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Posted: Sep/05/2008 6:53 PM PST
My SIL asked that I design a garden "oasis" for her. The design is done, plants purchased, installation scheduled. My dilemma: I keep mulling over an ancient swimming pool that she will have filled with dirt prior to the work party. I intended on creating a large berm over the whole area, but am feeling a bit apprehensive. The pool is half-way filled with old roofing material. I am concerned about the shingles leaching and the fact there is no drainage. If the fill dirt is put directly on top then the soil and compost, will the trees that I plant be alright over time? Should I have them cover the junk with large, overlapping tarps before the fill and compost is placed? The latter would allow about five feet of soil & compost before roots would hit the tarp. The other option is to redesign and grass over top then edge the lip of the pool with large rock..... I really appreciate your assistance, this pops in my mind WAY too many times throughout the day. I keep going back to the 5 p's (proper planning prevents poor performance).~Andrea |
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Posted: Sep/06/2008 5:27 AM PST
There are certainly posts out on the web about filling in an old swimming pool. As far as I've ever seen, they recommend some bashing of the floor and/or walls to allow for drainage. So if that hasn't been done, I think it should (at the very least, puncture the walls if you can't get down to the bottom). As for the old roofing material, I would not bother covering it with tarps. The concern for me would be a combination of 1) will this stuff settle over time and create a depression, and 2) could this material harm the plants whose roots will reach that far down (trees)? To alleviate the settling concern, you'd want to cover it with clean fill dirt (not "topsoil) and have someone pack it down with a piece of equipment (bobcat?). Reserve the last foot or so for topsoil. As for could the roofing material harm the trees, some research might help. Five feet is a good distance and problem would not impact roots for a few years. But even if it doesn't, is there some groundwater concern with having that material buried - there's a reason that landfills are built with "liners". I don't know if that helped, but that's what I think. |
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Posted: Sep/06/2008 7:09 AM PST
Thank you! I tried to Google before I posted, but could not locate any information. This has bothered me for all the reasons you stated. I will talk to them about removing the shingles. Thanks again, you have been a tremendous help~Andrea |
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Posted: Sep/06/2008 7:54 AM PST
A very pertinent thread about it on this forum although the shingles issue is not there: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/design/ms g0508091423763.html?28 Watch out for the spaces - sometimes spaces get inserted into links posted here; if the link doesn't work, check for spaces. Good luck to you! |
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Posted: Sep/07/2008 7:50 PM PST
reliable in pool construction and design __________________________ http://www.dolphinpoolsandspasinc.com/ |
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