Question
Hi

Live in Austin, TX and have St Augustine grass.
I hired a guy to replace sod and he botched it up. He planted it way too lower than the rest of the lawn. It is now an eye sore. He told me that Dillo Dirt top dressing could raise the level of the lawn. Is that true?

What could possibly bring the lawn upto the level of the rest of the lawn (It is almost one and a half inches lower). I have heard dillo dirt top can only be laid 1/3 inch. So what do I do? Can I use some starter soil or something instead? Or compost? What should I use and where do I buy it (would be nice if I could get it from Home depot or Lowes).

How do I make sure the sod has caught root? I tried lifting it and there is resistance but it might be cause I am scared of lifting it lest I tear the roots. It has stayed green for 10 days after planting except for a few small spots.

How do I find out?

One more last question- Everyone suggests aerating my lawn (using a professional - 70 dollars) and putting dillo dirt all over it. How effective is that? AND which time of the year should it be done if at all?

Thanks a lot!

Answer
Hi Malav;
Go To Home Depot or Lowe's, and buy some landscaper.s mix. Some brands call it Planter's mix.
It is a mixture of peat moss, humus and bark mulch.
Miz this with 1 part Mix, and 1 part soil.
You can dig up soil from a bare area where you can get some, or buy some sandy loam, or you can mix it with top soil.
Don't put it deep enough over the new sod to cover all the blades.
You need some blades, sticking up to catch the sunlight.
You put down St. augustine, right?
Put a little of this mixture all over the sod you laid down, and on the low spots, put enough to fill up the low spots till it is level
Water it all well.
Putting some on all of the sod will cause it to spread out some more roots.
Where you put it to level the ground, it will spread over and cover with grass soon, or if you don't want to cover up any of it completely, don't mow those low ares, and every time it grows 2 inches, go out and put down another inch of the mix.
That will make that area very thick with grass, because it will be sending out new root shoots all the time.
By spring, you should have a nice level lawn.
As you put some of it to fill in, rake it out so it is level with the rest.
Go on an organic program.
You will make a healthy enviornment for earthworms and other beneficial insects and they will tunnel through your soil and keep it aerated.
Using chemical products to feed, weed, and treat insects and fungus, is gardening artificially, and you get poor results.
Like putting a bandaid on a bad gash.
Organics build rich soil. Rich soil, with the beneficial insects and critters like toads, lizards etc, keep your lawn weed free, insect free, and growing beautifully.
I put sugar on my lawn each spring and fall, to nourish the beneficial microbes that enrich my soil. Weeds won't thrive in rich soil, and if the come up at all, they will start to die out right away.
I use 4 pounds per 1000 sq.ft. of lawn.
I leave my grass clippings to compost into the soil and add nutrients,and I water deeply, to at least 6 inches to encourage a deep root system. That protects against heat, cold, and drought damage.
I live in Irving, and my lawn is nice and dark green instead of the yellow patches my neighbors that will not use organics have.
All out lakes in the DFW area are very low, and we are on water restrictions.
I water once a week.

Since I have been on the organic program, I don't have to pull or dig weeds. I don't have insects damage on anything.
I have a thick, green St.Augustine lawn, and gorgeous flowere, and my Asthma and allergies are 90% better.
I don't have to worry about my grandchildren or pets getting into something that will harm them, and I spend less that $200,00 poer year on lawn products, where I used to spend 5 or 10 times that much.
I work less then 5 hours per week in my yard, rather than the 25 to 20 and sometimes more I used to do.
I wouldn't go back to chemicals for anything in the world.
If you want more information on organics, write me anytime.
Charlotte