Soil amendments lots of questions.
Posted: September 28th, 2020, 11:36 am
This was my first summer in my home. I have no top soil whatsoever. The Bermuda is growing in a clay-like soil that is rock hard and drains like my driveway. I've been trying to put some life in my soil this summer, although I started kind of late. I have put one application of Scott's Foundation, which contains BioChar. I have another application that will go down in a week or so. I have also been spraying the Soil Conditioner/Kelp Help about every three weeks.
It's starting to cool off in DFW. My Bermuda growth has slowed down considerably. Am I too late to put down some compost? I'm not expecting immediate improvement so it doesn't seem like it would make a difference when I put it down. Plus it would have all winter to complete its composting cycle if it is still a little green. Also, is aerating a must if I put down the compost? I like to do everything myself but I have a physical limitation and last time I used an aerator, it about beat me to death. I guess I'd pay someone to aerate if I have to.
I have some leveling issues too. I had to raise my rotary mower at this house to keep from scalping and creating crop circles. I plan to start leveling next spring and using top soil or a mixture of sand and top soil to level. I can't believe my home is seven years old and the previous owners have put up with this moon scape.
Am I on the right track? Any suggestions? I know I could rip out this lawn and have top soil trucked in and then resodded I don't really want to spend that kind of dough all at once plus I get a lot of satisfaction out of doing it myself. I should have had a soil test done right after I moved in. I have the dirt collected but haven't sent it in yet.
At my old home, I used Milorganite more as a supplementary fertilizer than an amendment. It is a manure product and manure is often mentioned as a good amendment. Will that help my soil? Should I wait until the lawn is actively growing again until I use it, since it does contain some nitrogen?
Any suggestions will be appreciated.
It's starting to cool off in DFW. My Bermuda growth has slowed down considerably. Am I too late to put down some compost? I'm not expecting immediate improvement so it doesn't seem like it would make a difference when I put it down. Plus it would have all winter to complete its composting cycle if it is still a little green. Also, is aerating a must if I put down the compost? I like to do everything myself but I have a physical limitation and last time I used an aerator, it about beat me to death. I guess I'd pay someone to aerate if I have to.
I have some leveling issues too. I had to raise my rotary mower at this house to keep from scalping and creating crop circles. I plan to start leveling next spring and using top soil or a mixture of sand and top soil to level. I can't believe my home is seven years old and the previous owners have put up with this moon scape.
Am I on the right track? Any suggestions? I know I could rip out this lawn and have top soil trucked in and then resodded I don't really want to spend that kind of dough all at once plus I get a lot of satisfaction out of doing it myself. I should have had a soil test done right after I moved in. I have the dirt collected but haven't sent it in yet.
At my old home, I used Milorganite more as a supplementary fertilizer than an amendment. It is a manure product and manure is often mentioned as a good amendment. Will that help my soil? Should I wait until the lawn is actively growing again until I use it, since it does contain some nitrogen?
Any suggestions will be appreciated.