Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => General Gardening => Topic started by: ljshguighuf on May 11, 2022, 11:25

Title: Removing artificial grass
Post by: ljshguighuf on May 11, 2022, 11:25

Hi all,

I moved house last year and am going to remove some artificial grass to replace with raised beds and turf. Underneath the astroturf is quite a deep layer of granite dust that prevented weeds from growing through it.

Just digging out a 4ft x 4ft square I managed to 1/3 fill a 1 tonne bag with the stuff so completely removing it is going to be a nightmare. Is there anything wrong with just digging deeper and mixing it into the soil?

Thanks in advance for your replies

Title: Re: Removing artificial grass
Post by: Yorkie on May 11, 2022, 18:06

Are you sure it is granite dust, or could it be something else e.g. limestone?

Title: Re: Removing artificial grass
Post by: Steveharford on May 11, 2022, 18:27

If it was laid properly it will be granite dust. I can’t see why you can’t incorporate this with the soil. It will give you a gritty texture. Not at all bad.

Title: Re: Removing artificial grass
Post by: ljshguighuf on May 12, 2022, 09:46

Thanks for the replies. I think it's granite dust, as it seems to have been laid very well. Is there any way of telling?

Title: Re: Removing artificial grass
Post by: New shoot on May 12, 2022, 10:36

Easiest way would be to have a zoomed in look at pictures on a website selling aggregates like this one.

https://www.aggregatesdirect.co.uk/product/grano-dust/?attribute_pa_size=bulk-bag&utm_source=Google%20Shopping&utm_campaign=Aggregates%20Direct&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=36403&campaign=11719149002&content=482692664042&keyword=36403&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoJOCrNTZ9wIVL49oCR0Xqgn5EAQYCCABEgKqSvD_BwE

Title: Re: Removing artificial grass
Post by: Kleftiwallah on May 12, 2022, 15:56

Carefully drop a smidge of battery acid (or it may work with strong vinegar) and if it fizzes it's limestone.  If not it's granite.  Cheers,  Tony.

Title: Re: Removing artificial grass
Post by: Subversive_plot on May 20, 2022, 15:22

I'd avoid trying battery acid (concentrated sulfuric acid contaminated with lead and antimony).

Drop a bit of the suspected granite dust into a clear glass with vinegar. It will react more slowly, but will produce a slow fizz.

A geologists field kit for this test is a dropper bottle with 10% hydrochloric acid (=muriatic acid).

Limestone is usually softer than granite (except where it contains incorporated sand or silicified  fossils).