How to Make Grass Grow in Sandy Soil With a Lot of Trees

Getting grass to grow in sandy soil with lots of trees starts with grass selection. The species must be able to grow in sand and withstand partial shade. Climate also plays a role in grass selection. Those with sandy soils and shade growing in the northern parts of the United States must choose a cool season species, such as fescue, while those living in southern regions must pick a warm season grass like zoysia.

Things You'll Need

• Core aerator
• Loam
• Peat
• Sharp sand
• Rake
• Lawn mower
• Fertilizer

Instructions

1. Push a core aerator across your lawn. Core aerators remove plugs of soil 1/2 to 3/4 inches in diameter and 1 to 6 inches deep. Aerating the lawn prepares the soil for top dressing, which improves the fertility of sandy soil.

2. Mix together one part loam and one part peat. Add a small amount of sharp sand to the mixture to help distribute the top dressing. Apply 1 inch of top dressing over the soil with a rake.

3. Apply 1 inch of water to the lawn. To tell if you have given your lawn 1 inch of water, set tuna cans in the yard. Measure the amount of water in the tuna cans and stop when you have applied 1 inch.

4. Allow the fescue or zoysia lawn to grow 1 inch higher than the recommended rate for the grass type. Grass grown in shade undergoes stress if mowed to short. Keep fescue at 3 inches in height during the spring and fall months. During the heat of the summer, allow fescue to grow to 4 inches in height. Zoysia grass must be kept to 2 inches in height during the growing season.

5. Fertilize your lawn with half of the recommended fertilizer rate for your grass type. For example, tall fescue is typically fertilized with 1 lb. of fertilizer per 1,000 square feet. Apply 1/2 pound of fertilizer per 1,000 square feet.

Tips & Warnings

• Increase sunlight by pruning back overhanging branches.

• Avoid growing any type of grass in areas that receive less than four hours of sunlight daily.

References

• Virginia Cooperative Extension; Aerating Your Lawn; Marc Aveni; May 2009
• Danny Lipford; Top-Dressing to Improve Soil in the Yard; Julie Day
• Danny Lipford; Best Drought-Tolerant Lawn Grass for Sandy Soil; Julie Day
• Ohio State University Extension; Lawn Mowing; William E. Pound and John R. Street
• Clemson University Extension; Growing Grass in Shade; Debbie Shaughnessy; February 1999