We've got a poor lawn
It was a brand new home when we bought it and the builders put NO topsoil down under the sod. We are doing alright with our front as we have dropped tons of soil for a full year and overseeded. We live in Peterborough Ontario and do not use chemical weed controls but do fertilize. Should be pull up the full half of the lawn that truly isn't grass anymore and start over? We are so desperate and haven't really gotten any solid responses from the garden centres we've inquired at. You are the only one I trust with this at this point.
Doug says
If you want a good lawn and there isn't any topsoil under there (I'm assuming sand) then you have several options. There is a "fast" way and a "slow" way.
The fast way is to rip it up - lay on 4-6 inches of good topsoil, lay sod and bingo - you have a lawn. Mind you, it is also a somewhat expensive operation.
The slow way is far cheaper but ... well, slower. You essentially go super organic on it. Adding a lot of compost every year to help build up the organic matter. You could also 3-4 bags of peat moss per 1000 square feet to increase the organic matter. You could also put down 1/4 to 1/2 inch of top soil every year (spread thinly and evenly). The grass would grow up through it and you'd get your top soil. In short, you're going to make your own topsoil.
You'll have to topdress every fall with grass seed (see articles on this on this website) and you're going to have to follow the directions for feeding and watering as well. I note a sandy soil won't hold a lot of water so summer-brown is going to become your favorite color.
But follow the directions on this site for lawn care (or buy the organic lawn care ebook) :-) for best results.
So that takes pretty much care of that. Slow or fast - it's your call.
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