Test the topsoil ph with a chemical soil test to determine if changes are necessary.

Preparing clay soil for sod. Just as important as soil depth is soil quality. Acidic soils with a ph of 6 and below can be improved with the addition of lime. Compress the soil surface slightly.

3) you can use either a rotavator or a sturdy spade for digging. Collect a handful of the soil and remove any lumps, rocks, roots, etc. If it stays together, you have successfully.

This includes weeds and old grass that might be in the existing soil. Step 3 of preparing the soil for sod is to remove all existing vegetation from the lawn area. Tighten the lid, and give it a good shake for a couple of minutes.

If it crumbles, add more vermiculite or peat moss. This is done before planting new sod because it helps to reduce compaction and allows the roots to grow into the. Watering in the morning is ideal because.

Start with a straight sided jar, fill it half way with soil, set it down and take a picture of the jar with a ruler next to it to measure the height of the soil. To test your soil's ability to retain water, try squeezing some damp soil in your hand. To successfully grow grass in clay soil, start by breaking up the tough soil with a tiller.

Spread 2 inches of finished compost (this may be available for free if your town has a municipal. The next step is to loosen up the soil. The free one is the jar test.