Hi,
We have a very small garden. It is used mostly as a play area in the summer.
Recently we have had an extension built, and the builders needed to dig up the garden for some drainage. We didn't care as the lawn was terrible.
I must say that the soil is awful. It is full of stones, bits of metal, glass, and seems to have been back filled to some considerable level with builders sand.
In the past I have dug down say 6" and put in some new top soil, then laid some turf, but it all died off.
I have now dug over the whole site, and weeded it. If I rake it I get loads of stones and rubbish, and you can see by the colour of what soil is there that it is not good.
My question is, what should I do, to get a good looking lawn. I was thinking of ordering some more turf, but I don't want to throw good money after bad. Should I dig in some organic matter first to improve the soil?

I am stumped that even with a 6 inch layer of topsoil you couldn't grow grass.

odd

does anything grow? Does water pool or drain quickly?

I would think you need a full, do it right, soil test.

There are grasses that will grow in almost any soil but most of our turf grasses need a bit of pampering and they prefer a soil the 6.2 to 6.8 range with a goodly amount of organic matter in that soil. What is the possibilty of having a good, reliable soil test done so you know what your soils pH and nutrient load is? You can also dig in with these simple soil tests;
1) Structure. From that soil sample put enough of the rest to make a 4 inch level in a clear 1 quart jar, with a tight fitting lid. Fill that jar with water and replace the lid, tightly. Shake the jar vigorously and then let it stand for 24 hours. Your soil will settle out according to soil particle size and weight. A good loam will have about 1-3/4 inch (about 45%) of sand on the bottom. about 1 inch (about 25%) of silt next, about 1 inch (25%) of clay above that, and about 1/4 inch (about 5%) of organic matter on the top.

2) Drainage. Dig a hole 1 foot square and 1 foot deep and fill that with water. After that water drains away refill the hole with more water and time how long it takes that to drain away. Anything less than 2 hours and your soil drains too quickly and needs more organic matter to slow that drainage down. Anything over 6 hours and the soil drains too slowly and needs lots of organic matter to speed it up.

3) Tilth. Take a handful of your slightly damp soil and squeeze it tightly. When the pressure is released the soil should hold together in that clump, but when poked with a finger that clump should fall apart.

4) Smell. What does your soil smell like? A pleasant, rich earthy odor? Putrid, offensive, repugnant odor? The more organic matter in your soil the more active the soil bacteria will be and the nicer you soil will smell.

5) Life. How many earthworms per shovel full were there? 5 or more indicates a pretty healthy soil. Fewer than 5, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, indicates a soil that is not healthy.
which will help you know more about what you do have and what you need to do to get that soil into a good, healthy condition that will grow a good turf.

alaskan,
regading the soil test you're absolutely right!

We never do anything with soil without its test.