A potential fix for HEAVY CLAY LAWNS (particularly in new build properties)

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ธ.ค. 2024

ความคิดเห็น • 332

  • @robertsheffer9054
    @robertsheffer9054 3 ปีที่แล้ว +64

    The technique is called deep core integration. I started it this month with a 2 inch diameter auger drill bit. I drill down to 8 inches and fill hole with peat moss. Immediate arration and drainage sorted. Over the long term organic mater will change the soil structure to loan. Excellent information and I enjoy watching your videos. Keep up the good work.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank you! 😊

    • @geoseward
      @geoseward 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Robert, how far apart do you drill your holes?

    • @robertsheffer9054
      @robertsheffer9054 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@geoseward Hi there, about 4 inches apart. Another, good technique is to use a core aerator and back fill the holes with compost. I use the Yard Butler hand held core aerator too..

    • @violentnewworld
      @violentnewworld 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Shouldn't you dig a little deeper? Replace and builders rubble and heavy condensed clay.
      Considering this myself but by digging out trenches instead of the holes.

    • @WholesaleTurbos
      @WholesaleTurbos 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      I think it is more work but faster/better results?

  • @wobblybobengland
    @wobblybobengland 3 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    Great vid, might be a good short term fix but for those like me who can wait a while, I think I should share you my technique. I had a heavy clay lawn, was 50 years old when I got it, this is ten years since, the previous owners were just not gardeners. I thought long and hard about how I could improve drainage and improve the water availability in summer, (I'm in south Germany where we get summer weeks with temperatures above 30°C without rain). I found coffee grounds taken from all the brew machines at work (around a gallon a week, only applied in the winter - cockroaches love coffee grounds) and biochar (which I make myself, hazel branches left to smoulder overnight) were the solution, as well as wood chips in the autumn, all just chucked on top and left for nature to do it's job. I'm still building up that soil, but after around three seasons it worked, when we got a monsoon, the water doesn't puddle and we don't get inch wide cracks in the summer either. I also feed the grass molasses to keep the micro-organism mechanism strong. I think if you encourage the worms they will do a far better job than we can ever hope to!

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hi Bob thanks for.the detailed reply. Very kind of you to share. There is a channel called "how to with doc" who mentions biochar helping and I remember he did a video showing how it helped improve the rop sort of 6 to 8 inches which I thought was interesting. I since looked for biochar products in the uk here with little luck, which led me down this path of deep aeration. However I am very much interested in the biochar option. I did read somewhere else a few weeks back think I read that too much biochar can affect the soil ph (or affect something).. I should have written down the reference. Anyway what I'm trying to say is a big thank you, I will take a closer look

    • @wobblybobengland
      @wobblybobengland 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@LawnRight No worries. All I do to make it is I have a pit which is 18" deep and about 2' diameter and I build a fire using the small stuff and build it up so I add branches cut to 12" lengths between 1" and 2" diameter let it burn for between 20 and 30 minutes and then cover it with green grass clippings but I make sure it can breathe a little, so it smokes like two cigars going off. I then have an old satellite dish that I put on top and leave it around 16 hours overnight. You have to then prime it by putting it in compost so that it soaks up all the nutrients, let it stoop for a good few months. I then chip it down to around 1/4" for the lawn and just tread it into the soil around October and it's gone.
      This fellow has an alternative method, you have to make sure that store bought charcoal doesn't have any burning agents in it though.
      th-cam.com/video/5ZEGCFAEj3o/w-d-xo.html

  • @bamabladez
    @bamabladez 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Great tip and it does work. New home here in states, clay and rock and I took a drill and went to town. Any large rocks i dug out. Also aerate and top dress with mushroom compost. Weekly liquid humic acid apps as well. Within one season I now can manually aerate my 1000 sqft lawn like butter in 30mins.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Thank you for your comment! Really pleased to hear this!

    • @Anamnesis
      @Anamnesis 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Wow, weekly liquid humic acid. Based on my readings, people make it sound like once a season. No wonder I'm still struggling to amend my clay. What kind of mushroom compost and humic products do you use and what is your sun exposure and watering schedule like?

    • @bamabladez
      @bamabladez 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@Anamnesis Yeah so here in America I buy the Black Kow brand. Either manure or the mushroom compost. They sell it in all the big stores lowes home depot. Great stuff. And yeah the humic acid I use N-ext products RGS root growth or Air8 all have humic and fulvic acid with some extras. I buy 1 or 2 gallons and during growing season I spray 4 to 6oz per 1000sqft weekly or bi weekly. I love to spray so it helps relieve that itch and it benefits soil 😆 All that I helping speed up the break down process by feeding and multiplying microbial activities in the soil

  • @donparks4300
    @donparks4300 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    I live in Southern California and I've been doing this for the past 12 months in my clay soil. I use a 1 inch drill bit that is 6 inches long and I fill the hole with compost. Here on the West Coast we are in a drought and I only need to water my grass every third day to keep it green.

    • @ivanflores5484
      @ivanflores5484 ปีที่แล้ว

      Did this work?

    • @donparks4300
      @donparks4300 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@ivanflores5484 I ended up digging up even larger areas. 6 inch by 6 inch squares and removing some of the dirt and putting in compost. The grass looks great and I only have to water twice a week.

  • @waynerice4918
    @waynerice4918 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I live in Southern California where this is some heavy clay soil. I used a tool to aerate the soil it is manual and you step down puncture the soil. It helps but it's probably not deep enough. Thanks for the video.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hi, a manual lawn aerator tool, sounds like. Yes they're good and do help but as you say dont give the depth

  • @johnheimel5594
    @johnheimel5594 3 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    I started with horrible clay soil that was rock hard when dry, and have regularly treated my yard with humic acid products over the past several years. It made a huge difference in soil composition and drainage.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks John, yep conditioning the soil is an excellent idea. I've been incorporating small quantities in for my customers, maybe it's time to increase the dosage 😊

    • @tycox8704
      @tycox8704 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      How frequently do you add humic? Monthly? Seasonally?

    • @johnheimel5594
      @johnheimel5594 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@tycox8704 I try to do it at a minimum of 4-6 weeks during the season.

  • @magirusdeutzjupiter2234
    @magirusdeutzjupiter2234 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Top brilliant advice, from a man who knows his stuff.Even more praise to you giving expert advice which is beneficial to your business which to me is a sign of extreme kindness, consideration, and a true peoples person in every aspect.
    I have just bought my spiral (auger drill) and works brilliant on my semi clay sort of lawn also was over the moon how fast it drills down and easily. With all your tips, advice, this has solved a headache I have had for years wondering how to tackle my lawn if you can call it that atm. Thank you bud for all that you do on here a top bloke !!!!

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thank you so much! means a lot!

  • @TimeTravelReads
    @TimeTravelReads 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Interesting. I didn't have professional advice. A few years ago I instinctively dug many holes about 4 inches deep, and about 4 inches apart, in the lawn. I filled the holes with a mixture of leaves, potting mix, and the original clay. The lawn looks great now.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Brilliant. 😊😊😊😊😊

  • @janewrighton9227
    @janewrighton9227 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Great idea if you have a postage stamp size lawn. What can you do for 1/4 acre?

