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Considering not buying topsoil for new lawn
 | BX23Fan
Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 25 Snohomish, WA 
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2005-05-23 111423
I have 1/4 acre of front yard to install. The yard was (until recently) a forest floor consisting of doug firs, hemlocks, and (later) alders. I'm entertaining the idea of foregoing the purchase of topsoil in favor of doctoring up the current dirt to be hospitable for grass.
My limited research tells me that I would need to get the soil tested, add lime as necessary, and add in some ferterlizer. I'd use a rake attachment (to my Kubota BX23) or tiller attachment to mix it all together, then smooth it with my box blade, then seed and roll.
The soil I have isn't sandy, but does have a bit of clay.
I'd appreciate any words of wisdom to ensure a successful and healthy lawn.
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Considering not buying topsoil for new lawn
 | funchy
Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 128 north eastern corner of Maryland
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2005-05-23 111427
I'm NOT a grass expert but I have done what you're suggesting. Last fall I cut out the trees, dug up the stumps with the bx23, and then used the FEL to fill in the holes. I didn't use a rake or blade afterwards since my ground was pretty level except where trees or rocks had been.
The trouble with land clearing is that any big holes you backfill may settle over the next few months leaving your perfect grade full of dips; my advice is don't sweat making the grading 100% perfect right now.
I seeded with fast growing/periennal mix and when it comes time to overseed in the fall I'll also take a handrake and some topsoil to fill in the depressions to fix where big stumpholes really settled.
I didn't have a thick layer of pine needles or too many roots, so your results may vary. I didn't do a soil test either, but it probably would be a good idea. ....
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Considering not buying topsoil for new lawn
 | AnnBrush
Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 462 Troy OH
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2005-05-23 111440
If you do what Funchy suggests make sure you record the EXACT grass mix you used or you will get odd looking circles/patches where you filled in the extra dirt and then planted with a slightly different grass mixture. ....
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