I'm planting a brand new lawn on basically clay. Do I need to roto-till it first?

Question

There is some gass there
anyway, from when I tried to plant it...i didn't roto till and 1/2 of it sorta came up. But I never see people roto-tilling before they palnt grass....
anyway, thanks for any advice you can give me

Answer 1

it's agood idea, but you should also add some organic matter (such as peat moss, rotted manure, or compost) as you till. clay soils are very non-porous and lacking in nurients. adding organic amendments will increase the porosity of the soil and add some yummy stuff for the sod to grow in. also, if you are dealing with clay, add gypsum - about 1 cup every 10 square feet. good luck with it. if i were there, i'd come help you out.

Answer 2

PS.. The best thing to use to loosen clay soil is gypsum. this works much better than sand.

http://www.hmhgypsum.com/why.htm
Gypsum has been used for more than 200 years as a soil amendment and fertilizer. At least 30 benefits from it's use on land have been documented.

1. Improves Soil Structure

Gypsum provides calcium, which is needed to flocculate clays in soil. Flocculation is the process in which many individual small clay particles are bound together in fewer but larger particles. This allows root growth and air and water movement.


It's a good idea to till remove the big chunks and rocks, ammend the soil rake to smooth then scatter the seed and rake it in as well, then compress it to take hold and root. Make sure to cover with straw and water well until the grass begins to grow.
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Open the below link for more information
http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/mg/lawns/prep.html
Does the soil contain gravel or large stones on the surface, or just below the soil? Were any items "dumped" on the site such as chemicals, gas, oil, construction materials, cement or gravel? If so, these should be removed. A soil test should be done in order to add proper fertilizer types and amounts. The area should be roto-tilled if the soil is compacted. Most soils can be temporarily modified for planting by adding organic matter such as plant parts, shredded bark, horse or cattle manure. To properly add organic matter, do the following:

Answer 3

A dense clay soil will need to first be amended with sand and using a rototiller would be the way to go. Once you've mixed the sand in you'll need to add a triple mix a few inches thick. then spread the seed and lightly rake into the soil. Water in the am daily for about 10 mins, until grass is established.

You'll never really be able to change the clay soil however you can top dress and over seed each year to maintain a consistent medium.

Answer 4

been there, done that. as the summer gets hot, the clay gets hard and the water runs off and the grass dies. Mixing sand will help break up the clay, but you need to add top soil to give the grass a chance. Roto-till about a foot deep. add sand and soil (about 2" of both) and till it in. Keep the grass wet (moist) until it needs to be cut the first time.

Answer 5

Yes, you will need to roto-till to break up the clay and add LOTS of organic matter to make grass grow in your clay yard. You "mix it in" to a depth of about 10-12 inches. Ask at your local garden center, Home Depot, Lowes, or even at Sears and they'll be able to suggest the things you'll need to build up your soil.

Sand will help but you'll want to put down what is called "sandy loam", I think, to break up the clay. It'll sound expensive but it's also pricey to keep throwing grass seed out onto clay season after season and expecting it to grow! Talk about a futile endeavor...

Hope this helps.

Good luck in the "Green Thumb" department!

Answer 6

You really need to improve your soil if you want any chance to get a good lawn. You need to till it down with a sand mixture or something that will make the clay less likely to be smooth and waterproof. Good soil will clump in your hand like coffe grounds....not silly putty.