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      There are commercial machines that do deep aeration otherwise just regular aeration machine and topdress

  • @johnb8956
    @johnb8956 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Another great video. I’m loving this channel, and I’m sure it’s going to blow up before long

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank you for the kind words. Heres to 2021 for all.of us 🙂

    • @tonygill3344
      @tonygill3344 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Dito!

  • @christianpetersen1782
    @christianpetersen1782 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Our 7x8 metre lawn is on clay and probably due to my own neglect looked very patchy about 10 years ago. It had lots of dips too. I levelled it off with a 6 inch layer of topsoil which I rolled flat then turfed on top. The old lawn underneath then composted down to a superb soil structure. This year, for the first time ever I’m going to core aerate it, top dress it, brush in the top dressing esp. into the plug holes and re-seed it especially in the plug holes where the roots will grow quite deep. Once the grass has grown I plan to brush in a layer of fine compost and recompose it every year. The best way must be to help nature do its own thing. Just give it the tools to do he job! Love the vids.

    • @teaformulamaths
      @teaformulamaths 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      This sounds great but 6 inches of top soil?! Who can afford that, is your grass raised high above the local area?!

  • @ALZO570
    @ALZO570 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I drilled my 8mx12m lawn last year, which was always wet and full of moss. This year its amazing, worked a treat 👍

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      How deep did you drill? Did you fill the holes with anything or just aerate 😊

    • @ALZO570
      @ALZO570 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@LawnRight drilled about a 1.5ft, filled with a sand topsoil mix.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks and what sort of spacing did you choose between holes. I'm considering every 3 inches or every 6, more is better but nice to hear it working with your situation

    • @ALZO570
      @ALZO570 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@LawnRight every 4 inch. I saw it on the net and thought I would try before going for a French drain as garden was so wet. But it worked so well everyone in my estate is now doing it.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@ALZO570 thanks for the reply. Is your soil clay then? This fills me with hope

  • @nicolapegg6429
    @nicolapegg6429 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Lived in my house for 58 years, whole garden is hard, heavy clay, could throw pots out of my soil, this year is the first year I have decided to tackle the lawns, front lawn started, scarified, seed on, topsoil down, after 10 days looking good, my back lawn is bigger, I can't afford your suggestions sadly, so I guess my lawns will never be the best, but no one really sees them except me and my small family.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      You can do it! You could fork the rear or buy a hand spiker on aroller to spike the rear.. rake out thin layers of dry multipurpose compost over the lawn every couple of months and maybe get some humic acid on.. this will all help clay alwns over time

    • @nicolapegg6429
      @nicolapegg6429 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@LawnRight thanks for suggestions x

  • @guyr7351
    @guyr7351 ปีที่แล้ว

    Suffering with clay issue where I live, been in 5 years and with March being wettest in UK for 40 years, garden you almost could not walk on it until late April managed to get grass cut twice before more rains.
    Have today just done another cut, 15 May ground still very soft, the clay is sodden and any rains and my border fill with water.
    My house is bottom of a slope for 6 houses, a slope so bottom right corner floods when it rains.
    Looking at digging out a soak away and possible drains plus raising garden level.
    I have an impact drill / chisel unit very high power the drill itself is 6Kg so might try the auger bit technique as well

  • @trevor-bd4kt
    @trevor-bd4kt 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I tried the auger for about 15 min then switched to a 6 ft digging rod..pointed on one end and chisel on the other. Ram the pointed end into ground..work around in circle..pull out and repeat. With a little labor u will have a 3" x 20" deep hole. Can do 5 holes in under 3 minutes. I then fill 1/3 way with pea gravel and the remaining with equal parts sand and premium compost mixed together well. Been doing this on all my shaded areas that drown in spring and winter from moisture. I plan on this fall aerating really well then throwing down a layer of sand and premium compost, seeding it and working it all in. Hoping this fixes my issues. Cheers from the 🇺🇸!!

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hi trevor..awesome tip! Dont supppose you could link to the tools you mention. Im wondering if its a powered tool that goes into a drill or a manual tool

    • @trevor-bd4kt
      @trevor-bd4kt 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@LawnRight my drill was too underpowered/battery kept dying plus got drill too filthy. Digging rod has alot more muscle/lever/torque behind it. Can get for $30 @ Tractor supply or many construction/building stores.

  • @stephenk4834
    @stephenk4834 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Very informative video. We don't live in a new build but looked at some new properties recently and it looked like that the grass was holding a lot of water.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Definitely looks like it

  • @davel831
    @davel831 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I drilled to a depth of 2 foot and then applied Gypsum to the whole lawn and even the beds . This worked really well

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hi Dave fantastic results! Great ro hear. Do you just put pure gypsum down the holes then seed or turf back on top? Or mix the gypsum with soil or compost? How wide were your holes and has the lawn greener up "evenly" ? Going to be doing this soon for a customer

    • @davel831
      @davel831 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@LawnRight Hi no I drilled with a deep drill bit to about two foot, get some air in the soil. Then spread 50g per SQM of Gypsum, then water in. If I am treating the whole lawn to green up I use another special mixture of seaweed, Humeric acid, vulcuc acid , and Iron phosphorus to green up. Used in a sprayer mixed as a liquid

  • @drumsonly44
    @drumsonly44 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I’ve got clay in the backyard, put a bit of topsoil down last year, I’m gonna try hollow tine aeration this year, remove the cores and fill up with gritty sand and soil. I also put some clay improver down a few weeks ago. We’re lucky in that the previous owners put in at least some drainage and the lawn is on an incline

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      This should be fine. This video really relates to periods when weve had substantial rain and the turf got overwhelmed. Good luck with your project

  • @harrypaul2718
    @harrypaul2718 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I have just moved into a new build house. The soil is clay and I am going to put grass seed down. I have dug it over then tried my best to break up the lumps of clay into smaller pieces with a spade. But it is still in chunks. I have some sandy top soil to go on top but I'm worried that underneath the layer of sandy soil there will be lots of air pockets. Should I be worried?

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Get some gypsum first and compost and work those in. The gypsum will actually break the clay into smaller pieces while the compost will work some goodness in.

  • @chasecoldwater6355
    @chasecoldwater6355 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Love the use of a bulb auger. Suggestion: I use "Stall Pellets". This is used in horse stalls and also can be burned in a pellet stove. Fill the holes with the stall pellets and ground charcoal. Don't forget to buy some worms. New builds tend to have very few worms for the first 3-5 years.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hi really intrigued with your comment (thank you!). I can see the stall pellets are essentially compostable, which tallies up with me suggesting compost. The charcoal and worms is also a great tip so just wanted to say many thanks

    • @chasecoldwater6355
      @chasecoldwater6355 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@LawnRight The great thing about stall pellets is they can easily be spread on the yard with a spreader, lightly moistened, they then just puff up and then allowed to dry. A quick mulching run over with the mower will allow the very fine wood fibers to move past the grass and straight to the soil. I have also applied the pellets right after coring.

    • @chasecoldwater6355
      @chasecoldwater6355 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@LawnRight Loved the video

    • @Anamnesis
      @Anamnesis 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Do you just put one worm in each auger hole? And what variety of worms do you buy?

