Thread: Reasonable costs for lilydale toppings driveway

Originally Posted by mirz

looks very solid for 15 years old driveway

oh, it is solid alright, I have had 22t tandem trucks up and down the drive, bobcats, 4t excavators, back hoes... no damage to the drive at all (that couldn't be fixed with a quick rake over) , and it is more than 15 years old, it looked at least 5 years old before we bought the place about 15 years ago

Sorry for dragging up a bit of an old post. I am thinking of using some of these Lillydale toppings in some garden beds at the front of the house that have died off and nothing is living there any more.

This soil is quite loose and the neighbourhood cats have made it their toilet which is me to tears.

Would it be ok to lay lillydale toppings on loose soil? Or does it need some sort of base? I was hoping to do this as cheap as possible and was wondering if I could lay the thick black plastic down them put the toppings on that?

I am thinking of doing this to the whole front yard as the "lawn" has started to die of dramatically over the last year. The above mentioned areas are a priority though as I have had enough of the catshit.

Should work OK.

If you were using it for bearing loads you'd need to pack it down, but not when using it essentially as mulch. But put weed mat underneath, not plastic.

Hi Terrian,
That looks & sounds solid indeed. Would you have any idea how deep the lilydale toppings is? I have a sloping driveway & was going to get it concreted but costs a bomb and am considering cheaper alternatives. Cheers, Ashwood.

Originally Posted by Ashwood

Hi Terrian,
That looks & sounds solid indeed. Would you have any idea how deep the lilydale toppings is? I have a sloping driveway & was going to get it concreted but costs a bomb and am considering cheaper alternatives. Cheers, Ashwood.

I would be guessing that it is at least 125mm thick.
Those very heavy rains we had a few months back washed a channel about 125mm deep into the drive, what was exposed was..... more toppings It could be 3 foot thick for all I know.

Generally 100mm thick is fine, get some cement mixed through it at the garden supplies (40kg per cubic meter), spread it out, rake it (with the rake upside down!!!) to get reid of high / low spots, a light spray of water, roll it, leave it for a couple for days if you can, result is rock hard surface

Originally Posted by tourgy

Sorry for dragging up a bit of an old post. I am thinking of using some of these Lillydale toppings in some garden beds at the front of the house that have died off and nothing is living there any more.
This soil is quite loose and the neighbourhood cats have made it their toilet which is me to tears.

stamp the soil down as much as you can, spread the toppings, try for about 50 - 75mm thick, should be fine.