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Starting a lawn from scratch - help
Posted on 2/15/19 at 12:40 pm
Posted on 2/15/19 at 12:40 pm
Hey all -
I recently had to completely re-do the septic leach field and while I have that problem now solved, all my grass got destroyed bc of the machinery. So, I will be starting from scratch and could use some help / pointers on the best approach.
I want to raise the entire yard a few inches to help with drainage. I was thinking of buying top soil to do this but a landscape guy recommended some type of sand and said that's what the majority of contractors are using now???
Also, any suggestions on type of grass would be great. I live in Houston but have quite a few trees so it doesn't get constant sun due to shading.
Can provide any additional details as required.
Thanks!
I recently had to completely re-do the septic leach field and while I have that problem now solved, all my grass got destroyed bc of the machinery. So, I will be starting from scratch and could use some help / pointers on the best approach.
I want to raise the entire yard a few inches to help with drainage. I was thinking of buying top soil to do this but a landscape guy recommended some type of sand and said that's what the majority of contractors are using now???
Also, any suggestions on type of grass would be great. I live in Houston but have quite a few trees so it doesn't get constant sun due to shading.
Can provide any additional details as required.
Thanks!
6
Posted on 2/15/19 at 12:55 pm to HoustonsTiger
Find your local nursery that will sell you top soil by the yard and you can have it delivered or pull in your trailer and he can load. I had my guy mix it with 50 / 50 sand to topsoil. It spreads real easy and can be level with a garden rake and threw in fertilizer and then sod over the top. Watered and came out great.
make sure you pack or press it down pretty good before you put the sod on or you will get settlement spots in it.
make sure you pack or press it down pretty good before you put the sod on or you will get settlement spots in it.
Posted on 2/15/19 at 12:58 pm to HoustonsTiger
RESERVE
Posted on 2/15/19 at 12:59 pm to TDsngumbo
quote:
RESERVE
Posted on 2/15/19 at 3:10 pm to HoustonsTiger
You can use sand to raise the grade but would need to cover the sand w/ 2" of topsoil. So a topsoil/sand mix is the easiest way to go. I would suggest St Augustine "Raleigh" for the grass.
Posted on 2/15/19 at 4:11 pm to HoustonsTiger
Posted on 2/15/19 at 8:45 pm to HoustonsTiger
Put down many a pallet of sod. Sand is the way to go for a firm base. Topsoil is good in many aspects but when it's wet, it's mud. I purchased sand based sod and not muck grown, saved 50.00 per pallet this way and the grass does not care. Providing you want a little topsoil buy the muck grown and throw it on top of sand it will work out perfect. Bitter Blue St. Augustine grass works well in filtered sun shaded areas.
Posted on 2/16/19 at 6:02 am to wrongRob
So the grass does just as good on top of sand as it does topsoil?
Posted on 2/16/19 at 11:13 am to LSUJuice
I'm going to kill and till up my thin centipede in the front and replace with zoysia. Going to till some compost and peat in with fertilizer before I lay the new sod and see what happens.
Posted on 2/16/19 at 12:50 pm to HoustonsTiger
I've done it twice over the years. Both times I got spillway sand and it worked out fine. I put down a couple inches of sand, watered it real good for a few days to kind of pack it down a bit and then laid sod on top.
Instant lawn. Just keep it watered until the grass roots take hold and work their way through whatever you uses as fill.
Also be careful on the first few cuttings of the lawn. Set your mower high to not rip up the sod and just trim the top until it is established.
Instant lawn. Just keep it watered until the grass roots take hold and work their way through whatever you uses as fill.
Also be careful on the first few cuttings of the lawn. Set your mower high to not rip up the sod and just trim the top until it is established.
Posted on 2/18/19 at 7:09 am to gumbo2176
Thanks for all the help / comments.
It seems like going with a few inches of sand, follow by perhaps 1-2" of top soil and then sod should do the trick if I'm understanding everyone correctly.
Will do a bit of research on the grass recommendations as well.
To say I am a beginner with lawn maintenance would be an understatement so certainly appreciate all the advice....
It seems like going with a few inches of sand, follow by perhaps 1-2" of top soil and then sod should do the trick if I'm understanding everyone correctly.
Will do a bit of research on the grass recommendations as well.
To say I am a beginner with lawn maintenance would be an understatement so certainly appreciate all the advice....
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