  • @geraldoutdoors245
    @geraldoutdoors245 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I have a clay yard, when the heat of July hits. The lawn cracks wide enough for my hand. Will this technique work to stop the cracks. I filled some with top soil, watching to see what happens.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      It should start the improvement process but might take a year or two to get somewhere decent. Keep adding compost in and aerating too

  • @Anamnesis
    @Anamnesis 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Cheaply installed lawns on clay is not an uncommon problem in the USA either, and I've seen deep core integration discussed elsewhere, however the kind of small lawns in UK row houses shown here would be pretty easy to do because there's about 100sf of turf grass. How would you deep core 10,000sf of turf with 3" spacing between holes? It would take weeks. Is that kind of tight spacing really necessary on larger turf spans or could it be increased? We also tend to have less rain, more sun and heat, and less moss taking over.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hi, totally understand. I have seen videos of machines that do it online but quite rare. You could simply do regular aeration and get some humic acid on regulalry to start improving the top layers and perhaps work on certain areas with at least a few deep aerated holes. I have a custpomer who used a large auger bit that was about 3 feet long and half a foot wide and dug a deep hole with it.. he then filled that area with grit, then soil

  • @Born2winalways
    @Born2winalways 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thanks for the great information. I still need to determine if I have a similar issue on my new build.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      When you get chance you can push a spade down say 6 inches and wiggle it back and forth to peer down 🙂🙂

  • @Inkling777
    @Inkling777 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Trees are also hurt when clay keeps their roots from getting enough water. When one of my crepe myrtles failed to bloom this year, i suspected it'd grown to the point where it couldn't draw enough water from the soil. Yesterday, I began digging around it and discovered just how bad the problem was. Three inches down and more the tree was trying to grown in solid, non-porous clay. Digging on the uphill side (for now) I carted away about seven 5-gallon buckets of clay, replacing that with good topsoil and compost. In this case, the problem was so bad, I abandoned my auger and turned to a spade designed for digging in tough soil. I went down almost a foot and until I was below the existing roots. I used a hose to wash the clay away from the roots and a bucket to remove the clay saturated water.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      would be nice to hear how it gets on this season after the effort :)

    • @sl5311
      @sl5311 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I have noticed in my garden that the more I water the more I attract worms and they actually create holes in the clay-at least up near the surface.

  • @cryangallegos
    @cryangallegos 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Coring and backfilling with sand has been picking up steam in America. It helps with water drainage, compaction, and maintaining a level lawn. I've seen everything from a 50/50 soil/sand mix to 100% sand "top dressing"

    • @boyasaka
      @boyasaka 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Clay plus sand equals concrete
      For clay soil you need to add organic material NOT sand

  • @curtischadd
    @curtischadd 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Great video. Living in Seattle where it rains constantly, adding compost works wonders! Can’t add enough compost. Also worm casings, while expensive, help too. Cheers

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thank you !

    • @DaPowpow
      @DaPowpow ปีที่แล้ว +1

      What kind of compost? Thanks

    • @curtischadd
      @curtischadd ปีที่แล้ว

      @@DaPowpow depends where you live. I used to live just north of Seattle. I’d buy it by the truck load. 30-35 bucks per yard. Where I live now, because of the pot growers, it’s like 75 per yard.
      Feed the soil not the grass. If you feed the soil, you will balance out your yards eco system. Also, it helps during summer heat stress. In addition it can take a couple years to get your soil off of man made drugs, I.e. man made lawn fertilizer
      Don’t worry about, mushroom compost or worm casings. Those two are usually too expensive to use. Try to purchase compost where ever you buy beauty bark or crushed stone

    • @DaPowpow
      @DaPowpow ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@curtischadd thank you so much for your answer! Appreciate it! Will do. Just made my first lawn (in the Netherlands) but everything is so clay-ey haha, so i am worried so will do all of that ! Thanks

  • @Bealoo
    @Bealoo 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    such a good video thanks - this is exactly what is happening in my garden. Just bought new build and the clay is so thick and sticky beneath the grass. Under closer inspection the whole ground is covered in moss. I might try the drilling and see if that works

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Pretty sure the drilling will work. Doing it myself soon for a customer

    • @Bealoo
      @Bealoo 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@LawnRight great, would you be able to do a follow up video? Thanks

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Bealoo will try 😊👍

  • @lukmanm5380
    @lukmanm5380 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Can you post a link of the drill bit needed pls, just checked screw fix and overwhelmed with all their offerings, just want to get the right one for my drill. Thanks

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hi sorry as yet I've not gone into this myself but will be doing soon for a customerr

  • @harbourmasta
    @harbourmasta 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    This is pretty interesting. We have clay in our gardens also, our garden slopes away from the house so the bottom of the garden is still swamp like after rain, so its rotting the posts in the fence also, just something else that needs addressed.

    • @sl5311
      @sl5311 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Are you concerned with replacing clay with something that won't have its strength around the foundation?

  • @mattavalon
    @mattavalon 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Really interesting concept. I have clay but luckily it drains well and stays green as a result of the nutrients being held in the soil. Those augers are ok but you can hurt wrists if it grabs!

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yes.. I found it easier to just go down abit then reverse in out in our so to speak

    • @AJ_Lucas
      @AJ_Lucas 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      There's pieces of builder's rubbish buried in my clay soil. Tiles, glass, brick, rubble, random bits of metal, all just waiting to grab an auger bit. Tempted to try this though.

  • @JayRockGroundsMaintenance
    @JayRockGroundsMaintenance 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Not seen the drilling method practiced before ! Would be interesting to see some people trying it here in the uk and the results ! Always going to be a problem the new builds.. would just be easier if that bit more care went into the gardens during the build 🤦🏻‍♂️

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Might have to try it myself. One of my customers has ordered an auger so I might pop in when hes doing it or done it. Yes be good if they dug out the clay before the house and fence llines went in

    • @JayRockGroundsMaintenance
      @JayRockGroundsMaintenance 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@LawnRight yeah it’s great content, especially because so many suffer from it ! Great stuff though mate, looking forward to following the channel going forwards mate 👍🏼🌱😄

  • @Johnny53kgb-nsa
    @Johnny53kgb-nsa 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I have a clay soil also. I aerate twice a year, with the type that pulls plugs, and while I have seen some improvement, what's compounding my problem is poor drainage that I need to work on. I have 10,000 sq ft, but as you suggested, do a little at a time. Thanks for the tip's. John

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hi John, as you hollow tine you could topdress with compost which will slowly help.. but before that apply some liquid gypsum. Down the lineninwill try and do some videos on this topic

  • @andyjackson2269
    @andyjackson2269 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Just in the process of doing our garden, I live in a heavy clay area, not much point digging down as its clay all the way down, I've forked over the whole area which will be turfed to break the clay up, it's then had 4 ton of Organic manure mixed in. Then around 6-8 inch of a good grade top soil on.

