Weed Advice Please

[shelaghc]

My long awaited new garden project began yesterday. The actual garden area was lower than the patio area, but we have made the decision to bring it up to the same level.

The grass area was covered in brambles and nettles - we was told that all this would be scraped off and disgarded - I even asked if we would need a membrane to stop them coming back, to which we were told we could have one if wanted.

However, yesterday the men merely turned this weed invested area over - when I questioned what was going to stop them growing back I was advised that 9"/1' of top soild would be enough to prevent that.

Can anyone advise if this is correct, as if not I can do something about it now before the other works starts.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

[Kayleigh]

Are you paying them, is there a guarantee with the work, are they insured..
You need to get some details of the work being carried out and what will be planted in the place of the brambles.
If they said you can put a membrane down then why have not this will prevent future weeds coming through and you can put a gravel ect mulch on top of it and plant through this.

[shelaghc]

Yes, we are paying them - they approved contractor of a widely known landscape manufacturer. They say that now we are raising the level there will be so much top soil being added that a membrane will not be necessary - the depth at which the weeds will be lying will prevent them from returning. I suppose that are saying that no light no growth - but I dont know if this will apply to brambles and nettles, they are very robust.

[shelaghc]

Incidently Kayleigh, I have all the plans and know exactly what is going in and where once the decks are cleared, I merely asked if brambles and nettles will return when buried a foot deep - that is all

[Kayleigh]

They may be right in that the brambles will not return but I don't know, but you will get other weeds like dandelions couch grass and other weeds that will colonise any bare earth.
Have a talk with them again if you are not happy and get them put a membrane down if you want one as you are paying them.

[shelaghc]

It will not be left that long Kayleigh for things to colonise. Yes, I will get the foreman up in the morning and discuss it again - I just wanted to be forearmed, as I am not getting enough information from the web.

[Kayleigh]

There are people on WAB who would know but they are not on WAB atm.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Have to say that I would expect some of the stronger plants to come back if the root stock hasn't been disturbed, if only a little weaker.

Cheers,

Adam

[nightshade]

My experience of briar and nettles is they are amazing plants, if you dont remove the roots they will be back. If I were paying to have a job done this would involve removing all these rootstocks not digging them in! (and I would
insist on the membrane as you will probably be paying for it anyway and just put it in your shed )

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by shelaghc

However, yesterday the men merely turned this weed invested area over - when I questioned what was going to stop them growing back I was advised that 9"/1' of top soild would be enough to prevent that.

Bramble will easily make it through 30cms of top soil if the existing roots are well established and and left intact by merely 'digging over'. A membrane will not help if there is enough substance to the remaining root - bramble can lift concrete !

I think it's too late now to take any other course than has been proposed by the contractor and you probably have to be resigned to a couple of years 'pulling' of bramble shoots - this will eventually weeken the roots and the problem will go away. Although I dislike using herbicides I think my approach would have been to cut the weed cover back to ground level and touch treat the bramble stems a few days in advance of any digging over. Clearly that approach didn't fit with your contractors schedule.

CM