I have a lot of gravel in my backyard and want it returned to grass. Can i just fertize,seed, topsoil?

Question

can i just use lime, fertilize, seed, and topsoil or do I have to get most of the gravel out. Gravel was placed by last owner of house as he had cars in the back. It is a rather large back yard and half is gravel, some grass is growing but not much soil in upper half of yard.

Answer 1

It depends on several things... mainly ask yourself how great a lawn do you want to grow? The gravel will affect the drainage, PH Levels and other technical stuff. If you don't care all that much how well the lawn will grow or look- then the simple answer is indeed YES.
Its certain -you will need at least 4 inches of top soil over the gravel- or more would be better. While seed will sprout easily over just about anything... once the grass gets established it will die if there isn't a substantial layer of soil.

Many people have this trouble with their yards, patches of lawn die because the builder burried some constuction debris or sand in a few spots. ... Meanwhile the homeowner plants new seed- which sprouts perfectly, then in a few months dies.
If nothing else, make sure you wait until fall to grow grass seed. This is an important factor.

PS- Grade any new soil away from the house.

Answer 2

your best bet is to rent or have someone with a bobcat/john deere/new holland (with a bucket) come and scoop up and get rid of the gravel layer... maybe as much as 2 to 3 feet... then have a fresh layer of topsoil and compost put down and re-seed/sod the yard... ... this would be most optimal... you can fertilize all you want to but the gravel won't go anywhere unless you dig it up...

Answer 3

I would try and get up as much rock as I could. Then, if you put topsoil over that, you should be OK. You would hate to have a nice yard and then have the rock start popping up a couple of years later. good luck.

Answer 4

If the gravel is fairly fine and you put some soil on top it will provide excellent drainage for a lawn, as poor drainage is the wost enemy of lawns resulting in moss and weeds.....Go ahead and do it. but don't sow seed during dry spells as even one or two days of drought will kill the new grass unless you are wiling to use a hose during the dry spells.

Answer 5

I dont see why not, I did that very thing a few years back and as a matter of fact that is the better turf in my yard...good luck