  • @razahussain860
    @razahussain860 ปีที่แล้ว

    He has damp where grass and house wall are. I would dig the mossy lawn near and put paving in with a drain gulley just to be on the safe side. Please let me know what happened this lawn, thanks.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  ปีที่แล้ว

      Hi it improved quite a lot but then they got a dog who has destroyed most of the lawn.. that's pretty much it unfortunately

  • @kostantinkostadinov680
    @kostantinkostadinov680 ปีที่แล้ว

    I have a question... I've scarified heavily and aerated my lawn and I saw that on some places there's a lot of moss.. So my qustion is should I apply a moss killer and wait for a week to get them killed or just to apply the topsoil with sand - mixed (the soil has a lot of clay) over the seeds and not to wait the moss to be killed, because its already may and it starts to be hotter here in Bulgaria and I should water it more often? Which option is the "smaller devil"? 10x in advance for your competent answer!

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  ปีที่แล้ว

      Hi.. dont bother with the moss killer.. itll day out the grass seeds they really dont mix. What I would do is try and rake out some more moss to thin it out then seed and dress. You are ok if there is moss but plenty of soil grooves in between the moss that seeds can germinate into but tease out as mich as you can itll be so mich more beneficial.. the moss killer will only blacken it off

  •  3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I have same problem in Poland. I'm using manual hollow aerator but it's killing me 🥵 need to try that drill.
    Great channel btw. Keep it coming 👍

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank you so much! If the ground is wet you will find it easier to do the aeration. 👍

    • @AJ_Lucas
      @AJ_Lucas 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Get one with only 2 or 3 tines. They're easier. And make sure you clean the clay cores out after each use. Leave zero residue, otherwise it hardens and the aerator will no longer core a hole, it will just plunge the clay down, making compaction worse.

  • @vashon100
    @vashon100 ปีที่แล้ว

    Just watched your vid of drilling holes and plugging them on this very property

  • @Inkling777
    @Inkling777 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    There's a desperate need for business that take a lot on which a home is to be built and improve the soil, getting rid of most of the clay and rocks and, if necessary, installing a drain system. That is a lot easier to do that before a home is built.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      It would be nice if they did care that much

    • @tycox8704
      @tycox8704 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Here, in the States, it’s not uncommon for builders to sell the existing top soil before they build, then have to buy it back when it’s time to landscape.

    • @josephogorman8267
      @josephogorman8267 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      They sell the topsoil when they build the plots though imagine how much you can make extracting 6/8 inches of topsoil of a massive new build plot

  • @webzterd
    @webzterd ปีที่แล้ว

    I actually have some small areas I can treat like this, will do so and compare to the main area I'm repairing with a full tilling, soil improver, reseed process.

  • @KFUURE
    @KFUURE 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Class advice, thank you sir. My grass was prepared correctly and lawn was looking nice and lovely. It is patchy 7 months on from poor drainage which is ashame but will now increase drainage measures relay seed andmix lime and Sharpe sand to the top🤙 thanks

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      No problem, any time

  • @chancha1916ks
    @chancha1916ks 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Try searching for liquid gypsum products that are now available. A company called ultra soils sell it, app rate is 20l per hectare.....it acts as a clay soil flocculant

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks will take a look

  • @ellenorbjornsdottir1166
    @ellenorbjornsdottir1166 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I have what looks like a light clay subsoil layer under the lawn (which I intend to convert to some sort of pseudo-cottage garden) my 75+-year-old house which I rent (for which I, the tenant, have the responsibility of caring - I don't care to have a lawn, per se, though I do care enough to scythe down what's there if it's growing too high, and I likely will overseed any area I don't convert to useful plants). I wonder if a grelinette (also called a broadfork; wide, 5 to 8-tined version of a garden fork, though the tines are usually only 27 centimeters long, not the over 40 you would need in this case) would be usable for breaking the soil and providing some drainage.
    I also have a pot where moss has grown on a bed of woodchips. I'm fine with this, as long as the pot doesn't harbour superviruses or invasive species, but it demonstrates the kinds of conditions moss likes (poor drainage, continuously wet).
    Does the moss happen to produce a kind of allelopathic (big word for: kills other plants) toxin?

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Hi I'm not sure on the moss toxin connection but if you do. Use the wider tool it's going to provide a little it of improvement in drainage.. I would do that and then try to brush some compost and a little gypsum into the holes.. Repeat this say twice a year and things will slowly improve

    • @ellenorbjornsdottir1166
      @ellenorbjornsdottir1166 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@LawnRight If I remember, I'll let you know what I end up doing and the results I end up getting.

  • @dodge_walks
    @dodge_walks ปีที่แล้ว

    This was extremely helpful thank you! Own a new build with a re-he-he-heeeeallly clay based soil (with a load of leatherjackets for funsies) so full of useful info

  • @craigmetcalfe4
    @craigmetcalfe4 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    My ground is rock hard in placesand the grass grows well in patches and blades are very thin in others. Anything I can add to the soil before I do this

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hi if your digging the clay I'd suggest compost dug in with it. If just drilling deep holes full with compost and soil

    • @mrtrendizzle
      @mrtrendizzle 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@LawnRight My local tip sells bags of a dark black compost. It's mainly very fine wood chips and compost but i've noticed when making a flower bed out the front that if i dig up the clay only 6 inchs deep and mix in this compost it breaks the solid sticky clay up and turns it in to smaller easily broken bundles of clay. The flowers have thrived this year in the new improved soil. I'm very tempted just to hire a rotavator, turn over all my garden and spread this compost over the entire garden and rotivate it again as a quick and easy way to improve the soil and drainage.
      I'm also looking at installing PVC tubes with holes drilled in to them, covering with gravel and laying the soil over the top. I think they're called french drains or something like that. Might help direct water flow towards the driveway where the water can drain away rather than sit in puddles across the lawn.
      1 ton of compost at my local tip is £5 might buy a couple of bags. and hiring a rotavator for the weekend costs £60 there abouts. Then it's the time to seed the lawn but with a quick top dressing and seed it should start to look much better in 3 weeks.
      Large DIY job costing in the region of £100 and a weekend. Honestly biting the bullet and doing the graft is going to stop a headache later on down the road.

  • @matttonks1591
    @matttonks1591 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Just happened across this video and I have done the same in a very wet corner of my lawn. Bought a cheap B&Q drill to burn out (which I did) but like yourself saw some American videos saying about this. It makes a lot of sense and I await the results 👍

    • @ddddddno24
      @ddddddno24 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Hi. Did it work with poor drainage?

    • @stobysmith2583
      @stobysmith2583 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      How did it work then

    • @matttonks1591
      @matttonks1591 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Update. I think it has worked a little but I should have tried a larger area really. Unfortunately, my lawn has gone to shite since, owing to no time and a baby... 🙄

  • @mrpucklepops4447
    @mrpucklepops4447 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hey man, can you tell me the name of that drill bit that American fella using in this video and where too pick one up. ?
    I brought a auger drill bit from Amazon for £20 it was only welded in 2 places and broke on the 10th hole.
    I've got clay and stoney soil and need something a bit more heavy duty but don't want too make massive holes in my lawn.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hi this was an amazon one just carefully going down and backing up bit by bit

  • @drob2897
    @drob2897 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I'm in a new build with heavy clay under the membrane that's under good quality soil. However we still have drainage issues. Could I use this option? Could I go through the membrane?

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Hi I've no idea why they would even put that membrane down. If you've got.agood 8 inches of soil that's great for the roots.. I'd still be tempted to drill some deeper holes though for drainage and avoid nay pipes or cables 😉

    • @drob2897
      @drob2897 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@LawnRight so should be OK to cut through the membrane then?

