Trying to improve sandy soil for lawn (manure, grass, lawn mower)

[CTbrooktrout]

Our house is was built about 9 years ago and there's quite a bit of sand in the yard, I think they filled some areas and put a thin coat of top soil over it. These areas don't hold moisture well and whenever I ride my lawn tractor over them it turns into a dust storm. I'd like to improve the soil's moisture holding abilities as well as increase the lawn's density. I'll try to provide a picture of the areas.

I'm thinking about spreading compost over these areas. Would this help and how much would be recommended. Any other additives I could try?

There are quite a bit of ant hills in these dry sandy areas if that's an indication of anything. Anything I can do to kill some of the ant population off or are they good for the lawn?

[oberon_1]

Originally Posted by CTbrooktrout

Our house is was built about 9 years ago and there's quite a bit of sand in the yard, I think they filled some areas and put a thin coat of top soil over it. These areas don't hold moisture well and whenever I ride my lawn tractor over them it turns into a dust storm. I'd like to improve the soil's moisture holding abilities as well as increase the lawn's density. I'll try to provide a picture of the areas.

I'm thinking about spreading compost over these areas. Would this help and how much would be recommended. Any other additives I could try?

There are quite a bit of ant hills in these dry sandy areas if that's an indication of anything. Anything I can do to kill some of the ant population off or are they good for the lawn?

Not an expert, but I would suggest to test the soil to see its composition and ph level. Also dig in a couple of spots and check the layers (sand, topsoil, clay-soil, rock and how deep each layer is, etc). One important factor you don't mention is how healthy the grass is. If you assessment is correct and the good fertile soil isn't deep enough, I don't think compost will fix that. Maybe add first a few inches of garden soil.
Ants - I don't think they damage the lawn beyond a few spots, but why not exterminate them with a lawn friendly solution?

[loves2read]

if they are fire ants--the very ecological way to get rid of them is to take two shovels and get a helper

each person digs up part of ONE ant hill--with ants--and drops it on the other's ant hill--
they fight--and will fight to the death...so they kill each other...if one colony survives you just find another one to invade it with...

[hotzcatz]

Set the blades of the lawn mower higher so the grass has more of a chance to grow. With sandy soil and short grass it will dry out faster in the wind.

Get a lawn mower than mulches the grass and puts the clippings back into the lawn to increase the amount of green manure going into the lawn. Add in a lot of compost, too.