![Why the sand in the yards? [Middle GA]](https://www.allforgardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1750850769_jvra0ipxhy8f1-scaled.jpeg "Why the sand in the yards? [Middle GA]")
This spring, I noticed a few on my neighbors cover their yards in (what looked to me like) beach sand. I wondered if this helps manage weeds or maybe helps retain moisture? I’m in Middle GA (Macon/Warner Robins). We haven’t had a particularly dry season. About 3 or 4 of my neighbors around different parts of the neighborhood did this in May.
What’s the benefit?
by RandyFunRuiner
17 Comments
I’m curious as well
Leveling?
Leveling. Bring up the lower spots
Sand is the best material for leveling a lawn. It has a fair number of drawbacks though. Need to aerate annually and remove the cores. Can’t let organic matter build up on the sand. Need to re-sand every year or face drainage problems.
They probably used sand to level their lawns. Hope they know what they’re committing to.
From what I understand, adding sand can be helpful with drainage but also leveling. You have to be careful though. There is a difference between incorporating sand into your soil over time and capping the top of your lawn with a couple inches of sand.
Others have said it, but it’s to level the lawn. The grass quickly grows through that and sand doesn’t compress as much as regular soil.
Use masonry sand if you go about doing this. You want a larger grain size, do not use play sand. Like others have said it’s for leveling. It could also help mix in and provide a better draining soil over time since most of Georgia is a lot of clay
New social media/youtube trend. Plug in dethatchers are also trending hard this season. I suspect we’ll see robot mowers really popping off next year.
You’re better off with topsoil but it doesn’t spread as well. Has no organic matter or nutrients and if it’s too deep, grass roots can be pulled right out of it
It’s top dressing to bring up low spots. I’d never use any kind of straight sand though, i use lawn mix from a landscape supply yard
Bermuda sod is grown in a sand mix. It grows well in sand and thrives in heat and sunlight. Sand is often used for leveling, but it can also be spread across a lawn to create a top layer where turfgrass can grow and thrive.
it’s called top dressing. All pro sports teams do it. Sand is generally used as its easy to spread out and level
Leveling qualities. It’s also a great soil amendment if you have a lot of thatch.
Strictly sand down on a very likely clay heavy soil seems like a bad idea..
I use a 50/50 mix of sand and top soil for leveling, and since I started home composting a shovel full of finished compost, mix well in a wheelbarrow and spread it with the back of a rake.
Someone leveled their yard. These are the final moments before it’s filled in and whoever it is will probably mow with a reel mower and their yard will be the envy of the entire neighborhood.
Come help me, I got weeds, mushrooms, and patches