  • @bobblack4048
    @bobblack4048 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Hello Shaun.
    I laid a new turf lawn on poor quality soil in late September last year. Some of it is doing ok, but I have a section of lawn where the drainage is poor and about one square meter of grass has died due to all the rain we had over winter. I watched one of your videos recently where you recommended aeration. I tried it using a garden fork. In the area where the grass has died, the soil clung to the fork, and the width of a roll of turf just lifted when I withdrew the fork.
    Should I lift the dead area of turf and put fresh compost/topsoil down and reseed it. Or just scarify it and reseed it.
    Thank you.
    ps I've bought an aerator that you recommended, but I might give this drilling a try.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Hi Bob I'd have a little inspection first for any chafer grubs or leatherjacket grubs. If that turf as died you'll need to replace anyway with new turf or seeding later. I'm wondering why it's died off.. Other than the rain.
      Maybe that section is a natural dip in the lawn so becomes a puddle. If so I'd try to raise the soil level a bit before turf or seed.... I'd also check to make sure there's no concrete or rubble or pebbles under it

    • @bobblack4048
      @bobblack4048 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@LawnRight thank you. For your prompt reply.
      How are you keeping.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@bobblack4048 not too bad thanls

  • @rebeccaard1
    @rebeccaard1 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video. I have a from garden law that won’t drain properly and this spring the grass is odd looking. I don’t know if it’s clay but I guess this will work!

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Dig a square out of the lawn carefully to inspect then replace and firm it down 😊

  • @wemoveforward6413
    @wemoveforward6413 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hi mate. Hope you're well. I've recently dug up an area in my garden that is 6mx6m and it's now looking like pure clay. Would you think it would be more beneficial to do this method and plug the holes with a compost/manure/rotted bark etc. Or rotivate the whole area then mix in the previously mentioned? Then top soil then turf? Looking for the most cost and time effective method. Thanks

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hi it's hard to say which would be quicker .. drilling lots of holes regularly may be time consuming but if the holes get down through the clay you're onto a winner. If you rotavate could you guarantee rotavating deep enough to get through the clay.. if you're gonna rotavate then might as well mix some compost, soil and gypsum in to help break up the clay

  • @chancha1916ks
    @chancha1916ks 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    In the us they are now big on this and a company sells another product that they call air-8. They claim it also breaks up soils and is a mix of leonardite (humic) and liquid seaweed. I'll be using my own mixture of this this year for my customers....

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks Kevin. I've also been using humic acid and seaweed the last 2 years cat say I've seen huge improvements in the soil. I saw the air8 product but never found anything similar over here. Thanks for the info

    • @chancha1916ks
      @chancha1916ks 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@LawnRight A little and often...

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@chancha1916ks I suppose this will.come down to testing. I only treat every 10 weeks on customers lawns so I need a clay lawn I can apply regular to

    • @chancha1916ks
      @chancha1916ks 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@LawnRight pick one that is local to you and use it as a testing facility 😄. Keep a record of what you've done and when and from that you'll get an idea of improvements if any.

    • @chancha1916ks
      @chancha1916ks 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@LawnRight have a look on TH-cam for lawncology. This is the guy who's selling the humic/seaweed products. Watch his videos and the overall theme is that his products are all based on humic. I've used humic for years and some of the improvements have been impressive. I also have a supplier of powdered leonardite that is potent stuff for not a lot of money in comparison to Rigby Taylor etal....

  • @teaformulamaths
    @teaformulamaths 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I want to be talking with someone who knows about the latest techniques and is solution based! But I don't know who I could be talking with. I bet you do not cover my area in the UK. I have a problem with drainage at the bottom of my garden. Who could I go to that I can trust? I appreciate your advice!

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hi.. thanks for the comment. I'm afraid to say it's not my speciality dealing with ground drainage. Ultimately water needs to be transported away from the area or made to drain down. There are a few variables which are as yet beyond my expertise. Namely how to install French drains properly.. effectively moving water around, dealing with and understanding the location.. for example is it on marsh land etc. I usually tell customers to employ a specialist for this. So.. as for what I did in this video it did help a bit. I'd further add for future use to put some gypsum in the holes to aid flocullation, breaking the clay into smaller particles.

  • @johnduncan8894
    @johnduncan8894 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hi LR I wander if you can help me. We have moved into a new biuld home and i have found many small white slugs in my lawn. They appear after i have watered lawn.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hi its just nature. They come up when its wet. You may try some slug pellets or just wait till they've gone.. usually its overnight

  • @michaelsantangeli9571
    @michaelsantangeli9571 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hi mate, been looking for ages to find a fix, I'm now getting my patio done and want to dig the whole lot up and start again. Do I just fill it up with top soil and lay new turf or do I need a base below the top soil so the new lawn won't sink what is best? Thanks for any help in advance 👍

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  ปีที่แล้ว

      Hi the best option is to remove much of the clay and fill with decent soil, levelling in layers but thats not always practical. One thing to think is that anything is better than nothing so any improvement will be of some benefit.. Just adding topsoil will help a bit but you will likely still get flooding issues in heavy rain due to the lay content deeper down.. if you do this, deep drill some holes at various spots and fill the bottom third with gravel, then the rest with topsoil/compost and a touch of gypsum........... long term add humic acid regulalry for gradual improvements, as well as topdress with compost

    • @michaelsantangeli9571
      @michaelsantangeli9571 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks for the reply, I was going to dig down as much as I can until its all gone then drill holes, use a layer of pea gravel, layer of composte then a good few inches of top soil before laying would this be OK or am I jus being stupid 😂 thanks again mate 👍

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  ปีที่แล้ว

      @@michaelsantangeli9571 thats a good idea :)

  • @moomo9321
    @moomo9321 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I'm digging mine out. It's so bad how far down do I dig and should I mix sharp and with top soil before sewing seed ?

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hi yes you can but try to get the top 6 inches as pure soil.. if possible

  • @Den-Bee
    @Den-Bee 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Very interesting & deep aeration sounds promising. Can you advise where these auger bits are available please.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hi Dennis they can be found on amazon and ebay. Just make sure its around an inch or so wide. If you cant find any let me know I'll find a link

    • @drewstephenson8138
      @drewstephenson8138 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@LawnRight Would these be ok? www.toolstation.com/long-auger-bit-set/p35978

    • @drewstephenson8138
      @drewstephenson8138 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      24mm x 600mm

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@drewstephenson8138 hi the length is great but the maximum width is only 24mm. That's probably just about doable.. what matters is penetrating the clay without hitting pipework, and filling the hole with compost and soil

  • @stobysmith2583
    @stobysmith2583 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    How xan i make aure i dont hit any pre existing drianage worried there is a council drain under my garden

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I appreciate it's worrying and rightly so. You can try and guess roughly where pipes run looking at any manhole covers or access from the street. You could carefully dig done one area slowly and see if your thoughts are right. You could even just of very slowly with an auger bit.. Finally you can get hold of electronic tools that check for utilities underneath. If unsure then definitely leave it be. You may be able to get plans or diagrams from local authorities which show locations of any installations.

