It is no secret that the greenest and densest lawns grow in soils containing clay. But what should we do if we want to establish a lawn on poor sandy soil? Before we reach for grass seed or order a roll-out lawn, we should consider bringing in several truckloads of clay soil.
It should be mixed with the existing soil using a rotavator, then grass seeds should be sown and covered with at least a 1 cm layer of lawn substrate.
When ordering such soil, it is worth checking whether we are not also introducing into the garden rhizomes and stolons of persistent weeds that are extremely difficult to remove later.
If clean clay soil is difficult to obtain, then to improve sandy ground we can use a lawn substrate made entirely of high peat. It is free from roots and weed seeds.
We can calculate the required amount by assuming that a 3–4 cm layer is needed to improve the soil under the lawn. Half of this amount should be shallowly mixed with the sandy soil, while the other half should be used to cover the seeds.
For several months, regular watering is essential, as peat is prone to drying out. In the early stage of lawn development, this addition significantly improves water retention. At this stage, it is not fertilizers but water availability that determines rapid grass growth and strong tillering.
We give special care to the lawn until a dense turf is formed. At that point, it becomes much more resistant on its own to heat and drought.
