The right sand can help your lawn in several ways. It acts as a natural weed suppressant, keeps the soil cool and moist, inhibits thatch build-up, and prevents your yard from becoming waterlogged. You can also use sand to fill up low areas and bare spots.
Despite the numerous benefits, it is essential to note that routine sand application poses some risks to your yard. It’s easy to introduce nematodes, weed seeds, and other invasive grass species with the wrong sand, resulting in an even worse weed problem.
Read on to learn more about how to spread sand in yard and the best way to accomplish this task.
Contents
- How to Spread Sand in Yard: Step by Step Guide
- Type of Sand to Use for Your yard
- Tools to use: Sand Spreaders
- Does Sand Help Grass Grow?
- How Much Sand to Spread on Yard
- Filling Bare Spots With Sand: How to
- How to Level Uneven Surfaces on Yard Using Sand
- How to Spread Sand in Yard (FAQs)
- Is sand any good for grass?
- Can you put topsoil over sand to grow grass?
- Can grass grow through sand?
- How do I improve the sandy soil in my lawn?
- What do you do with sand in your yard?
- Author
How to Spread Sand in Yard: Step by Step Guide
What you’ll need:
- Sand
- Shovel or a sand Spreader
Type of Sand to Use for Your yard
The best kind of sand to use is play sand designed for children’s sandboxes. If you don’t have any available in your area, builders’ sand will do just fine. Avoid using beach sand because it has too much salt and won’t absorb water well enough to help the grass grow.
Tools to use: Sand Spreaders
Many people mistakenly believe that you have to spread sand with a shovel. Although many professionals still use this method, it’s much easier and quicker to get the job done with a sand spreader.
Sand spreaders come in several different styles for different landscaping needs, but all work the same way. You dump the sand onto the spreader and push it at a medium pace as you walk across your yard.
Follow these steps:
- Make sure you have the right kind of sand. Sand for playgrounds or children’s sandboxes is best, but builders’ sand will also work just fine. Avoid using beach sand because it has too much salt and won’t absorb water well enough to help your grass grow.
- If your yard has low spots, fill them in with some sand first to make spreading the rest of it easier
- Fill your yard spreader with sand and start walking slowly across your yard in different directions. Make sure you keep moving so you don’t miss any spots. If you’re filling in some bare patches, stop once the desired surface is covered
- Lightly run over your yard with a push broom to spread the sand and get rid of any excess
- Water your yard with sprinklers to help the sand settle into the grass and absorb any leftover moisture.
- Keep off of your grass as much as possible during this time for optimal results
Does Sand Help Grass Grow?
Sand is often confused with topsoil, but these are two very different things.
Topsoil is dark in color and typically contains some amount of composted organic matter. Sand, on the other hand, does not contain any organic matter at all. It also does not help the grass grow better.
The main benefit of adding sand to your lawn is that it gives the soil lightness and airiness. This helps reduce compaction, which is helpful for grass growth.
With the right amount of sand, your lawn will be able to support a much thicker and healthier layer of grass. It can also help keep the soil balanced because it absorbs excess moisture and keeps the ground cooler than other soil types.
All these benefits combined can lead to a lush yard with less work on your part.
How Much Sand to Spread on Yard
Generally, you need around 1-2 inches of sand throughout your yard. But if your yard is particularly large or uneven, you may want to use no more than an inch in some places so that the rest can hold more grass seed and other plantings.
Just like any other soil, sand has its limits, and there are some things you shouldn’t do when spreading it on your lawn. For instance, spreading too much sand can make grass wilt and die. Don’t go overboard, especially if you’re trying to fix a low spot in your yard.
Note that you don’t need to spread sand every season. It is most effective during dry summer months, but using it in the spring or fall is just fine as well. If you live in a particularly damp area of the country, though, be sure only to use sand every other year.
Filling Bare Spots With Sand: How to
If your yard has bare spots, don’t just fill them in with grass seed. Sand is a better option because it adds lightness and drainage to the soil before adding new seeds or plantings. It will help prevent future bare spots while providing all of the benefits mentioned above.
Make sure the bare spot gets plenty of sun and water, and keep off of it as much as possible. This will help the new environment for grass growth. It might take a while to see any results but continue with your regular watering, mowing, and fertilizing schedule until you start seeing signs of green grass coming through the sand.
Remember that newly planted seeds or seedlings need extra water, so make sure to tend to them every day.
How to Level Uneven Surfaces on Yard Using Sand
You can use sand to level out uneven lawns. If you have a yard with low and high spots, all you need is a few inches of sand and some grass seed spread onto the affected area.
Use an aerator tool to poke small holes in the surface and add water to help break up any earth clods before putting on the new layer of sand.
It is best to use coarse sand with large grains that won’t get into your grass. Fine sand particles can block the sun and heat the soil, making it hard for grass roots to breathe and grow. You can also use a large rake to smooth the sand and remove any lumps or clods before applying the grass seed.
For this case, using a shovel is the best approach. However, if you have a sand spreader, it can go a long way to make the job o easier and more efficient, especially if you have a considerably large yard.
How to deter geese from your yard
How to Spread Sand in Yard (FAQs)
Is sand any good for grass?
Adding sand to your yard is great way to get the perfect soil conditions for growing grass. It lightens and drains clay-heavy soils while also protecting them from future erosion.
However, it is not a traditional lawn care practice, so if your goal is to get a perfect lawn, you may want to try something else.
Can you put topsoil over sand to grow grass?
You can put topsoil over sand as a way to help the grass grow. However, you should know that the two soils may take time to blend properly and provide the best environment for growing grass.
The easiest way is to mix the two soil to achieve a good blend that offers the best growing conditions.
Can grass grow through sand?
Grass can grow through sand provide there is water and some fertilizer. However, to achieve optimal growth, you should also add some topsoil.
This is because sand does not hold many nutrients, so adding topsoil will help provide the grass with the right fertilizer to grow efficiently.
How do I improve the sandy soil in my lawn?
To improve the sandy soil in your lawn, you should prepare the soil as if you were planting a garden. This means removing all weeds and removing any rocks.
After this, it is recommended to add topsoil and fertilizer. These items will help your grass thrive and give you a lush, well-manicured lawn.
What do you do with sand in your yard?
When you have sand in your yard, you can use it to build a sandbox for your children. You can also add sand to your garden or yard to provide proper drainage for low-lying areas prone to flooding.
This will help prevent waterlogged soil, which is especially important during the spring and fall when rain showers are common.
Neighbor blowing leaves onto my property
Understanding how to spread sand in yard is crucial for keeping your lawn healthy and grass seed thriving. Be sure to get the right kind of sand, spread it evenly across your yard (1-2 inches), and give it time to settle into the ground before walking or driving on it.
Remember that 1-2 inches of sand are optimal, but you can use two inches in patches that need extra help growing grass. Water your yard thoroughly after spreading the sand and keep it off until the sand has settled into the lawn.
Follow these steps, and you’ll be well on your way to having a healthy yard.