  • @anthonypickles
    @anthonypickles ปีที่แล้ว

    Great info, this is kinda what I was thinking.

  • @andyfarmer759
    @andyfarmer759 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    What I have always done is.... use a border fork and wiggle it back and forward to a depth of about 4inches. After completing a row move back 3inches and do another row. Complete the whole lawn by repeating a new row every 3inches. I then brush in fine sand and lightly water to settle sand. Brush in a good John Innes mix. This can be repeated every 3 months for the first year. Further applications can be repeated once in the spring if neccessary. It has always worked for me and I havent spent £50 - 100 on auger bits.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks Andy. Trouble on these new build properties the clay goes very deep. Really poor from the builders sadly to fall short on the last hurdle

    • @andyfarmer759
      @andyfarmer759 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@LawnRight thats a real shame. Just window dressing then?

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@andyfarmer759 yep.. I've been to some with rubble and then an inch of soil on top.

  • @Jaya365
    @Jaya365 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Is this an Avant house - I live in one too and the looks like the one at the back. I am lower than everyone else too. Mine is absolutely waterlogged, even now I squelch around on it.
    I was going to install french drains but think it won't help. I am considering taking a foot out - putting in some gravel/hardcore layer then 10 inches of fresh topsoil along with new turf - what are your thoughts?

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hi I'm not sure if its avant sorry 😳.. ideally need to dig through the clay layer or look at french drains .. or work slowly each year to improve the soil with gypsum and compost and topsoil

  • @portvalefanjosh5409
    @portvalefanjosh5409 ปีที่แล้ว

    My lawn is an old build and the clay is 2ft and my lawn is 40ft by 40ft any idea's. When it rains its flooded instantly with pools everywhere. Same with 4 houses next to me.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  ปีที่แล้ว

      You can try drilling some deep holes maybe with a post hole borer..bottom third with pea gravel then fill with topsoil, a little compost and a bit of gypsum

  • @paulnosworthy4818
    @paulnosworthy4818 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hi… is there an affordable hollow tine machine out there. The only one I have seen is £2600 and my garden is not big enough to justify that. Any suggestions

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  ปีที่แล้ว

      Maybe a 2nd hand machine would be useful
      .my first aerator was a classen and got it for £500

  • @williamellis8045
    @williamellis8045 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    You could also use a liquid aerator as well, such as Air8, which helps water move through the soil.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I did look at that last year but thought it was only available in the USA.

    • @andrejones473
      @andrejones473 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      I actually have some of this I just brought I’m hoping to use it today I have new sod which is a little over a month old and the drainage is horrible… I hope the air 8 will work I am in GA so we should be dormant soon… I’m going to spray it once a week a few times and hope it works

  • @MARTINA-gc3tq
    @MARTINA-gc3tq 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    might help if the home owner dealt with the overflowing gutter and/or leaking down pipe in the area where the rear elevation meet the rear addition. Could also add lime to the soil and 70/30 sand/soil top dress...

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Great tip! have mentioned to customer a couple of times about this issue

  • @grahambrown5874
    @grahambrown5874 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Put in french drains and link to the down pipes to take the water away. Rotovate lawn and mix in compost, soil conditioner and sand then add new turf.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Its a good idea. Nit something I've ever done, and dont fancy getting into it to he honest. I did mention this to the customer last year but budget is also a factor

    • @mariesmith6239
      @mariesmith6239 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      The builders have put French drains in the bottom of our garden ~ 12 months ago now.
      Do you know what difference it’s made?
      None, absolutely nothing. Going to try this method.

  • @movingforward1981
    @movingforward1981 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Got to love the good old uk clay soil. Did you find the moss was quite bad this winter ?

    • @drumsonly44
      @drumsonly44 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I did yeah, I put some amvista iron down in early winter. gonna go heavier with iron sulphate end of this year

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yeah, the extra rain we had literally from october right through has made things worse

    • @movingforward1981
      @movingforward1981 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@drumsonly44 yeah iron sulphate is good that is for sure. Any other tricks drums for lawn care ?

  • @Cheezyfosheezy
    @Cheezyfosheezy ปีที่แล้ว

    How do you do this on 7000 sq ft where I have a lot of gravel under the top soil

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  ปีที่แล้ว

      There are machines usually quite large that are independent or tractor towed that can achieve this

  • @mrjcbuc
    @mrjcbuc 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I wonder how I can avoid sprinkler pipes.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      As long a syou know their location you can lay a piece of string or pegs to avoid those areas

  • @ohandanotheronebitesthedus6247
    @ohandanotheronebitesthedus6247 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I have a hole in my garden mate do i just fill that with soil i have the clay issue too 🤯

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hi yep pop some soil in then seed on top followed by a thin covering of soil or compost.. fork the rest or aerate or deep drill

  • @allysally9992
    @allysally9992 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    What topsoil do I want if I want to combat a heavy clay lawn I dont want to make the mistake of adding more clay

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hi if you're just layering on top then I'd go for a slightly sandy topsoil or regular topsoil.. if your gonna he rotating then I'd go for topsoil, gypsum and compost and mix it all in

  • @roneelkumar7494
    @roneelkumar7494 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you for an informative video. Subscribed!

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks for watching and subscribing 😊

  • @boyasaka
    @boyasaka 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    If your have lifted the lawn like I have
    Rather than buy a 1 inch auger bit for my drill
    I paid 3 pound to hire a fence post auger for the evening ,and rather than drill a few dozen 1 inch holes
    I drilled 6 X 6 inch holes along the wall where I had solid clay and drainage issues
    Took about 3 mins let hole

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yep..live and learn mate.. one of my cutsomers did this 2 weeks aft I did this. He went down 2 or 3 foot and filled with pea gravel , soil and co.pist and it's doing well. Cheers mate

  • @grahammacklam4736
    @grahammacklam4736 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    An interesting idea I've not seen or heard of before. Do any people who make these videos in America mention gypsum at all. Only I read a bit from an organic only lawn book (American) who promoted it but I believe it would take an enormous amount to make a difference to the structure of clay soil. Also the other thing I have seen is over the pond is a few going on about liquid aeration. Don't know if it's any good? Anyway I think the customers lawn featured would be greatly improved by lifting the height of cut to around 2 inch ✂️ with all those fences etc it's looks very shaded. 😎

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      At first they did follow my advice but a few short cuts towards last autumn led to a decline sadly. I left yesterday with a note to raise cut of height and consider deep drilling. Gypsum yes is goid6but needs digging in, sadly not ideal on a lawn that's already down, but interesting to maybe add some to the mixture that gets put down

    • @drumsonly44
      @drumsonly44 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I looked at liquid aeration last year I don’t think it’s (legally) available in the uk, same with a lot of American products.

    • @grahammacklam4736
      @grahammacklam4736 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@drumsonly44 Yes I suspected so. Quite a lot of their products are forbidden over here

    • @grahammacklam4736
      @grahammacklam4736 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Just had a bit of a dig around (no pun intended) as to what would be best to put down the holes once drilled and came across a few things. One is vitax clay breaker which they advise to apply after hollow tining so should be good also here at 200g per metre square in the autumn. Basically the rain and Frost over winter apparently integrates this with the soil. This combined with sandy top dressing with peat may be a way forward 🤔

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@grahammacklam4736 interesting.. 👍

  • @rebeccaard1
    @rebeccaard1 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Is that a damp wall in the corner?

