Aerate your lawn on a regular basis if you have clay soil in an area that gets substantial rainfall as this will help with slow drainage problems. 590 0 obj <> endobj Adding Garden Lime One way of improving the texture of a clay soil is to add lime. Because clay soil can become compacted easily, place about 3 to 4 inches (7.5-10 cm.) How to improve clay soils. These products are usually more costly and take two to three years of routine applications to work, and do not take the place of organic mulching. Though the top 4-5 inches eventually got pretty good, the clay … Add organic matter like grass mulch or topsoil every year, at least once, and this should improve the condition of the soil under your lawn. How to Improve Clay Soil for Existing Lawns? Let’s go to work. Clay soil is heavy and compacts when wet, reducing the amount of oxygen and nutrients available to plants. Growing a Beautiful Lawn on a Clay Soil Published: 30 April 2017. Always read and follow directions on fertilisers and soil supplements. Written by Garrett Anderson. Apply top-down soil amendments in layers only 2 or 3 inches deep to allow rain to percolate through. Top-dressing usually consists of sand, loam and peat and spread in various ratios, depending on soil type and location. She has been writing how-to articles for eHow since January 2009 and on her blog LadyLip.com. Soil that consists of over 50 percent clay particles is referred to as heavy clay. Aerate Clay Soil. Thatch Improving clay soil is not easy. Mow the lawn on the lowest setting and rake the area thoroughly. If your lawn is growing in a poor clay soil, it will always be prone to the problems that come with clay - compaction, poor drainage, fungus, moss, weeds, poor nutrient availability and color, root-stress and a host of other undesirable conditions. Rent a rear-tine, self-propelled rototiller to break through the ground surface and till down six inches or so, or where the clay level ends. Rent a rear-tine, self-propelled … Grass ages and eventually dies off, leaving the lawn susceptible to disease, weed and insect infestation. Clay soil eventually compacts, especially in areas with heavy foot traffic. The organic matter will decompose and lead to the improvement of the soil. Wire rake the thatch away from the lawn in autumn and then use a scarifier (or the tines of a fork) to produce drainage holes. Employ the power of roots to break up heavy soils and add organic matter. Soils with larger particles have more air space and allow the passage of water more freely. Improve the clay and you will improve the lawn. It’s going to take time, and the time that it takes to improve clay soil will vary among all lawns and gardens—but, there is a specific soil … Seed again in early to mid-spring. Water infrequently and deeply. Spread seed with a hand or push spreader. But, with a little know-how, you can improve the soil’s condition and in time, grow a thick, green, and healthy lawn. Plant marigolds, zinnias, or other annuals in new gardens, cutting them off at ground level at the end of the season. Uncle … Overseed in the fall. Stay off the lawn. For isolated problem spots, break up clay with a shovel or heavy garden rake. Test the soil. The drier the clay soil, the more restricting drainage it will be, which limits the amount of oxygen to reach the grass’s root system. of the chosen soil amendment on the soil and work it gently down into the soil about 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm.). Study the results and amend the soil accordingly. Clay soil needs regular aeration to allow water and oxygen to move freely through it. Sandy Soil Put the sprinkler on a timer and give the lawn one inch of water per week. Use a rain gauge to measure, if necessary. Lawn fertiliser contains more nitrogen than flower and vegetable fertilisers due to its greening abilities, so look for a fertiliser that has a larger first number, such as 10-2-6. 643 0 obj <>stream A highly neglected lawn may need a total lawn overhaul. Trees are also thirsty so, for example, some (smaller) conifers might add structure and help with drainage.The weather has been so wet that it is difficult even to get on soil to work it, and it is a bit early yet anyway but the rest of the answer is improve, improve, improve … Additives to Improve Clay Soils; Purpose Additives; To lighten the soil, make it more workable, improve it’s water holding capacity and at time make it more free draining. A highly neglected lawn may need a total lawn overhaul. Till or rake in four parts sand, two parts loam and one part peat. Lawns can become waterlogged if water sits on the surface and drains slowly. Take the bag off the lawnmower and leave grass and leaf clippings on the grass. It is as simple as that. Earthworms snack on the mulch, fertilising as they move through the soil. Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. To improve clay soil for lawns, you will need to apply organic matter by a process called topdressing. Roses like clayey soil and big climbers drink a lot, so a pergola with a climber would help. Top-dress the lawn. Improve the clay and you will improve the lawn… 0 Clay soil is defined as soil that comprised of very fine mineral particles and not much organic material. ​ Clay is natural material found in every part of the world. Clay soil is heavy and compacts when wet, reducing the amount of oxygen and nutrients available to plants. Existing Lawns. The result is a sparse lawn with poor drainage. Understanding soil … Mulch the lawn regularly. Clay soil is heavy and compacts when wet, reducing the amount of oxygen and nutrients available to plants. Home improvement stores, discount stores and garden centres sell bags from spring to fall with ratios that work well for the local area. Clay soils are sticky in winter, but brick-hard in summer, but with the following tips, you can improve the soil … The grass' roots will work to break up and loosen the clay soil below. A more aggressive approach to improving clay soil is to top-dress it. Clay soil is heavy and compacts when wet, reducing the amount of oxygen and nutrients available to plants. A more aggressive approach to improving clay soil is to top-dress it. Water, then cover with straw to keep snacking birds at bay. All soil will be somewhat of a combination, but if you’re trying to decide between silt and clay, treat it like clay. Lisa Gregor has been writing off and on for 40-plus years. Give your lawn its first cut as the weather starts to warm. To let oxygen and water freely move through it, you have to regularly aerate the soil, remove plugs of dirt from the lawn … Rent aerators from home improvement stores or equipment companies. Try a pair of aerating spiked boots for small areas. First mow in one direction, and then mow … Hence if you have clay soil in your lawn, you must improve its quality so that the lawn is healthy. Beware of power lines and cable running through the yard. Once you're sure that your soil is good and healthy, consider adding some earthworms to help keep your topsoil nice and loose. Although this type of soil is ideal for trees, bushes, and roses, it is very inhospitable toward other species of plants. In the first season or two after adding organic material to the soil… Aerate the soil. We have provided some important tips and advice to consider. Clay soil needs regular aeration to allow water and oxygen to move freely through it. If you have noticed that water tends to puddle on the ground rather than soak in, it is likely your ground consists of clay. Top-dress in September, ideally after aeration. These products are usually more costly and take two to three years of routine applications to work, and do not take the place of organic mulching. A lawn drainage system transfers water from one area, through pipes or tiles, to another area, such as a waterway, ditch or man-made bed. Overcoming the Difficulties of Planting in Clay Soil Bring in a new layer of topsoil if your plants are … A soil test determines the fertility of the soil by measuring the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other nutrients that are in the soil. Compacted clay soil prohibits nutrients from reaching grass roots, therefore, prodding roots upward toward the surface. Aerators remove plugs of dirt from the lawn and break up the soil, allowing grass roots to spread. Aerators remove plugs of dirt from the lawn and break up the soil, allowing grass roots to spread. 629 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<05B82F6A6B8B4AD9839849553CDDDDE2><75BD2467177AF54EA554E6719F2530CF>]/Index[590 54]/Info 589 0 R/Length 166/Prev 1097067/Root 591 0 R/Size 644/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream It is very water containing, sticky and gooey when watered and harsh, hard and lumpy when dried. On the other hand, it is much better to add very bulky organic fertilizer to the soil… Top-dressing usually consists of sand, loam and peat and spread in various ratios, depending on soil type and location. �^H�SV)�����g���5o�q��c>���i9�fE9����lTM��%�]�z��*[Ls�� �;�1w �~1kҬ�K����'?�#������eVo���v�/��KU?�>�3����W��˫&����z���"o����f�����=��y��4vղ�������� �g�l�v}̯��h�z}ԟUw��OV���?b��`�o���XŇ��ķ؄L���/�I"��Od��E>o��3TO鉴.L�Hǂ�ea�,,룯w��]wC�£B†Eh�K����ק��t�0. The best way to improve the quality is by top dressing the lawn with compost and fertilizing it organically. To improve a clay soil lawn, we want to use ingredients that will encourage the grass to grow greener and push its feed roots deeper while at the same time, benefiting the microbial ecosystem in our soil. Use gritty sand to top-dress clay soil or ground that waterlogs badly, as this improves surface drainage, but use bags of bought topsoil or ready-made turf top dressing for normal or light sandy soil. Buy a soil test kit at a garden centre or home improvement store, or take a soil sample to your county’s extension office, where they will analyse the soil for you. %%EOF But, with a little know-how, you can improve the soil’s condition and in time, grow a thick, green, and healthy lawn. How to improve clay soil under your lawn. For some people, having a thick, green lawn is something … lawn image by Allyson Ricketts from Fotolia.com. However, it is worth noting that patches of dead grass where the soil … It consists of small particles of minerals with traces of several metal components. If you can roll a handful of your garden soil into a sticky ball, it is clay. She is working on two children's books, a fiction novel and has plans to write a series of budget (frugal living) books. Grass ages and eventually dies off, leaving the lawn susceptible to disease, weed and insect infestation. Feed the grass. Compacted clay soil prohibits nutrients from reaching grass roots, therefore, prodding roots upward toward the surface. The result is a sparse lawn with poor drainage. Add thicker layers to smooth out dip, holes and bumps. Clay soil conditioners contain gypsum, humic acid and catalytic enzymes, and applied during the growing season. All About Lawns: Lawn Maintenance and Care. Lay stepping stones, install sidewalks or create a path near all entrances and to outbuildings and children’s play areas. 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