Question
Jim:
First, thanks for taking the time to answer question!  Now to my question...

Four years ago when we built our house, I wasn't in a position to properly install my lawn.  My property consists of bank gravel.  I simply raked it the best I could and seeded it.  During the spring months, it looks great but as soon as we have any extended period with no rain, it begins to brown out.  I have to assume it's b/c the bank gravel doesn't hold the water as good loam would.  Would top dressing the lawn with top soil work for me?  Is there anything more to it than spreading the top soil over what I have and seeding/watering it?

Thanks again,
Gary

Answer
Hi Gary,


>>"... bank gravel...hold the water...?"

Where warm summers are expected,...a moisture retentive soil can make all the difference with grasses and any plant.

Given the basics of climate and an appropriate grass-type, enough sun-light, good to mediocre soil and so much water, all common turf grasses are easy to grow.  Add some extra water and an occasional nitrate fertilizing event,...  all common turf grasses are VERY EASY to grow.  So, if you have been having long-term lawn appearance problems, then most likely you do not have the basics well established for an optimized greens-keeping scenario.

Your success in fixing the gravel and drainage problem cannot be predicted here.  Depending upon your grass-type selection, adding several inches of quality top-soil may indeed solve the problem.  Warm-climate grasses can do OK with just a layer of several inches of good soil,... while the cool-climate grasses (Fescues, Ryes, and Blue-grasses) which send their roots deeper  may fail with a lot of gravel in the lower root-zone strata.

Try to make the areas as  weed-free as possible, then work to improve the top-soil by adding top-soil amendments (better soils, composts and humus) you can buy at the garden center.  Then you should be ready to re-seed or sod the areas.  This is best accomplishesd before the summer heat arrives; getting grass seedlings going with warm temperatures can be futile.  Although you can start grass seedlings anytime you can keep them well-waterered, the wind and heat can make the job very diffiicult or impossible.  A cool-climate grass may be best started in the fall.

 Good Luck!
  __ Jim Gibbs