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Wouldnt be at all surprised..mentioned a few issues with the customer . Damp proof layer was covered plus drain pipes not going anywhere 😪🤔

  • @OnlyUseMeEquip
    @OnlyUseMeEquip ปีที่แล้ว

    i had this idea for my garden , i drilled down close to a meter and put 1inch pvc pipe into the holes then filled the pvc pipe with top soil, works great for drainage but bad for scarifying , end up with pvc getting obliterated all over

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  ปีที่แล้ว

      Im undecided if this is a great idea or not. On one hand it would be good to get stuff down the holes, such as gypsum, humic acid and compost which will slowly inflitrate the surrounding soil, encourage earthworms (natural aerators) but I can also see how it would help water drain away super fast.... hmmmm....

    • @OnlyUseMeEquip
      @OnlyUseMeEquip ปีที่แล้ว

      @@LawnRight what makes you undecided?

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  ปีที่แล้ว

      @@OnlyUseMeEquip I've just never heard of it before but could be a great solution

  • @timmyreeves9170
    @timmyreeves9170 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    What about if the clay is deep as I have dug down over a foot so far and still clay

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Other than drilling deeper you may just have to accept what youve achieved. Drop some compost and soil in to start improving whats there

    • @timmyreeves9170
      @timmyreeves9170 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@LawnRight that's the root I have taken as we have dug a foot off to level the lawn now putting as much organic matter as we can over the rest of the year into the top spades depth was just wondering if there was anything else as so far we have put on about 5kg agricultural gypsum 500kg compost and now cuttings ect till next year then going to level it again and seed

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@timmyreeves9170 other than huge major upheaval youll make great improvements with what youve done. Ive literally aerated the rip 2 inches and topdressed with compost and that lawn dominated their neighbours lawns for colour and health . As for deep down drainage issues.. next thing would be ground drainage channels.. not my forte though

    • @timmyreeves9170
      @timmyreeves9170 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@LawnRight thank you buddy for your feedback much appreciated 👍🏻

  • @MagnumVideos
    @MagnumVideos 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great suggestion on the drilling. I haven't gone to that much effort yet, but I have been throwing down some humic acid on our heavy clay new build home. It has helped, but there are still a few areas that are so hard I can't even get a pitchfork through the surface unless it's just rained. Good luck, my friend. I know you'll get it figured out.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks
      Never enough hours in a day

  • @thegeordiefellwalker8878
    @thegeordiefellwalker8878 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    the auger method looks good like you say a little at a time. on one of my new builds the front was laid on clay & the back on blended loam & the difference is so visible slowly getting there with yearly top dressing on the front. good vid 👍

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Cheers mate. Who ever invented clay? 🤔 glad you're making progress..

  • @henrilloydps3gl
    @henrilloydps3gl 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Wouldn't adding lime help?

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hi it can certainly help the clay become easier but it can also change the PH levels. Im more one for getting some compost in the ground

  • @Greatbatch87
    @Greatbatch87 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    What about rubber crumb?

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I've never used it.. Not sure if I ever would

  • @canalboating
    @canalboating 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Funny enough I've just bought an auger bit and welded a longer bar onto it, my intention is to drill out and fill the holes with horticultural grit with 6 inches of topsoil to finish off. I've applied gypsum both powder and granular in previous years and can't say it did much, If I had a Kiln with the amount of clay in my garden I could start a brick factory

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Ironically I've spoke to 2 customers today.. ones bought an auger.. hes doing the short grit, same as you.. the 2nd has been hard at it and completed 350 holes over the last week!

    • @canalboating
      @canalboating 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@LawnRight sounds like everyone is giving it a go, I remember seeing a machine on an america golf course like huge truck it drilled about ten holes and backfilled them before moving forward a foot or so, drill and fill they called it

  • @LIVELAUGHLOVEWELLY
    @LIVELAUGHLOVEWELLY 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Damp issue in the corner too

  • @thomasevans1959
    @thomasevans1959 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Just tried this in some thin areas before overseeding... my emotions repeatedly swung between “I’m so glad I’m doing this, it’s going to work so well” & “I think I’m going mad, what a waste of time”

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Once it starts to come through you'll be glad you did

    • @Backintday
      @Backintday 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I aerated my garden with a drill last year, my neighbour thought i had gone mad but im glad i did it.

    • @Braedenfish
      @Braedenfish 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Backintday Same here man! Now it's my favorite thing cause the yard was so awful it couldn't help but improve fast! And I love looking like a nut for a year.... then having nice lawn. I didn't know it was a "thing" or had a name "core integration ." It just made sense to me cause tilling in compost only made a swamptub of compost in my yard instead of a garden plot, so I drilled so we wouldn't get mosquitoes. Then I put sticks to keep holes open. And cardboard was no brainer...it's dirts best friend after worms so I shoved some in holes with sticks. Beautiful.

  • @fredpierce6097
    @fredpierce6097 ปีที่แล้ว

    This technique is “Tough Love” personified…..😂

  • @scotthirschausen177
    @scotthirschausen177 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Gypsum helps open up clay based earth, common practice in Aus

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks Scott. Yeah, the trouble here is getting enough into the ground once the lawns laid.. although I agree some down the auger holes alongside compost will do it the world of good. Thanks 😊👍

    • @scotthirschausen177
      @scotthirschausen177 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@LawnRight liquid gypsum, no idea available in the uk. But is obtainable here, cheaper than bagged gypsum as well

  • @tycox8704
    @tycox8704 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Amazing. Your lawn is smaller than some of my mulch beds, and I’m in no way wealthy. Imagine having the issue of clay soil, but 35k sq ft of it!

  • @unionjack100980
    @unionjack100980 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great tip, was thinking of doing this using sand, what do you think?

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hi, personally I'd aim for topsoil and compost Certainly mix some sand in but a bit of structure would be needed 😊👍

  • @violentnewworld
    @violentnewworld 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Mines not just heavy clay but also bricks and other crap left by the builders.
    Think I have to dig it out section by section and replace with compost and shop bought black gold.
    Feels like my "good" top soil Is actually only good compared to the heavy builders clay and rubble mix underneath. 😢

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Ahhh a bit of work ahead.. if the top 6 inches or do is fair soil you may not need to do all that.. regular aeration.. getting compost and gypsum down will slowly help over a few years

  • @jayhogg8711
    @jayhogg8711 ปีที่แล้ว

    Ehat about the clay breaker

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Gypsum? If that's what you mean, def handy to break up the clay along with some compost and regular topsoil. Thanks

    • @jayhogg8711
      @jayhogg8711 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@LawnRight yes thats the one ok thanks ill need to try that i moved into a new house and the whole lawn is clay . Thanks man

  • @profiterdupresent4322
    @profiterdupresent4322 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks food for thought.....

  • @dagtailgroundmaintenance
    @dagtailgroundmaintenance 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Useful information. I've seen some pretty bad ones. All about the money. I think I'll steer clear 😁 are you going to offer to have ago mate?

