How To Grow Grass In Sandy Soil: A DIY Guide
Wondering how to grow grass in sandy soil? If you’re like most homeowners, then you dream of having the perfect lawn. But if you live in an area with sandy soil, growing grass can seem like a daunting task. Don’t worry! There are plenty of things that you can do to make growing grass in sandy soil possible. In this post, we will share some tips and tricks that will help you create the lawn of your dreams!
How To Grow Grass in Sandy Soil
There is no doubt that growing grass in sandy soil is challenging. It is easy to work with on the plus side, and drainage is rarely a problem. However, the nature of sand means that water and nutrients leach out of the sand very fast. Follow these three tips if you want to know how to grow grass in sandy soil.
- Add as much organic matter as you can to your soil before planting. This helps improve the soil structure, adds nutrients, and increases the soil’s ability to retain moisture.
- Plant grass that is drought tolerant and grows deep roots.
- Be prepared to water and fertilize frequently. You may also need to plant more seeds.
My Top Picks of Grass Seed for Sandy Soil
If you live in an area with sandy soil, it’s essential to pick the correct type of grass to grow. The best types of grass for sandy soil include
- Tall Fescue
- Red Fescue
- Kentucky bluegrass
- Bahiagrass
- Bermuda grass
- Augustine grass
- Zoysia grass
These grass species can withstand the harsher conditions of sandy soils because they have deep roots that grow down through the sand. This helps them find deeper deposits of water and nutrients.
What is Sandy Soil?
Sandy soil is characterized by its high mineral (rock-based) material levels. These soils are light and dry and tend to be low in nutrients. This is because the sand particles are made from relatively large particles. Imagine a container filled with marbles. The marbles fill the container, but they have big spaces between them. Consequently, water and nutrients can run through the particles quickly and drain away. That is what sandy soil looks like when magnified.
You can quickly tell if you have sandy soil by its feel. It has a gritty texture and doesn’t hold together when you squeeze it in your hand and let go.
Sandy soil warms up quickly in the spring but tends to dry out in the summer heat, making it a challenge to work with. This soil is easier to dig and work on, but it needs more water, fertilizer, and amending. All this to say that growing grass in sandy soil has its challenges, but it is possible.
How to Grow Grass In Sandy Soil
Before you can even start planting, you need to prepare the soil. The grass is only as good as the soil it grows in, so you need to start with healthy soil if you want to grow a healthy lawn.
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Test Your Sandy Soil Before Anything Else
It is imperative to test your soil to determine what you are dealing with. A good test will give you information about the ph and the levels of nutrients present in your soil. The results will tell you what you need to add to improve your soil. Some local extension service offices provide testing free of charge. If you don’t have that kind of service available in your area, you can purchase an inexpensive soil test kit.
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Getting the Soil Ready For Planting
Next, you need to start preparing your sandy soil for planting. This involves the normal process of
- removing debris
- picking up rocks
- removing dead roots
- tilling the soil
- grading
- getting rid of weeds
This post will give you complete details on preparing your soil for growing grass.
The most important part of preparing sandy soil for growing grass is adding organic matter and soil amendments.
Adding Organic Matter and Fertilizers
Your soil test will tell you what you’re dealing with and what nutrients you need to add to create excellent growing conditions for your grass. You will need to use a broadcast spreader to spread fertilizers and chemicals evenly. You may also need to change the ph of the grass. Purdue University has a helpful pdf pamphlet explaining the process. Follow the instructions that come with your soil test kit.
Because sandy soil lacks grass’s organic material, you must supplement it. Adding organic matter to the soil, like compost, is the simplest way to accomplish this.
If you are starting a lawn from scratch, you want to aim for a minimum of 2-6 inches of organic matter. Compost is high in organic matter and critical nutrients, making it an ideal choice. Organic matter helps improve the soil structure and increases the soil’s ability to retain moisture. At this point in the process, the more you can add, the better.
The ideal additive is nutrient-rich compost. Peat moss can be a cheaper alternative; however, it has fewer nutrients and increases soil acidity. Topsoil often has a good texture but may be deficient in nutrients. In addition, topsoil often contains weed seeds, so be sure of the quality before buying.
The soil amendments need to be worked into the top 6 inches of soil, and the easiest way to do this is to use a tiller.
Working With Established Grass in Sandy Soil
If you are working with established soil, you can add a small amount of organic matter by topdressing your lawn each year. You will need to fertilize regularly if your soil still has a fair proportion of sand in it. Your soil test should give you the information you need.
What Type of Grass Grows Best in Sandy Soil?
Find The Perfect Grass Type
Growing grass in sandy soil is challenging at the best of times. You need to pick the varieties of grass carefully. Choose those with a high tolerance to drought and put down deep roots.
Climate matters
When choosing the best grass for clay soil, there are a few things you need to consider. The first is whether your climate suits warm or cool-season grasses. Which zone are you in? Take a quick look at the map below.
Warm Season Zone Grass for Sandy Soil
Warm-season grasses were developed to thrive with scorching sun and high temperatures (think: southern US). These traits mean warm-season grasses do well at temperatures between 75 – 90°F. However, they will go dormant if temperatures drop below 50°F. Your warm season lawn revives quickly once the temperatures climb in the spring. The following grasses will be able to tolerate sandy soils.
- Bahiagrass has excellent drought and heat tolerance. This is due to its deep roots. It has a coarser texture than many other kinds of grass, but it makes up for it by being low maintenance.
