Question
I'm not sure if i'm in your region of expertise but I thought you may be the closest.  I am located in South Texas, about an hour south of San Antonio.  I have currently moved to a farm which at one time had a beautiful lawn.  At this time it is dirt, packed, and overrun with sticker plants...the runner kind.  My question goes with the sugar concept.  Will the sugar get down and do the job on a lawn that is just packed dirt.  My original idea was to grate the top layer to rid the lawn of the sticker plants.  Then manage the dirt until the spring.  Using some topsoil to till into the dirt to give it back some nutrients.  Then seed and water and wait.  Is there anything I do now to aid the condition of my dirt?

Answer
Heidi:

I have no experience with sugar in the landscape.  You will have to ask another expert about this issue.

My choice would be to do manual removal of these plants.  I do not know what they are from your description, but if they are not sandspur or the like, then you stand a good chance of control by sifting/grating/etc.  Especially if they are in the berry family and depend on roots to propogate not seed.

Best wishes.