A well-maintained lawn improves the overall appearance of your home and may even increase its value. Unfortunately, depleted soil cannot successfully grow turfgrass and leaves your lawn looking like a barren wasteland. A number of factors, such as pH level, lack of nutrients, and the soil type, can leave your lawn looking less than desirable. By improving the quality of the depleted soil, you can plant grass seed and grow a lush lawn.
Collect samples from depleted soil at 10 different locations with a garden shovel. Push the shovel into the soil 6 to 8 inches deep. Dump the samples in a bucket and mix together. Wrap a pound of the soil sample in wet newspaper, put it in a plastic bag, and mail it in an envelope to a soil analysis laboratory.
Read the soil analysis to determine what type of soil you have and its pH level. Sandy soil dries out quickly and does not contain many nutrients. Clay soil is compacted and has poor drainage. Loamy soil drains well, retains nutrients and is best for turf growth. The soil pH level should be between 6.0 and 7.0.
Wear a pair of work gloves, and add either lime or elemental sulfur to a lawn spreader as needed to adjust the pH level.. Lime raises low pH levels, and elemental sulfur lowers high pH levels. Push the lawn spreader over the soil to distribute the lime or sulfur evenly. Dampen the soil lightly with a water hose to push the lime or sulfur into the soil.
Spread a 2-inch layer of organic material, such as compost or high-quality topsoil, over the depleted soil. Till the area with a soil tiller 3 to 6 inches deep. The organic material increases the soil’s nutrient level, provides better drainage and improves aeration.
Even out the area with a garden rake, and remove any rocks or debris from the soil. Spread a starter fertilizer over the soil, and work it into the soil with the garden rake.
Pour grass seed into a seed spreader. Push the spreader evenly across the soil until the entire area is covered with grass seed. Cover the grass seed with no more than 1/4 inch of high-quality topsoil or mulch. Dampen the top 6 inches of soil with a garden hose adjusted to a mist setting.
Water the soil lightly with a garden hose set on mist twice a day until the grass reaches about 1/2-inch high; then reduce watering to once every other day. Never let the grass seeds dry out.
Things You Will Need
- Garden shovel
- Work gloves
- Lime or elemental sulfur
- Lawn spreader
- Water hose
- Organic material
- Soil tiller
- Garden rake
- Starter fertilizer
- Grass seed
- Seed spreader
- Top soil or mulch
- Check your local phone book for soil analysis laboratories. Alternatively, you can purchase soil-testing kits at home improvement stores.
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