Sand might help, if those cores are open. Might be a several year improvement process, but looks green behind this.
bubba_boo_bear
I’m in northern NJ too. Clay is common. That plug looks fine tho. Good you’re aerating. I would’ve done it towards Labor Day tho, or early spring.
13donkey13
In recommend :
Sand, soil mix. and carbon ( humid char ) then, use a leveling rake. Only do this in really thin layers. You will have to do this for several seasons.
Office_Dolt
Adding sand to clay can cause more problems, and might actually make your soil more dense. Adding compost as a top dressing will help though.
FlyEaglesFlyauggie
What do you mean by “hand” aerating?
NoHalfPleasures
My soil is like this and I’m wanting to do alfalfa this year.
I’ve always been told that sand + clay = concrete and to add only organic matter and lime.
Whisker-biscuitt
Might want to consider eating more fiber. Wait, what are we talking about???
BlackWolf42069
“Sir, your lawn is constipated. Don’t worry. There is treatment.”
ElectronicAd6675
Clay is an excellent soil for growing grass because it stays moist a lot longer during heat spells and has a high CEC (it can hold on to nutrients). The downsides are runoff, drainage, ph problems.
TONY_DANZA_
Is that a fairly new lawn? It looks like you have almost no thatch. You want to have some thatch, that breaks down and feeds the lawn. Do you mow it yourself and bag the clippings?
Light it, smoke it and listen as your lawn tells you what it needs.
comp21
This will take a few years to show any results but u had soil not quite as bad as that but close.
I ordered 2000 worms online. Thawed them out (DON’T LEAVE THE BOWL UNCOVERED!!) then dug 200ish holes around the yard. Dropped 10ish in each, covered with a bit of soil and watered them a little (i also “planted” them after a decent rain).
They broke up my yard pretty nicely over the years.
Mikeinthereign
Omg sand needed asap but DON’T PANIC!
sccerfrk26
My soil in North Texas is like this. Aeration is good but also need to add organic material. Top dressing with compost after aerating is a good idea. Maybe top dressing a couple of times per year with organic material.
15 Comments
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Sand might help, if those cores are open. Might be a several year improvement process, but looks green behind this.
I’m in northern NJ too. Clay is common. That plug looks fine tho. Good you’re aerating. I would’ve done it towards Labor Day tho, or early spring.
In recommend :
Sand, soil mix. and carbon ( humid char ) then, use a leveling rake. Only do this in really thin layers. You will have to do this for several seasons.
Adding sand to clay can cause more problems, and might actually make your soil more dense. Adding compost as a top dressing will help though.
What do you mean by “hand” aerating?
My soil is like this and I’m wanting to do alfalfa this year.
I’ve always been told that sand + clay = concrete and to add only organic matter and lime.
Might want to consider eating more fiber. Wait, what are we talking about???
“Sir, your lawn is constipated. Don’t worry. There is treatment.”
Clay is an excellent soil for growing grass because it stays moist a lot longer during heat spells and has a high CEC (it can hold on to nutrients). The downsides are runoff, drainage, ph problems.
Is that a fairly new lawn? It looks like you have almost no thatch. You want to have some thatch, that breaks down and feeds the lawn. Do you mow it yourself and bag the clippings?
https://turfmasterslawncare.com/blog/all-about-thatch
Light it, smoke it and listen as your lawn tells you what it needs.
This will take a few years to show any results but u had soil not quite as bad as that but close.
I ordered 2000 worms online. Thawed them out (DON’T LEAVE THE BOWL UNCOVERED!!) then dug 200ish holes around the yard. Dropped 10ish in each, covered with a bit of soil and watered them a little (i also “planted” them after a decent rain).
They broke up my yard pretty nicely over the years.
Omg sand needed asap but DON’T PANIC!
My soil in North Texas is like this. Aeration is good but also need to add organic material. Top dressing with compost after aerating is a good idea. Maybe top dressing a couple of times per year with organic material.
As far as adding sand, don’t do that
https://www.uaex.uada.edu/farm-ranch/crops-commercial-horticulture/horticulture/ar-fruit-veg-nut-update-blog/posts/adding-sand-to-soil.aspx