Question
I recently had a cesspool installed. Besides the area which was dug, i have deep ruts and lawn damage from the crane the used to dig. The track marks are on an area where I have zoyzia grass and the area that was dug was a blend of zoyzia and blugrass. Living on Long Island, much of the overturned earth is sand. Any suggestions?

Answer
Boy, this question is giving me a major headache.  Just thinking about your lawn and the equipment that rolled over it to build that cesspool is giving me an anxiety attack.  I have been there with the crane, done that, and of course there is no way you can put your lawn first and say, Forget the cesspool.  It's a bigger problem.

So this headache, I guess I was hoping some easy answer would descend from the heavens here into my brain and I knew it would not happen. Let's just get this over with.

Oh, where to begin.

You have overturned Sand -- a sign you live either on the South Shore or East-er than I.  Interesting, because most of Long Island is not Sand, Dan.  It's Clay.

In some ways you are lucky.  It's spring.  There's time to repair the damage.  With snow in April, you have an extended perfect grass season here to work with.

You have to do a few preliminary steps to even out those crane-tracks in your property.  Since you have so much Sand, this is an opportunity to bring in some Humus and Compost and Manure from Lowes or Home Depot or Hicks.  Get a truck fo this stuff delivered.  DO NOT BUY ANYTHING CALLED 'TOPSOIL'.  Anything can qualify as 'topsoil'.  You have Sand, you need organic matter, not a builder's idea of skimming off the upper layer of dark dirt around new construction.  Humus and Compost preferably, Peat Moss and Manure to round it out.   Get it delivered, then rake it over your Sand and make it all nice and smooth.

You have Zoysia?  You like that stuff?  You're stuck with it now.  I know, your Zoysia-Bluegrass blend is a well-oiled, carefully considered partnership -- Bluegrass can't take the high heat of summer, wanes, while Zoysia takes that ball and runs with it; in winter, the Zoysia turns 'blonde', the Bluegrass stays green.  If it works, that's all that matters.

Since you are an Intelligent Gardener, Dan, you know that chemicals are not just bad for you, they're also bad for Earthworms.  So any Earthworms living in your sandy soil -- the few that are there -- will be so grateful for the new soil you have blanketed your property with.  The Organic Matter in your fancy new soil comes with microbes and lots of potential Earthworm fuel.  Those Earthworms will go forth and multiply, mixing your Sand with your new soil, creating a rich, new growing medium for a beautiful Summer lawn.

Your sandy soil needs that Organic improvement for many reasons.  One being, Sand does not support microbial activity or Earthworms.  It's like a mini-desert.  No food supply, no water, no nutrients even for your Zoysia/Bluegrass roots.  You have to fertilize all the time, and you will NEVER be able to get it perfect.

But by improving your soil, you are setting the stage for self-regulating fertilizer.  A whole new ecosystem.  A lawn that never gets sick and has to be watered less because it holds moisture in ways that are impossible for Sand.

I think my headache's getting better.

Doing this will technically improve your "Cation Exchange Capacity" -- a fancy way of saying the soil is healthier.  Soil that rates a High C.E.C. is rich in vitamins and minerals.  Instead of your Fertilizer pouring out between the grains of sand into Long Island Sound, or down into the water table, into your well, the Fertilizer STAYS in your soil, right under your grass, waiting for the roots to say 'Eureka! I've found it!'

Socrates could not have said it better himself!

Sprinkle Jonathan Green Premium Bluegrass seed right over that new blanket of soil you have applied, then follow with your choice of straw or other cover to keep it in place and protect from hungry birds.

To make the birds happy, make sure you have a birdfeeder, filled to capacity, and a birdbath.  Remember, once your grass is growing again, those birds will eat all your grubs and beetles every morning.  You won't have to spend money on Grubkiller (or medical bills in the future due to your application of chemicals -- even if you don't put them in yourself, you're breathing it all the time, you have to live in that house remember?).

Yes, your Sandy soil was run over with a freight train.  But Dan, your Sandy soil does not compact.  Because Sand doesn't do that.  That's the silver lining in Sand.

That is the short answer here.  Sorry it took so long to mull and brood over this problem.  This problem is just not filled with easy answers.  May as well deliver your options.  It could be worse.

Any questions?