Expert: Frank and Vicky Giannangelo - 1/11/2009

Question
First of all, thank you for your time. I live in Cental Texas, my soil is a couple of different kinds. First I have a sandy loam topsoil with alot of sand in places. Then I have red dirt, the type used to put under house and building foundations and starts about 2 to 3 ft deep going as deep as 25 ft.  
    I had a company approach me about buying some of the red dirt. We made the agreement but I required a contract  to requireing the company to build me a tank, backfill the dig area with cleen fil dirt and once thru digging then terrace all of my 9 acres to drain to the tank.
   If I have heard correctly I have grassburrs due to being in sandy soil, which is in poor health. This being said I was going to use organic fixes by adding the needed amendments. As to the did area I was going to get with several lawn services and have them dump all of their grass clipings into the holes as the backfilling is being done. Loosely stated I am trying to put a layer of grass, then dirt or sand, grass again, dirt again so as to improve the soil. Once done I will plant native grasses back in the field.
    With regards to the soil amendments I was going to put out dry molasses, fish emulsions, corn glutten meal along with green sand, and lava sand.
    Any suggestions you have based on this info would be appreciated.

Answer
The first thing is to test your soil so you know what is missing...you can do that at A&L Plains Agricultural Laboratory, Inc. Lubbock, TX 79408-1590  (806) 763-4278

When you know what you are working with then you can add nutrients.  Your soil is probably alkaline, but I am guessing.  If it is alkaline, you should add a lot of gypsum which will bring down the pH and add calcium to the soil.

I think a better plan would be to compost all the grass clippings and then add the compost to the top four inches of the soil.  Grass will not need much in the way of nutrients, the important thing will be the pH, and compost for making the sandy soil loamy like.  

Corn gluten meal will prevent your seeds from sprouting, it is used as a herbicide.  I would add blood meal for nitrogen, gypsum, and kelp meal.  

If you try to layer in the ground like that you will end up with unmixed soil and it will never mix itself.  

For more information on soil building and easy composting please visit our website:  
http://www.avant-gardening.com/ogardening.htm