Please Help. Rocks in yard and size of hole for grass to grow over

[chocula]

I have been working on my yard and thanks to this site, it is looking better than ever.

I have a few issues and was wondering what you guys thought I should do about them.

I have Bermuda grass and am in NC.

My yard has a bunch of rocks in it. They are below the grass and there are a bunch of them. I dug up an area that is about 1 foot deep by 1 foot wide and 6 feet long and dug up about 2 wheelbarrows full or rocks.

The rocks seems to hurt my grass. The bad spots of my lawn that I checked almost all had rocks under them, so I am thinking that I need to get rid of the rocks.
Should I continue to look for spots like that in my yard to dig them up?

When I fix these spots from digging up the rocks, it leaves holes and bare spots in my grass. I tried to save the sod on it, but it has not survived yet (I am probably doing something wrong).

When I have these holes, when should I use new sod versus the bermuda spreading to cover the hole? How big should it be before I use the sod?


Thanks

[chocula]

A couple of things that I should have stated:

1. I was just planning on taking the rocks out now and only doing it where the grass is struggling. Where the grass is doing well, I will leave it alone.

2. I was not going to put new sod down until next year (I figured I was close to being passed the point of being able to do it this year).

The house was purchased new last year and the builder just laid the sod on top of a bunch of rocks. Of course they buried concrete in the front yard as well. I discovered it trying to dig up a bad area in the front yard.

[BMW5MT]

The house was purchased new last year and the builder just laid the sod on top of a bunch of rocks. Of course they buried concrete in the front yard as well. I discovered it trying to dig up a bad area in the front yard.

I wonder if you can go back to the builder and have them dig up all those damn rocks in your yard and have them put down good soil?

[chocula]

I wonder if you can go back to the builder and have them dig up all those damn rocks in your yard and have them put down good soil?


I tried and they said no. Centex sucks. LOL

[BostonBull]

Talk to your local building inspector, of course the builder is going to say no! lol

Is there room to add 6"-8" of soil and compost to your entire yard and just raise the grade? I know this seems like a lot of work, but if there is that many rocks in the soil you will continue to have drainage issues. The lawns (and other plants) roots will not be able to retain water or any other vital nutrients, thus you will not be able to grow anything.
How big is the yard, and how big are the areas of rock/concrete? Seems like a scumbag builder move to do this!?

After removing the rocks fill the voids with some loam and at least 1" of good compost mix the two soils together and you will have unbelievable growing conditions!

Good Luck!

[chocula]

The yard is about 1 acre. The front yard does not seem to have many rocks in it (besides the concrete they buried in the front yard and had to dig up last month), so it is mostly the back yard.

If I tried to raise the yard 6'8", I would have to lay new sod as well, is that correct? I would assume that soil would smother my existing grass.

Thanks

[BMW5MT]

If I tried to raise the yard 6'8", I would have to lay new sod as well, is that correct? I would assume that soil would smother my existing grass.

Thanks

6'8" You will not be able to get out of your back door. LOL:laugh: Just kidding! At that point you can plant a good seed.

[BostonBull]

I would plant seed instead of laying sod. If you are putting down Loam mixed with a good amount of finished compost, you will have the perfect environment for grass, or anything else for that matter, to grow in.

Good Luck!