Question
We had new sod put in 2 years ago and it never took.  Bare, bald looking, no amount of further seeding, watering, and liming did any good.  So we got the soil tested by Virginia Tech Univ. recently and the results were VERY HIGH for Phosphorus, Calcium and Magnesium; HIGH- for Potassium; and SUFFICIENT for Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe and B.  Soil acid was 6.3, organic matter was 9.0%.  

Question: We live in Northern Virginia, and we want to try new sod again (probably bluegrass/fescue) but with better soil prep.  Given that we are already very high in calcium, does it make sense to lime the soil like VA seems to recommend in our soil test report?  Also, we have clay soil in Northern VA, but our soil pH of 6.3 seems close to neutral from all the liming we did last few years.  What would be your thoughts on how to best prepare the soil for new sod?  Thank you in advance.  

Answer
Hi John, Your pH is fine, I would check it every year and keep it in the 6.2 to 6.8 range, but I don't see a need in liming now.  I'd thoroughly loosen the soil with an aerator and then sow seed.  This is the best time to plant fescue or bluegrass, it comes up in 7-10 days and it is much chaper than sod. Seed at 7-10 lbs per 1000 sq. ft.  Use urea (46-0-0) for a fertilizer at the rate of 50 lbs per acre when the grass is about 2" high and water immediately after the application.  Wait two weeks and repeat the application at the same rate.  
You'll have a great looking lawn in less than a month.  Jim