Question
I really liked the answer you gave me about using organic matter for lawn care (instead of Scotts).  I did pick up a bag of manure/humus and spread it over some of the dry areas ?as an experiment.  And then watered ~ 1??we haven't had any rain for well over a month!.  It actually seems to be turning greener!  However, how do I work it down into the soil through the grass?  How do we put it down over the entire yard (~ 0.5 acres)?  How often?  Does it need to be put down prior to a good rain ?or good watering?  Does it leave an order that will annoy the neighbors?  Anything else we need to know?  Living just 3 miles from the DE bay. We have sandy soil.  I really attempting to avoid digging up the contractors yard, working it over with organic matter and replanting.  And I still need to submit a sample for soil testing.  I suppose I had better select a sample from an area far away from the septic drain field.

Answer
Talk to your Coop Extension about how to handle the soil sampling.  The quality of sample you select is CRITICAL to the validity of the numbers they give you when they do their testing.  I can't emphasize that enough.  The old saying, garbage in garbage out, applies here.  You don't do this for a living -- talk with them, describe the situation, get their advice based on that.  Be diligent.  When you go out there with your shovel and container, if you have any questions, go back inside and call them again.  This is a learning opportunity and you're not expected to know how to do it perfectly without details.

Glad you liked the answer.  Some people don't like these answers.  I try.

Your Earthworms -- hundreds, and hopefully thousands of them -- are very busy moving soil and air around underground.  A THIN dressing on top of Organic Matter is unobtrustive enough, and within 2 or 3 weeks should be completely incorporated in your soil.  Because those Earthworms do that for a living.  They ARE trained for this kind of work and they do a great job.  They've been doing this for thousands of years.

Any time you have to dig, you can use that as an opportunity to work in more Organic Matter.

This is very easy.  Almost too easy.

But mistakes are ALSO easy.  In one single sweep of your hand, you can wipe out the microbes that feed the arthropods that feed the bigger fish that feed the Earthworms.  Fertilizer will do that -- Salts by definition.  Fungicide -- zap!  Walking across a WET Lawn is REALLY bad; it compacts the soil and presses out all the air, making it inhospitable to soil life.  If there is an area you find yourself crossing often on your Grass, get a few flagstones, and use them to step on; at least you won't be killing the Grass there, and it will keep footprints restricted and away from other areas.

Likewise, shoveling in the rain (I used to do that, until I learned this) is AWFUL for the soil.

As for whether to water or not, it's totally unnecessary.  Pretend you're putting Salt and Pepper down on the soil.  You don't water in Salt and Pepper.  You don't have to water in top dressings/mulch.

It's great to hear you sound so encouraged.  Please keep me posted and let me know if any questions come up.  You're on speed dial now.