How Do I Get a Clay Yard to Grow Grass?

Lawns covered in lush green grass offer homeowners soft ground to walk on and help to keep rain erosion at bay. However, some lawn owners have a problem: clay soil. Growing grass in clay soil is challenging and often trying. Clay forms thick clumps that grass roots have difficulty growing through. Clay often does not let enough water soak down to the roots; when water does become absorbed, it is held for too long, in effect drowning the grass roots.

Tiller
Grass seed
Topsoil
Aerator
Compost
Wheelbarrow
Shovel

Instructions

Process
- 1
  Till the top 4 to 6 inches of the clay soil. This will break up the hard clay clumps, allowing the roots of grasses to grow deeper and stronger.
- 2
  Mix grass seed in with topsoil and spread this mix on the top of the tilled clay soil. By mixing the seed in with topsoil, you're adding extra nutrients added to the clay soil.
- 3
  Water the new grass only enough to dampen the top 2 inches of soil. Over-watering clay soil will make it more compact.
- 4
  Aerate the lawn once the grass had established itself. You can aerate the lawn with a number of different machines that punch holes into the soil. You should aerate your yard once every year just before the lawn grass growing season begins. Aerate cool weather grasses in the fall; aerate warm weather grasses in the spring.
- 5
  Add a layer of topdressing once or twice every year. Topdressing is organic matter, or compost, that adds nutrients to the soil. Spread a thin layer of compost out evenly through the lawn using a wheelbarrow and shovel.

What Should I Put Down First: Fertizer or Grass Seed?

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Lawn Planting

How Do I Get a Clay Yard to Grow Grass?

Instructions

Process