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Clay soil brings with it some problems. In order to be able to make it more permeable for lawns, it makes sense to loosen it up with tools and appropriate measures. We show how to do it.
In a nutshell
- Loosening can be done by mechanical means
- Water drainage is improved
- Supply of nutrients becomes easier
- Compost and sand can help to loosen the soil
Before sowing
If a new lawn is to be laid, loosening the clay soil is easy and requires little effort - but it is particularly effective. The following utensils are required:
- shovel
- hoe
- rake or rake
- a soil sieve if necessary
- compost soil
- sand
If these utensils are available, the following steps should be carried out:
- The clay soil is dug about 30 centimeters deep. This corresponds to about a spade depth.
- Foreign objects such as stones, roots and other plant parts must be removed. Here, for example, a soil sieve can be used. If you don't want to buy it yourself, you can borrow it from a hardware store.
- After screening, compost is worked into the loamy soil. At least three to five liters of well-ripened compost per square meter are necessary to achieve loosening.
- In the case of a substrate with a particularly high proportion of clay, sand should also be introduced. However, it is sufficient for the lawn if it is worked in two to five centimeters deep. This makes the top layer more permeable and water can drain off better. Waterlogging is avoided and nutrients can penetrate more easily.
Tip: A test to determine the pH value is a good idea on this occasion in order to be able to compensate with the appropriate fertilization if necessary. A corresponding test is available in hardware stores, for example, but also online.
aerate the lawn
If grass plants are already present - through sowing or laying out turf - the loosening of clay soil has to be done differently. Of course, the necessary utensils differ depending on the respective method:
- scarifier
- sand
- spreader
- spade
- gravel
The following steps are possible:
- Lay drainage: Drainage does not loosen the soil, but it does ensure that the water drains away faster and better. For this measure, a 20 to 30 centimeter deep ditch is dug around the lawn. A final layer of gravel or grit is poured into this trench. The water seeps into the ditch and does not remain on the surface. The prerequisite for this, however, is that the lawn is level or, at best, slopes outwards. If, on the other hand, there are hollows, drainage alone is not sufficient.
- Spread sand: A layer of sand on the lawn can slowly work its way into the soil and loosen it in the process. The sand layer should be about two centimeters thick. It can be spread with a spreader to achieve even distribution. It is ideal to only apply the quartz sand after mowing. The grass then grows through the layer. Lawn aerator sandals help disperse the sand more quickly in the clay soil.
- Scarify lawn: If the soil is only loamy on the surface, scarifying can be enough to ensure better water drainage. On the one hand, disturbing plants such as moss and weeds are removed. On the other hand, holes are punched in the ground, which makes it easier for water to penetrate.
scarify the lawn
Tip: It is optimal to combine the different care measures with each other. If the ground is very solid, demolition may also be necessary. Although this requires more effort, it is worth it in the medium and long term, as the lawn area requires significantly less care afterwards.
removal
If the lawn has dried out or even rotted, a lot of thatch has formed and there is waterlogging, it can make sense to remove the substrate from the surface. The individual steps are simple in themselves, but still require a comparatively large amount of effort. The advantage of this, however, is that maintenance is easier afterwards. Water and nutrients penetrate more easily, the grass grows better and weeds and moss cannot spread as quickly. The following steps are necessary:
- The top layer of soil, including grass plants, is removed to a depth of 30 to 60 centimetres.
- As with the preparation for sowing or laying out turf, the soil is freed from foreign bodies and sieved.
- Mixing in lighter, looser soil and sand will make the substrate more permeable. In addition, nutrients are supplied directly, which means that the newly laid lawn can grow faster and better.
A drainage layer can be placed as an alternative or addition to the mixed soil. A layer of two to five centimeters is applied and the soil is only then spread over it.
Tip: It makes sense to rent a mini excavator for removing large lawns in particular. Because the clay soil is difficult to dig up and the measure requires a lot of effort without a mini excavator - this applies to both the time required and the power required.
frequently asked Questions
Why is clay soil not ideal for the lawn?Some plants, such as roses, apples or hydrangeas, do well in very loamy soil as long as there is no waterlogging and the water can drain away. This is a major problem with the substrate - it is heavy and rigid, making it very slow to absorb liquid. In summer, high temperatures and drought mean that it is really baked and can even crack.
When should the soil be loosened?The measure makes sense if puddles keep forming on the surface or the meadow is very muddy. Even if bald spots appear more frequently, it is usually not enough to just sow grass again.
Are there alternatives to loosening up?The area can be lightly watered regularly. This prevents the soil from becoming dry and firm in summer. However, when it rains, without adequate drainage, liquid still accumulates.