Establishing a lush green lawn on an area with hard dirt poses a lot of challenges. The truth is, many homeowners have given up on the idea of growing their grass in their yard with hard soil.
Planting Grass Seed on Hard Dirt
The soil needs testing and preparing; then choose the correct grass species, fertilize the ground and plant. Water adequately, then watch it grow – because it will!
It is essential to prepare hard dirt before planting grass seed. Good soil preparation is critical because no tender loving care will make you grow a lush garden if the soil isn’t properly prepared.
1. Test the Soil
A soil test will determine how much clay, sand, silt, and organic matter the soil contains. It will also determine which nutrients are missing in the ground.
2. Prepare the Soil
Start preparing the soil by getting rid of all debris such as stones and rocks because they will block the healthy growth of your grass.
Using an iron rake or tiller to make sure the soil is not compacted. If it is, you will need to aerate the soil.
• Roots
You need to get organic matter and air into the zone of the roots before seeding your lawn.
• Aeration
Start with aerating the soil. This needs to be done so the ground will have some void space to hold water and air.
Neither grass nor anything else can grow if there’s no space in the soil for air and water.
Core aeration is one way to create someplace in the soil for air. It establishes suitable air voids (or pockets), so the ground can hold moisture to help the grass during the dry season.
There are times when core aeration and topping the soil with compost are not enough to achieve the well-draining earth your grass needs.
• Clay Soil
This is the case, especially when you are planting grass in clay soil.
Yes, the grass will grow, but it will not thrive because you will always have to deal with bad spots, weeds, and puddles.
Top dress the lawn with compost after aeration. This will increase organic matter on the surface of the soil and the holes created by aeration.
3. Choose the Right Grass Species
Most types of grass can grow in topsoil. Two to three inches of topsoil is good enough for grass if there are existing healthy plants in the ground.
Grass Grows Through Topsoil
Grass will grow and thrive through topsoil when a thin layer of topsoil is placed over an existing lawn. Some of the grass, and most likely the weeds, will be able to survive the topsoil and grow through the dirt.
If you are planning on adding a few inches of new topsoil, get rid of the weeds on the old lawn.
Choose The Right Grass Seed For Your Region
It is always best to choose the right grass seed that is appropriate for your region. It is even more important when you are starting to plant on hard dirt.
The choice of grass species boils down to cool-season grass or warm-season grass for hard dirt. Using cool-season grass or warm-season grass dictates the specific time of the year you need to plant grass seeds.
Cool-season grass should always be planted in the spring or early fall. Some cool-season grasses includes:
• Kentucky Bluegrass
• Tall Fescue
• Perennial Ryegrass
Warm-season grass should always be planted in the early summer. Some warm-season grasses:
• Zoysia
• Centipede Grass
• Bermuda Grass
4. Fertilize and Plant
Whether to fertilize the ground first or plant grass seed before fertilizing depends on the type of fertilizer you are using. It is best to follow the directions on the fertilizer package.
Fertilizing is one part of how to plant grass seed on hard dirt you should never miss.
• Add More Nutrients to the Soil
You have to add more nutrients to the soil to be successful in planting grass seed on hard dirt.
• Spread Fertilizer Before Seeding
Most professional gardeners recommend that you spread starter fertilizer before seeding your yard although it really does not matter which you do first.
Anyway, you will be spreading fertilizer and then seed when the soil has already been prepared.
Start fertilizing around the perimeter of your yard. This will make spreading fertilizer easier through the entire yard without accidentally going over the edge of the yard.
• Slightly Overlap Fertilizing and Seeding
Slightly overlap fertilizing and seeding to make sure you do not miss any patch. After fertilizing the yard and planting grass seed, work the fertilizer and soil with a leaf rake.
You want to make sure that the fertilizer and grass seed were evenly spread and have good contact with the soil.
• Finish Off With a Thin Layer of Compost
Finally, add about ¼-inch of compost. This is to cover the seed and help the soil retain moisture. A thin layer of compost will work well to make your turf softer and lighter. It will also prevent your seed from washing away or even drying.
5. Do Proper Watering
Proper watering will ensure you will have a successful new lawn. Make sure the top 1 to 2-inches of your soil is always moist. Avoid making the soil soggy.
• Mid Morning is Best for Watering
Mid-morning is the best time for watering grass seed. This is the best time for the soil can absorb moisture before the sunshine or heat evaporates it. Water your grass seed several times a day during dry and hot weather.
• Germination
When the grass seeds start to germinate, it is essential that moisture is maintained in the top 2-inches of the soil.
Continue watering the grass until it grows to a height of about 2-3-inches tall or when suitable for mowing. Then, you can deep water the grass twice a week.
• Seedlings Develop Strong Deep Roots
Aim to make the grass grow to a height of 6-8 inches into the soil. This is so the seedlings are forced to develop strong, deep roots to reach water that is deep in the turf. Strong and deep roots are essential for the grass to withstand heat and drought.
Causes of Hard Dirt
Hard dirt is ground that is too compacted, resulting in the closing of water and air spaces. It can also mean that the dirt is made up of solid soil.
Knowing why your yard is filled with hard dirt gives you a head start in providing a solution to your hard dirt yard.
Hard Dirt Is Often Caused By:
• Clay Soil
Clay soil is by nature compacted. It becomes dry as soon as the moisture dries out, even just a bit. A yard filled with clay is a yard with hard dirt.
It is not your fault if clay is the cause of hard soil in your yard, but there is a remedy to it.
• Neglect
Soil that has not been shuffled and tiled for a long time will eventually become hard.
• Continuous Foot Traffic
Foot traffic, over time, will cause the ground to be compacted and hard.
Final Thoughts
When you have bought a package of high-quality grass seed, you want to give each seed the best opportunity to grow healthy and strong.
Your supplier has made sure the seeds have been meticulously prepared to ensure a lush green lawn.
Do your share and properly prepare the soil.
Knowing how to plant seed on hard dirt is not as hard as it looks. You will have to put in some time and patience.
If you want your yard with hard soil to grow lush and green turf, prepare the dirt, to ensure it can support grass.
This article will show you how to plant grass on hard dirt! We know it’s incredibly challenging, but you can use tried and tested strategies to succeed in this challenge.
Don’t just give up on this. You want everything to look attractive both inside and outside your home.
Take that plant-free, barren-looking patch in your backyard and turn it into something as gorgeous as the rest of your property! It is possible!
Jennie Marie
Tribal Writer
Edited By
Patricia Godwin
