Question
I have moved into a new development in Eastern pennsylvania (Allentown Area) and am in need of help. The lawn needs help it was not seeded until late june so i really was not going to expect much till next year.
The soil contains a lot of clay so when we have periods of time without rain it gets very hard. Then when it does rain the water runs off.
Grass has begun to come in but it is as much crab grass than actual grass.
I was wondering what should i do to prepare for next spring now ( August). A group of us are renting an irrator to try to allow the groud to breath but what types of products should when put down after we do this?

Answer
Hi Keith,

>"...a lot of clay ...?"

Aerating a high-clay soil is only a very temporary remedy.  The soil will eventually become compacted again after one or two rains.

Soils are very variable and are typified by chemical as well as physical characteristics.

A Laboratory SOIL TEST may well define your top soil's chemistry and physics and prevent future problems by diagnosing them early. A good top-soil should be sufficiently "loamy" with good tilth-drainage and fertility factors and also proper acidity (pH).  A soil test may save you time, work and money later on.  Some garden centers sell home testing kits.

A Priority:

A soil high in clay is physically and chemically a poor soil for lawns and gardens.  IF you intend on keeping the property for an extended period of time, you are advised to invest in SOIL AMENDMENTS to improve the tilth, drainage and fertility of the soil.  It may even be recommended that you excavate-away some of the old clayish top-soil and truck-in better soil.  Your local top-soil supplier may offer 'Rich-Mix' or custom top-soils which will greatly improve your lot's soil which is the foundation for all future success with grasses and plants.

Most all grasses are easy to grow.  With some extra-watering and fertilizing every so often they are VERY EASY to grow,...but this characteristic requires the basic conditions of even a mediocre top-soil.  Without such top-soil improvements, you are most likely to have continual lawn appearance problems.   The clay conditions will be on-going and problematic.  Perhaps you can make top-soil improvement a fall project and have everything ready for an early spring seeding of an appropriate grass-type.

IMPROVE SOIL by top dressing and/or working in  SOIL AMENDMENTS: high quality top soils and 'Rich-Mixes' (from your local trucking suppliers), compost (commercial or home made), humus-organic matter/manures/peat-moss, and sand or Kaolin/clay (if there are drainage problems). You can do this to bare lawn areas easily.  Where lawn areas continually seem to suffer from poor soil quality, partial or total renovation may be in order. Roto-tilling amendments into the existing top soil is an excellent way to prep an area for seeding grasses or laying sod. The old grass may need to be eradicated before re-seeding or "up-grading" to a more care-free hybrid.

Learn About COMPOST...aka "GARDNER'S GOLD".
Using commercial or home-made compost is a great way to insure your soil is CONSTANTLY IMPROVING over the years.
Composting and adding organic humus will help the soil become more "sponge-like" so it can hold water better and need less water applied to it. Your lawn will be better able to survive droughts/stress with regular additions of compost to the mid-summer "Hot-Spots."

COMPOSTING can return nutrients and minerals to your lawn and save you money while improving the root-zone...don't trash your grass and herbaceous debris, RECYCLE it by composting!
Website: http://hometown.aol.com/eilatlog/lawnologycopost.html
Once you have a better substrate for lawn success.
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Tip:
If, after working to improve the existing top soil, you can get your top soil and root zone so structured to be healthy enough to support several pounds of mail-ordered earthworms,...these will work 24/7 and multiply exponentially to  help keep your soil fertile, aerated and ecologically well balanced.
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Start shopping for a more carefree grass type:

1.  http://www.turfmerchants.com/special.html

2.  Visit Turf-Seed Inc. for the Seed Selection Wizard's help:
   https://www.turf-seed.com/Home/Wizard/

3.  Go to GOOGLE.COM and enter the
Keywords: "YOUR/LOCALE/NAME Horticulture;"  this search engine may direct you to many good local lawn/garden websites for your precise geographical area.  You area Agricultural University may have great info.
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With a good fertile-loamy well draining top-soil, best quality hybrid grass type(s), 1-3 inches of water per week, plenty of sun-light, an healthy root-zone ecosystem...almost anyone can have an excellent lawn with a minimum maintenance effort.

I Hope this has answered your question(s)!
Have a Great Summer!

Visit my Lawn & Gardens webpage for more facts and links:
http://hometown.aol.com/eilatlog/lawnol.html

Your Questions and Comments are welcome at ALLEXPERTS.com

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