Level Clay Lawn?

[Shirker]

Anyone know anything about Trouble Free Lawn? My yard is somewhat un-even with small ruts and divots. My understanding is that a common way of leveling is to use sand. But my soil is heavy on the clay side and have always heard to never mix sand in with clay. Would a small top layer if sand be OK? I've been aerating a couple times per year and I try to mix in as much compost as I can. So I have a bit of organic topsoil now, but it's still mostly clay. I'm in NE Georgia with 70/30 mix of bermuda and weeds.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Know anyone with a tractor and a box blade? A properly setup box blade can make quick work of leveling out a small yard. Some people will till the first few inches and then use a box blade to smooth is all out.

Trying to accomplish that by hand would be a huge task with lots of back breaking work.

 

[Turbo1Ton]

A harley rake can also be used. That is what they typically use to prepare a yard for sod or seed. It will pulverize the top layer, smoothing it out and bringing rocks and stuff to the surface. It will decimate your grass though, so be ready to reseed or sod.

--Jeff

 

[Bperry]

Sand is a great options for amending clay soil. I used a mixture of sand and compost for my front lawn. If you have a riding mower I built a little tool to help with this. I just bungecord some cinder blocks to weight it down and drag it across the loose amendments in multiple directions. I’ll admit renting a tool from Home Depot would have been easier and then you’re not stuck with a tool you never need again.

 

[pjt]

But my soil is heavy on the clay side and have always heard to never mix sand in with clay.

That's no problem. If you want to level your lawn, use 100% masonry sand. Plan on one yard of sand for every thousand square feet of turf.

 

[Katodude]

The Lawn Forum is the TFP of lawns. I would trust whatever the experts there say.

 

[Mdragger88]

The Lawn Forum is the TFP of lawns. I would trust whatever the experts there say.

100% ! Pretty great info there.

 

[Newdude]

The Lawn Forum is the TFP of lawns. I would trust whatever the experts there say.

Pretty great info there.

+3. I had questions about my stupid number of Oaks on an acre back in the day and someone had a problem with my tree count. Their version of @JamesW, heck it could have been JamesW for all I knew, stepped in and triangulated that I had one tree per 25 ft radius and it was DEAD ON.

 

[jtpipkin]

Keep doing what you're doing. Wish there was a quicker way, but short of hauling out the clay and hauling in good topsoil, you're on the right track. I'm in SWGA and dealing with the same issues. Aerate, aerate, aerate and keeping adding nutrients with compost as you do. Sand won't hurt, but if you have kids and / or pets, plan on it making a mess for a while. A sand and compost mixture as mentioned above worked into your existing yard will prevail, eventually... I've also read gypsum (?) and / or wood chips worked into the clay soil work magic. Unfortunately, it's over time and not overnight though.

 

[david_]

Check out Connor Ward videos to get an idea what sand leveling looks like. Sand and clay are fine.

 

[BMerrill]

Your local Agricultural Extension office can be a big help as well.