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Not sure lol. Saying that one of my customers has had a go.. told me hes put 350 holes in! Omg

  • @harrybrown8943
    @harrybrown8943 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Useful information thanks

  • @Stil_grindin
    @Stil_grindin 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Right on bro! “Spot on”…? 🤔 is it still cool to even say that anymore? Forgive me,,, however, the phrase is absolutely fitting in this case! This is an American, it’s cool it’s autumn, and for context,,, I am a greens keeper at a private club. And right now, In my 2nd year of renovating, more specifically, soil-transformation of hard clay soil. To make things worse, this property has a dense tree canopy. That’s Just for some context cuz, i have a question to ask,,,, and I could use some advice….
    I’ve been using this same approach, the concept is introducing dead organic material; preferably material in a state of decay. I’m using whatever I have around me. I’m stuffing half rotted leaves in aeration holes, where there were hard voids I’m mixing in black top soil I’ve gathered from bottom layers of mulch (wood chips) flower beds, I’ve filled holes with a sandy mix where drainage was crappy, a few bags of both peat moss and horse compost turned in bout 6-8 inches, top dressing healthier patches with nice organic material(harvest from woods) grabbing up all loose cores, I’m running out of ideas and time….🥺
    Spring n fall this lawn will THRIVE…. As long as the trees aren’t covered in leaves; as they are now. Clearly I’ve missed timed things because the leaves are holding on and I’m loosing seedlings daily. And 80% of the grass is just looking sad! For example, there are spots where the grass is so weak My blower sometimes lifts the bunches right up from the soil. 🤷‍♂️ the leaves are only partially changing colors and tho this soil is REALLY improving, there are still areas I had to spray pretty hard over the last 18 months.
    Have you ever experienced problems growing new grass where a particular spot had required several herbicide applications?
    And
    Any ideas you could recommend? Maybe something I haven’t tried yet?
    Last
    Can you tell me anything I might be able to do to keep this grass alive for a week or two?
    Note: I’ve pruned every limb as high up as my equipment permits. I’ve fertilized at roughly twice what’s recommended. Converting grass species of lawn over to fescue mix. A ton of work will be for nothing if I can’t come up with something. I’m mean, there are LITERALLY patches of this lawn that see only intermittent sun total maybe 2 hours a day,,, AT most!
    Idk what to do… 🥺 it’s my folks lawn, they hope to sell house next year, and I’ve taken on the responsibility of renovating a lawn that’s been neglected for over 15 years… drainage is ok…. The property sits on side of a hill and the lawn has significant grade in most spots but, if I had more access to free sand I’d certainly be filling holes with it where necessary….
    Any tips or ideas that might help or save me, I’d appreciate ya bro! From one turf manager to another, thank you, take care, God bless, and holler at me with anything you come up with.
    I appreciate you for actually reading this whole thing! Lol 😂
    Peace!
    Or
    Wait…… 🤔
    Cheers! 😁

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hi.! The only issue I can see is lack of available sunlight. It's my belief that turf needs at least 3 hours a day of direct sunlight to stay reasonable.. and the inevitable decay of some grasses (of which a lot will eventually improve again in spring). I read all the message :) Ive not seen any issues due to over application of herbicides.. but if you seed close to a herb application there will be some residually, so I usually like to wait at least 4 to 6 weeks after any hrb app to seed. As I read the comment you are definitely working wonders in the soil.. You might find some better seed varieties out there that do better in shady areas but other than that Id be looking to overseed in spring... Otherwise some seaweed is about the only other thign I can suggest right now :)

    • @Stil_grindin
      @Stil_grindin 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Much love, my man! Appreciate ya!

  • @petedetraglia4776
    @petedetraglia4776 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Ammonium Sulfate lowers PH and most clay soils have a high PH do to nutrient being bonded into the clay and not releasing. Aerating with definitely help, peat moss, humic acid, organic fertilizers. Humic acid and any product that you can get in your area that lowers PH is the best way to amend clay soil...Drilling is a very temporary fix and not a long term solution as soil will always fight to go back to where it started...Also products that super charge micro biology, worms, etc. will natural till through your soil thus opening up areas deeper in the soil to help release water pooling and retention. Carbon sources also do the same thing as they product micro opening in soil that also helps in drainage. Once you establish your turf using root grow stimulators will also enhance root growth giving even more space in your lawn and when the roots shed adding more organic materials deeper in your soil. Humic acid is a natural chelator and breaks bonds that cause clay soil to harden. Many ways to amend clay soil...Good luck to all... P.S. people who use sand to amend clay soil only have more problems in the long run....

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hi pete thanks for your detailed couple of comments. Been super busy last few days and I wanted to get to all the comments asap...

  • @damonmccray85
    @damonmccray85 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    That and also top dress with something organic as well. Get as much organic material down as you can without totally covering your lawn

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Totally agree

  • @wendyholmes3445
    @wendyholmes3445 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Looks like they have damp issues on the wall in the corner.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yeah its pretty poor design by the house builders.. we found drains buried.. I mentioned a few issues to them at the time.. not sure if they ever got it sorted tho

  • @LTFC77
    @LTFC77 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Looks like rising damp in the corner by the down pipe

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      possibly. Ive mentioned this to the customers a few times, and theyve had the house builders out a few times who seem to think all is ok..!

    • @LTFC77
      @LTFC77 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@LawnRight hopefully…. Great video btw,,, will be giving this a go myself later in the year

  • @gow03333
    @gow03333 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    adding lime to clay soils will make the soil particles flocculate, allowing the water to drain.
    this might not cure the problem ,but will kill the moss .

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Ahh yes good point.. best done over winter especially if thinking about seeding in spring

  • @bobcharlie7982
    @bobcharlie7982 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    What i did was rip it all up and put in a patio hahah
    I do still have abit of grass tho
    I cant even dig through my clay its that thick. I could drill down 6ft and still be in clay

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Look at deep drilling. drop somehl humic acid, compost, topsoil and gypsum down over the next few years and itll gradually improve.. long term game though

  • @crustydownunder
    @crustydownunder 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    That's a very small yard. If it were mine, I'd concrete the lot and put down some quality synthetic turf.
    No more mowing, no more fertiliser, no more weekends spent doing yard work.
    I'd love to have a yard that small.
    Thanks for another great video, mate.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      To be fair I was there yesterday. It was doing ok, the customer has a neighbour whose drained their garden on this one.. they are now considering something drastically different to grass..think theyve just had enough of trying

    • @crustydownunder
      @crustydownunder 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@LawnRight I actually was just being funny...although it's something I've been dreaming about for 4 years. LOL.
      I just wanted to leave a comment to help your channel.
      Myself, I have 3.5 acres, and I'm over mowing it 2 times a week. So, I'm going to put in some huge gardens to cut back on the amount of grass I have to mow.
      Grass is spectacular to look at, but can be very high maintenance. I think there are alternatives to grass that can be just as spectacular.
      I love your channel and your relaxed way of presenting. I love your work, you're a real, hard worker. I admire that.
      Good luck with your business and your channel.

    • @LawnRight
      @LawnRight  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@crustydownunder ahh lol.. sorry I had my head buried in video editing 🤣. Thanks for the kind words. There are products you can spray on to the lawn to slow down vertical growth for a few weeks.. might be handy at times 😊