The Grass Doctor

Lawn care....any suggestions?

I bought this house 2 1/2 years ago and I am going into my 3rd season with the lawn. I have lot's of clay dirt and that's a battle on it's own. I have used Scots steps each year and it's improved a great deal, I also used some liquid fertilizers during the summer months for roots and color, strength etc. I am working on patching bare spots...most of them are 12inX12in. I usually dig out 1/2 to 1 inch of the clay and put in a mixture of top organic top soil moisture with a good Quality seed (Scott's premium mix) and starter fertilizer. I make sure the entire lawn (1 arce) is well watered through the dry months.... so I have that covered! The problem: It looks spotty in places, different colors and it's not uniform, there are large patches that are great, healthy, thick, green grass like a golf course but in some areas for no apparent reason look discolored and weak. why is that...and is there anything that can be

Public Comments

1. The water runs off of the clay soil, while it is being held in the soil you have amended. There isn't any solution other than replace the poor soil. Just keep on doing what you are doing.
2. There is another solution to your clay soil. It is probably compacted underneath so you have to hydro-fracture your soil. Hydro-fracturing a soil is a process where you force water under the soil. I am sorry but I forgot the website where you can purchase this Hydro-Fracturing tool. The tool is basically a piece of pipe with a small hole on the end and a water hose connection on the side then a T-handle on the other end. You have to stick it underground for at least 5-6 inches deep and force water under the soil. I did this process for my backyard lawn and it works. I used to have the same problem as your lawn.
3. The reason you have spotty grass is because of the clay. You can spread seed all you want, but after the first year, the grass will start to fail because clay doesn't allow the nutrients to get to the roots. The best thing to do, and least expensive compared to removing all your soil and hauling in new; is to rent a plug aerator, and topdress with gypsum and topsoil. The gypsum will help break up the clay, and the topsoil gives the grass something to root into. You will have to do this for at least 3 years.
4. I feel for you!! I have had the same problem with my lawn and I am a bit of a wacko with it. I slowly turned the lawn around by adding Top Soil and mixing it with the dirt on the lawn. Take a metal rake and mix it in. I went to Home Depot and bought like 15.. 40lb bags and took a good 4 hours at it but you know what IT WORKED! so have fun