When not cultivated beforehand, grass seeds will have a hard time penetrating deep into the soil to take root. Now that you know how to plant grass in clay soil the other important thing is to choose the best grass seeds for clay soil. When the clay is amended correctly, it will provide a great planting medium for your plants to absorb water and nutrients. Spread half of the seed over the chosen area using a broadcast spreader while walking in a vertical path. Tiny particles of soil are held together tightly and, like flour in a box, there is no space for air between the particles. Albeit its challenging condition, Buffalo grass and Bermuda grass are perfect for clay soil lawn type. Using a spreader or other means to disperse the seed, divide the rate of application in half. Avoid lawn care programs that apply pesticides even when pests are not present. Then, spread the second half of the seed by walking in the perpendicular direction to get even coverage. Apparently I became very spoiled by the rich, black dirt of the northern climes and I miss my lush, green lawn. This would require 250kg per sq m (460lbs per sq yd) of grit or gravel. Do this activity until the grass is established. Growing grass in red clay soil. As this seed is being dispersed perpendicular to the first half, you will get a more even overall application. Its roots are longer and so penetrate the soil deeper than other cool-season grasses, making it a good choice for clay soils.Bermuda Grass. It is a good idea to set a small can in the area to get the measurement of the amount of water you are applying. It is well known that Bermuda grass grows well in clay soil. You can do it by simply scooping at least half a cup then, soaking it with a few drops of water in your hand by creating a ball, and voila. During summer, keep it moistened using a heavy mulch to prevent hardening. Stop watering when the can is full. Best Grass To Grow In Clay Soil. It’s best practice to cut your grass to a height of 6 to 8 centimeters (2.5 to 3 inches). It can grow on a wide range of soils from sands, scrub and medium clay soils, where its open sward makes it easy to coexist with legumes. If the mulch was light, with at least one-half of the bare soil exposed, you might leave the straw to decompose. The grass' roots will work to break up and loosen the clay soil below. But with my lawn barren and lacking the vibrancy to get those oohs and aahs due to seemingly stubborn clay soil, I decided it is high time to find out why. Aerate compacted soil, ideally in the fall. You see, the small clay particles retain water and nutrients. 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. She was certified as a master gardener a decade ago. Copyright © 2020 — www.justhomegardening.com • All rights reserved. Clay is only ever at a good moisture level for a very short time between being an airless wet mud and dry and hard as a brick. Add lime. Add powdered gypsum at the rate of two to three handfuls per square metre, then dig the soil over and water it in. This keeps the nutrients in the soil, instead of allowing them to leech down and away from your plants. Run it over the area until the soil is no longer packed down. To prepare clay soil for grass, mix in a healthy amount of organic material. Most of the seeds should germinate in about two weeks or less. Consider adding organic matter — but not sand. If your willing to put the work in, clay soils can actually be an awesome soil to grow plants and grass in. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Feed your lawn with compost. 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