I live in NE Alabama and our extreme drought has caused many sunk in
holes
or depressions in my yard. I have access to a couple of free, small
truckloads of left over leveling sand, the kind used in
construction. A
friend wants to use this to fill in the holes in the yard. He says
the
grass will grow right over it and do fine. I don't share this
opinion. I
have 1 acre, on a lake, with St. Augustine in the front and mostly
centipede
in the back. The back slopes more than the front. The drought has
damaged
all of my grass but I have fertilized and have been extra careful
about
mowing. I keep the mower set on 2 1/2 to 3 inches in height. Both
grasses
are rebounding very well as this spring we have had abundant
rainfall. I am
concerned about putting sand out to fill the holes and depressions.
What do
you guys think? Should I accept this offer of free sand or wait and
get
some good topsoil.

Thanks,
Howard

Howard wrote:
I live in NE Alabama and our extreme drought has caused many sunk in
holes
or depressions in my yard. I have access to a couple of free, small
truckloads of left over leveling sand, the kind used in
construction. A
friend wants to use this to fill in the holes in the yard. He says
the
grass will grow right over it and do fine. I don't share this
opinion. I
have 1 acre, on a lake, with St. Augustine in the front and mostly
centipede
in the back. The back slopes more than the front. The drought has
damaged
all of my grass but I have fertilized and have been extra careful
about
mowing. I keep the mower set on 2 1/2 to 3 inches in height. Both
grasses
are rebounding very well as this spring we have had abundant
rainfall. I am
concerned about putting sand out to fill the holes and depressions.
What do
you guys think? Should I accept this offer of free sand or wait and
get
some good topsoil.

Thanks,
Howard

Sand works fine, with a few caveats... It's generally done in early
spring, and only put down about 1/2 inch at a time. If you fill a 2"-3"
deep hole you'll have a sand spot for a while. My front yard looks like
a fairway with 2 bunkers right now....

"Howard" wrote in message
...
I live in NE Alabama and our extreme drought has caused many sunk in
holes
or depressions in my yard. I have access to a couple of free, small
truckloads of left over leveling sand, the kind used in
construction. A
friend wants to use this to fill in the holes in the yard. He says
the
grass will grow right over it and do fine. I don't share this
opinion. I
have 1 acre, on a lake,

If it was me I'd take the sand and have it dumped to the side. Then I'd
start digging muck out of the lake bottom - maybe a wheelbarrow full at a
time. I'd use the muck thinned out with a little sand.


with St. Augustine in the front and mostly
centipede
in the back. The back slopes more than the front. The drought has
damaged
all of my grass but I have fertilized and have been extra careful
about
mowing. I keep the mower set on 2 1/2 to 3 inches in height. Both
grasses
are rebounding very well as this spring we have had abundant
rainfall. I am
concerned about putting sand out to fill the holes and depressions.
What do
you guys think? Should I accept this offer of free sand or wait and
get
some good topsoil.

Thanks,
Howard

"Howard" wrote in message
...
I live in NE Alabama and our extreme drought has caused many sunk in
holes
or depressions in my yard. I have access to a couple of free, small
truckloads of left over leveling sand, the kind used in
construction. A
friend wants to use this to fill in the holes in the yard. He says
the
grass will grow right over it and do fine. I don't share this
opinion. I
have 1 acre, on a lake, with St. Augustine in the front and mostly
centipede
in the back. The back slopes more than the front. The drought has
damaged
all of my grass but I have fertilized and have been extra careful
about
mowing. I keep the mower set on 2 1/2 to 3 inches in height. Both
grasses
are rebounding very well as this spring we have had abundant
rainfall. I am
concerned about putting sand out to fill the holes and depressions.
What do
you guys think? Should I accept this offer of free sand or wait and
get
some good topsoil.

Thanks,
Howard

Bermuda grass is actually a beach grass. Should work fine with some sand.
Will take time for it to cover though. Not sure about your grass variants.

Sand is also beneficial if you have clay soil. Promotes drainage.

Steep inclines are not insusceptible to rainwash/high winds and
consequential loss of sand. You have to stay on top of these areas.
--
Dave

Thanks for all the good advice....I was really concerned that the sand
would hurt my grass, but since these depressions are creating washes
(on the slope part), I'm going ahead with the sand. I'm thinking
about using my mantis tiller in the larger depressions to work the
sand in with the soil. I'll let y'all know how it turns out.

Thanks again, I appreciate the responses.

Howard

"Howard" wrote in message
...
Thanks for all the good advice....I was really concerned that the sand
would hurt my grass, but since these depressions are creating washes
(on the slope part), I'm going ahead with the sand. I'm thinking
about using my mantis tiller in the larger depressions to work the
sand in with the soil. I'll let y'all know how it turns out.

Thanks again, I appreciate the responses.

Howard

Thanks for getting back to us Howard. So many times someone posts a
question and never bothers to wrap it up. I for one appreciate your
followup. Good luck with your project.

Sarge