- Bermuda grass flourishes in hot, dry conditions. Bermuda Grass is prevalent because of its exceptional drought and heat resistance. It also weathers high traffic well. This grass is a heavy feeder and will need more fertilizer if you grow it in sandy soil.
- Augustine grass thrives in high temperatures between 75-90°F. This grass will stay green in the heat even longer than Bahia and Bermuda. It doesn’t do well in cool weather, so this is best for gardeners living in scorching climates.
- Zoysia grass can withstand heat, drought, and heavy traffic. It has low water requirements, so it is perfect for sandy soils. Zoysia grass takes a little longer to establish but will reward you with a dense carpet. It is excellent for families who like to play yard games on the grass. Buy it here.
Cool Season Grass for Sandy Soil
Cool-season grasses are the best choice for those who live in areas with extreme temperature fluctuations. These plants have adapted to grow well with cool winters and hot, dry summers. These grasses grow most in the spring and fall when the temperatures are between 60-75°F. The following grasses will tolerate sandy soils.
- Tall Fescue has very deep roots (up to 3 ft), and so it does well in sandy soil. Tall Fescue can tolerate heat, drought, and shade. It has a reputation for being low maintenance.
- Red Fescue performs well in dry conditions and can tolerate shade. Red Fescue has a fine blade and is best mixed with Kentucky bluegrass.
- Drought-resistant Kentucky bluegrass. Not all varieties of Kentucky bluegrass are suitable for sandy soil. You want to look for the kind that has been developed to be drought and heat resistant. Even so, they will probably need more water than the fescues.
Planting Grass in Sandy Soil
Planting grass seed in sandy soil is really the same as planting in any other type of soil. You want to make sure the seed makes contact with the earth, so it can germinate. Read the instructions on the package carefully and follow them to the letter.
These should tell you the best time to plant, the correct setting for your seed spreader, and how to care for it once planted. It is all on the package! Some seed mixtures contain fertilizers, and others may need you to apply these separately.
Spread the first half of the seed by walking in one direction and then spread the second half by walking in another direction. This pattern ensures even coverage.
Once the seed is down, you need to apply a thin layer of seeding straw, peat moss, or other organic mulch. This helps protect the seed from birds and keeps it moist until it germinates.
This post has more tips for stopping birds from eating your grass seed.
Roll the entire area to ensure good contact between the soil and the seed. Be careful not to use a heavy roller as you don’t want to compact the soil and cause drainage problems. A roller half-filled with water is sufficient.
Watering Your Grass
Always keep the grass seed moist during the germination process, which takes place over two weeks. The first watering needs to be deep enough to wet the soil down to 6 inches. After that, water often enough to keep the top inch of the seedbed moist until the seed germinates. You shouldn’t get puddling with sandy soil, but do keep an eye on it.
Decrease the frequency of watering after germination as this encourages the grass to put down deeper roots. A general rule of thumb is to water deeply when the grass needs it. Classic symptoms include
- A change in color to a dull green.
- When you walk across the grass, you leave footprints. The grass blades do not have enough moisture to spring back.
Cutting Grass Growing in Sandy Lawn Soil
You should wait until the grass is at least three inches tall before mowing for the first time. This allows the grass to put down deeper roots and become established. Once established, you should cut no more than one-third of the grass blades with each mowing. This is true for all types of grass, but it is crucial when growing grass in sandy soil.
You also need to be careful not to scalp the lawn when you mow. This happens when you cut too low. It is better to leave your grass on the longer side if you have sandy soil. This is because the longer blades of grass develop deeper roots. The deep roots are crucial for grass growing in sandy soil as they help the plant access water and nutrients more efficiently.
You will want to set your mowing height to between 2-3 inches.
Sandy Soil FAQ’s
Can You Grow Grass Over Sand?
In theory, you can grow grass over-sand. However, it is not an easy task. The biggest challenge is that sandy soil does not retain water or nutrients well. This makes it difficult for the grass to get established and results in a patchy and thin lawn. Some grass varieties are developed to stop erosion, including Prairie Junegrass and Lovegrass. However, these grasses grow in large, loosely tufted bunches and are unsuitable for lawns. Lovegrass does function as a lovely ornamental grass in your sandy soil.
What Is The Best Lawn Fertilizer For Sandy Soil?
Grass growing in sandy soil need frequent fertilizers, in smaller quantities, as it will literally wash away with water or rain. You want to look for slow-release products designed specifically for lawns.
The other kind of products are those that help improve the soil structure. Strictly speaking, these are not fertilizers. However, applying a thin layer of compost will provide nutrients and improve a sandy soil lawn. It works best when combined with core aeration. Spread your lawn with a 1/4 inch of fine compost after aerating.
Can You Put Topsoil Over Sand To Grow Grass?
In theory, the answer is yes. But we recommend exercising caution. Not all topsoil is worth the money. You will want to avoid soil contaminated with weed seeds or low in nutrients. These will not improve the quality of your sandy soil. The problem is that there is no way of knowing.
If you purchase topsoil, I would recommend testing it to see how nutrient-rich it is and amending the soil, depending on the results. I would also water the soil for a week before seeding or laying sod. Any weeds should germinate in this time, so you can deal with them before you plant.
The best topsoil is loose and rich in organic matter. This type of topsoil can be expensive, but it’s worth it in the long run. Your lawn will thank you!
Can Grass Grow in Sand?
Growing grass in sandy soil can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. You need to add organic matter and choose your grass carefully. You also need to water and fertilize more often. If you are willing to do those things, you should be rewarded with a lawn to make the neighbors jealous. We hope this guide has helped you understand how to grow grass in sandy soil. Now all you need to do is get started! Happy gardening!