Question
i have heavy clay soil and a little section that i want to plant a lawn

should i till this area? add topsoil over the clay? dig out the clay and replace it?

thanks.

Answer
No secret formulas here.

The usual humus and compost, even some peat moss, would be perfect to make your Heavy Clay Soil user-friendly.  Depending on the size of your lawn, you can hand hoe or lightly Rototill -- just enough to mix.  But DO NOT overdo this!

If you were baking a cake, it would be "just to mix the ingredients, do not over-mix".

Same deal.  Or you will obliterate all chances of achieving a good, granular soil structure with "good tilth".

NASA has a soil science education page (soil.gsfc.nasa.gov/pvg/prop1.htm) that simplifies the whole routine.  Roots grow well in soil with good tilth. They don't grow at all in soil with bad tilth.

So repeat after me, Bob:

DO NOT OVERMIX!

If you add some granulated lime while you're 'tilling, in a few weeks you can take a soil sample to your local Cooperative Extension for analysis and see what your new dirt is made of.  They will break the sample down into the good, the bad, the ugly - everything you need to know to grow beautiful grass.

Believe it or not, lots of Earthworms will do WONDERS for your Heavy Clay Soil.

You probably have some down there already.  But Clay Soil has very little "organic" content.  You need high levels of Organics to build a healthy Earthworm population.

Avoid damaging the Earthworm families you already have for starters.  Earthworms eat Bacteria and organic matter in the soil, boost its value with all kinds of nutrients, and cast the rest around your yard.  Rotilling is psychologically traumatic for them.  And of course, Pesticides are verboten!

What do they love?

Coffee Grounds!

Since Starbucks is giving away USED Coffee grounds, you
can take their used coffee home and put it in our gardens.  And it won't cost you a dime.

It is not too acidic -- just slightly, and the good it does is incredible.  Earthworms LOVE it.  We all need more Earthworms in our gardens.

At this point, I hope I do not need to address the dangers of herbicides, pesticides and fungicides to children and dogs, as well as the grownups who love them.

Besides, chemicals will not make your life any easier.

Don't bother to obtain topsoil.  You can make it yourself, in your own yard, with these simple steps.  Keep it simple.  Any more questions, I'm here.