How to soften Lawn underlay

[scoobysteve]

Hi All,

I'm no expert at lawn care so i'm hoping suggestions from members can help me out.

I've seeded some couch grass a few months ago now and they seem to be growing okay, a little sparse but not too badly. From about 5 mtrs away, the backyard looks good but close inspection shows a little otherwise.

However, when i planted the seeds, i added a few centimetres of topsoil (black coloured). When watered, the soil hardened. So, i was wondering if anyone can suggest how i could soften the soil up and also improve the density of the lawn.

All suggestions would be great. thank you

Regards,
Steve

[dazzler]

You could run a lawn aerator / corer over the surface and then fill the holes it makes with course sand. Hire one with a motor and a bit of weight. The holes will allow the water to penetrate.

[scoobysteve]

So coarse sand will be a good candidate to use to soften the lawn? I need it to be soft so when the kids play outside, they dont get cut up by the soil (its hard like clay). i will try what you've said dazzler. thanks.

[Terrian]

So coarse sand will be a good candidate to use to soften the lawn? I need it to be soft so when the kids play outside, they dont get cut up by the soil (its hard like clay). i will try what you've said dazzler. thanks.

or rotary hoe the whole lot, mix some course sand though it, and let the couch go wild, FWIW, we redid the back yard, the surface was/is about 95% rock hard clay, the idea was to rotary hoe it all, mix thru some propagating sand & gypsum, and top it over with some premium soil then seed it for a nice lawn.

Reality is I never got around to any of the above and it is now (6 months later) 80% covered in couch grass about 3" thick, set the mower to cut high, and all is fine. Couch is very invasive though, so you have to keep an eye on it and cut it back from any areas you don't want it to invade :)

[scoobysteve]

thanks guys..gonna try the suggestions.