Sewer work - yard is trashed - grass?

[DougK62]

I live out in the country in a small town. Everyone was on their own private septic systems for sewage. We just recently had a centralized sewer system installed that we're all required to connect to. So I had to get a contractor out to trench the yard for sewer pipes, abandon my septic tank, yada yada. They did this yesterday and it works just fine.

So now my yard is obviously messed up bad from all of the work done with the excavator. My soil has a lot of clay in it, so I'm not sure what the best way is to get some grass seed started here. I'm afraid that if I just till the soil and put down the seed that it will just wash away with a heavy rain because of the clay (doesn't drain well). Any suggestions for getting grass going on clay?

 

[krylon]

noob

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

I was in a very similar situation 5 years ago.

Spread the grass seed as you normally would, then drag a leaf rake over the ground in order to lightly cover the seeds with soil. Water morning and evening every day. You'll go from moonscape to green peach fuzz in a couple of weeks.

 

[DougK62]

I was in a very similar situation 5 years ago.

Spread the grass seed as you normally would, then drag a leaf rake over the ground in order to lightly cover the seeds with soil. Water morning and evening every day. You'll go from moonscape to green peach fuzz in a couple of weeks.

Hmmm...that's good news. So you didn't have to put top soil down over the clay or anything like that? That's encouraging. What state is it that you did this in?

 

[GasX]

Covering the seeded area in hay also helps

 

[Tobolo]

Be sure you break the soil up first (should be already from the work) and spread seed. Dragging with a rake lightly will help incorporate the seed into the soil. If you are worried about runoff then you can cover the seeded area with a light layer of hay (not pine straw). Water enough to keep the seed wet for the first two weeks or until you achieve 100% germination. After that then you would need about to water two to three times per week (depending on rainfall and qty of rainfall).

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Hmmm...that's good news. So you didn't have to put top soil down over the clay or anything like that? That's encouraging. What state is it that you did this in?

Sussex County, NJ. Lot's of clay and rocks!

I didn't even really till the soil - I used a stone rake to break up the surface, then put down the grass seed. You'll probably want to wet the soil 1st before turning it over. Reportedly, added earthworms to your yard helps a lot, as they naturally aerate the soil.

I used cheap rye grass seed and it's worked out OK, and it's mixed with the native grass which did recover from the devastation. It's not a "Better Homes & Gardens" grade lawn - there' some dandelions and crabgrass - but the coverage is good, is one of the nicer lawns in the neighborhood, and maintenance is low.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

rent a vertislicer from the rental center, use it to groove the soil. spread seed, then lightly rake the soil again, and water. I'd recommend a seed mix with some rye grass in it to get a fast growth for this season to protect the rest.

 

[boomerang]

If I was going through all that effort I'd take the extra step to make sure the grass was both going to grow and survive. So yes, you need topsoil.

I'm no green thumb, but I'd wait through at least several hard rains before doing anything. The soil they disturbed is going to settle. Call the local landscape supply and have them deliver the top soil. Spread it evenly, seed, rake it in, cover with straw and water.

Sorry to hear about the sewers.

Edit: I'd hire it done if I could because I have an extreme distaste for yard work. Aren't the other neighbors in the same predicament? Get together with the neighbors and hire some company to come out and do the whole neighborhood at once.