[River Hill]

I have a member in my Family whos yard is mostly clay, in central VA. I would like to aerate and seed for them this weekend. The lawn is fairly level and it's about 15,000 sq. ft. Do you know of any product I can apply to help brake up the clay.? They have some grass, but it's very thin and alot of bare spots. I have aerated many yards, as I own a Classesn split drive, but I am looking for something that might help this yard. I will probably take some soil samples this weekend for them.

 

[SWD]

There are many soil admending products availalbe. Vermiculite, Easolite, Diomatatous earth, coke ash, sand - all are weathered materials, all will assist in increasing the infiltration rate and drainage of clay soils.

 

[Grassmechanic]

compost and gypsum will do wonders to loosen clay soils. I'd stay away from sand. Sand (large particle) + clay (small particle) = hard as concrete.

 

[mtdman]

Sand is not good for clay soil, contrary to popular beliefs. The more organic matter the better. It won't change over night, either. It takes a while to improve clay soil.

 

[GLAN]

Grassmechanic

Has the answer I would have given.

You would realy want to collect the cores, but...............just core and top with compost, rake it into the holes. Repeat in the spring.

Any grass there mulch it, core again late spring early summer.

Have to work the organic matter into the clay some how..........

 

[sildoc]

Before going to all of that trouble of trying to make a thin lawn look good and knowing there is a clay problem, most likely causing the lawn to be thin, why not till in organic materials (maybe bring in more topsoil), Level and reseed. Doing this will allow for a much nicer lawn and future disapointment in thining and barespots.
Pros and cons on cost and labor but simple and easy fix almost any one can do.
P.S. either way you go use gypsum also to help break down the clay.

 

[MOW ED]

Originally posted by Brians
Do you know of any product I can apply to help brake up the clay.?

We have clay soil and I have found nothing short of DYNAMITE that will break it up. Honestly, when it drys out it is as hard as concrete.

 

[pinnacle]

There are excellant liquid gypsums on the market (get one with a high calcium content) This means no digging and It will do wonders to clay bass soils.

 

[pottstim]

Would limestone work in a situation like this? Zinc mining is/was big in this area and limestone is a by-product. There are at least 4-5 mines near my home where you can buy lime. Many people around here will spread it on their yards.

 

[pinnacle]

Pottsim: It would depend on soil Fertility/Soil PH.

You need to pick a soil conditioner that will match these factors.

 

[fblandscape]

I would suggest topdressing with a compost mix that has a bit of sand in it.

 

[polecat63]

Try a product called perlite. It looks like styrofoam balls and it used maily in plant beds, and potting, to prevent compaction. sildoc has the right idea and the perlite has worked better for me than gypsum. jmho