Subject: Re: Grass: can I grow it on 1" of compost on a sandy soil?
From: "Bill Robinson" <roseguy@flash.net>
Organization:
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 98 17:11:35
Message-ID: <MOD$980913.23106@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
Lisa asks if she can spread a 1 inch layer of compost on top of her sandy
soil and plant a lawn.
It seems to me that adding the 1 inch layer of compost on top of the sandy
soil would be better than simply trying to establish a lawn on soil that
drains too sharply. The better plant would be to
add maybe something like a two to three inch
layer of organic material, steer + compost perhaps,
and to dig it in to a depth of something like 6".
Water it well, wait two or three weeks for the
weeds to germinate, hand weed, rake smooth,
and then cover with the additional one inch layer of compost.
One inch of compost by itself on top of sandy, quick
draining soil is probably cutting the organic too
thin. Ideally, the organic content should be closer to
10% - 15% by volume in the top foot for lawn areas and 15% - 20% by volume
in the top foot for beds.
Bill
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