I rototilled in the past and had nice soil at the top, however, eventually the lighter sand/granite made its way to the top and the lawn died. Approx. 250 sq ft.
2007-01-11 07:50:17 · 3 answers · asked by robin s 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
You need good drainage. So first make sure you don't have caliche or some hard pack underneath. Dig a hole, fill it with water. Then fill it again. It's this second draining that will tell you how well your soil drains. If that's OK then move on to improving the soil.
Actually before you do all this, have a soil test done by the Extension Service. You might have an extreme salt or alkaline problem that will make lawns extremely difficult.
Top soil? Go to Kansas. What you get is organic matter such as compost If you are lucky, but most likely aged manure mixed with wood product and sand. . Too much will create a problem, so no more than 4 inches over the area and rototill as deeply as possible. I'd suggest even hand digging it in first since most rototillers don't go deep.
The add a prestart fertilizer. Mostly you can rake that in. The put down your sod or seed. Keep the lawn moist until the sod has knitted to the soil or the seed is germinated-up-and growing.
The fact you said the sand/granite made it's way to the top is wrong, it was always there. You allowed the lawn to die out. Growing lawns in SD or other semi tropical areas is tough. Your best advice would be to contact your Master Gardeners with Extension Service there in SD and let them explain how to keep a lawn in your area. I suspect they may also have a website with info for you.
2007-01-11 08:29:26 · answer #1 · answered by fluffernut 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have never gotten good results on rototilling a lawn.
Get soil composition test. Contact several fertilisation companies and ask their opinion.
Have 6-8 inches top soil put down. Have that leveled graded power raked and all debris removed.
Have it hydroseeded.
Test soil again after two months.
Dont rototill lawn.
2007-01-12 02:07:36 · answer #2 · answered by fire16 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
4 inches of topsoil be sure its rich in organic material
2007-01-11 08:17:55 · answer #3 · answered by fortyninertu 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