How do I make my lawn soil richer?

canfossi · #1 04/19/08, 03:05 AM

The soil that I got from my neighbour doesn't have a lot of nutrition, how can I improve the nutrition in the soil? Thanks Chris

bajiay · #2 04/19/08, 03:10 AM

If I can remember right, there is website that tells about this, think it's JerryBaker.com. He's a master gardener or something.

fishinsoap · #3 04/19/08, 05:40 AM

compost

dragonchick · #4 04/19/08, 06:06 AM

Compost, compost and more compost.

Wisconsin Ann · #5 04/19/08, 06:12 AM

If you can wait a year, and are allowed to have chickens...run chickens on your yard. They'll scratch it up, lay down a nice layer of manure, and next spring you'll have a GREAT soil.

otherwise...compost. yup. check out a local dairy farm. ask if you can have a load of composted manure. sheep manure is even better. many smaller sheep farmers will just take the winter's worth of of barn cleaning out to a pile in the back

get a shovel, a pickup truck, and have at it. often a lot of hay/straw in it too, which will decompose nicely.

Same idea with a local rabbitry. they'll often just say "you shovel it, you can have it". some will bag and charge for it...but it's good stuff.

tyusclan · #6 04/19/08, 06:47 AM

All good advice.

Another slower fix is to never bag your lawn. Always leave the lawn clippings when you mow. If you have a mulch kit for your mower, even better. Same thing with any leaves you have in the fall. Don't rake and burn them, mulch them into your lawn.

Windy in Kansas · #7 04/19/08, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canfossi

how can I improve the nutrition in the soil? Thanks Chris

Add fertilizer. That can be done with compost, chemical fertilizers, or organic fertilizers.

Since you feel the soil is of low nutrient level you may wish to have a soil test done in order to determine the needs of the grass. Many extension offices can send the tests off for you.

Paquebot · #8 04/19/08, 01:05 PM

If established, Starbucks coffee grounds works wonders with sod.

Martin

Wanderer0101 · #9 04/20/08, 05:26 PM

organic fertilizer (cotton seed meal is cheap), compost, dry molasses, green sand, soft rock phosphate

Tricky Grama · #10 04/21/08, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyusclan

All good advice.

Another slower fix is to never bag your lawn. Always leave the lawn clippings when you mow. If you have a mulch kit for your mower, even better. Same thing with any leaves you have in the fall. Don't rake and burn them, mulch them into your lawn.

Do that & make compost tea. Goes a LOT farther than spreading 1" of compost all over the yard.

All you need is a 5 gallon bucket of water & a leg of panty hose w/compost tied in the foot part. Dip it like a tea bag in the bucket-leave it there about a week dipping it when you think of it. You can dilute this & spray it, great for the garden too.

Patty