel is for driving on. Wait for it to dry and grade the land to drain the water. It's a "bowl" is creating the wet soft spot.