Re: How to Improve Lawn Soil? Go Organic?

[Joseph Meehan]

If you take the time, I suggest organic fertilizer and never bagging the clippings. It will take a few years, but after about seven years, I can see the difference.

In your case I might also suggest scattering a little top soil several times a years to help it out.

[David J Bockman]

Here is an excellent schedule:

can substitute your own organic brands for Espoma's, although I like and use Espoma's organic fertilizers. I would also recommend laying down rich topsoil in the fall, core aerating, then overseeding. If your area experiences substantial freeze/thaw cycles over the winter, it's also useful to sneak in an additional overseeding right before a major snowstorm.

Dave

[Jay Chan]

Yes, I tend not to bag grass clippings unless they are too fast.

Seven years sounds to be quite long. Luckily I have a lot of patience.

Good. This is something I can do now (instead of waiting for this fall). This should keep me busy for a while.

Thanks for the info.

Jay Chan

[Leslie]

I've had similar problems with my lawn. We have mostly sand and rocks with very little topsoil. For a few years I've been reseeding and using fertilizer. This year I spread about an inch of peat moss in the worst section and within a month I had *much* better grass there. Now I plan on doing the whole lawn with the peat moss in the fall. I was amazed at the results.

Leslie

[Jay Chan]

Good. I would take a look at their mix. Thanks.

Yes, this is definitely something that I will do in this fall. The only exception is that I will use finished compost instead of top soil. I will be spreading out top soil onto the lawn before this fall anyway. Therefore, I am kind of not wanting to add the same thing onto my lawn again in fall.

Why is overseeding right before a snowstorm useful? Wouldn't that kill the young seeds that have just germinated?

Jay Chan

[Phisherman]

Peat moss is okay, but compost or topsoil is much better. Order a truckload of mushroom compost and spread it evenly over your lawn. Peat moss (unlike compost) has very little nutrients and will tend to acidify the soil.

[Jay Chan]

Great! I have three LARGE bags of peat moss sitting in my garage that I need to use somehow somewhere anyway. Just to be in the safe side, I will mix it with finished compost before applying it to the bare spots in my lawn.

One question: Do you put the grass seeds _before_ spreading out peat moss?

Thanks.

Jay Chan

[Jay Chan]

Thanks for the info.

OK. Then I will have to use up all three large bags of peat moss in three years instead of just one fall.

Jay Chan

[Jay Chan]

I see your point. Thanks.

Thanks. This sounds like a very interesting trick.

Jay Chan