Lawn issues - Ask Extension
Hi-
Enclosed are photos of my yard. I need advice on re-growing some grass. The soil is clay-like and fairly hard. I "tested" it with a PH ...
Knowledgebase
Lawn issues #930207
Asked April 30, 2026, 5:21 PM EDT
Hi-
Enclosed are photos of my yard. I need advice on re-growing some grass. The soil is clay-like and fairly hard. I "tested" it with a PH meter, and also Bicarbonate of Soda, and another sample with vinegar-no bubbles either time (some very slight bubbling with the BoS). The yard was subjected to some workmen scaffolding covering it when our roof was put on, and hasn't grown since. There are also scrabbly, dead spots.
Last year, I cored the yard, and also de-thatched sometime around fall. Would it need coring again in your opinion to break it up for seeding? Also, should I weed-and-feed soon? I was also thinking that it might be a good idea to place some topsoil on it.
Please advise,
Thank you.
Le Sueur County Minnesota
Expert Response
First do a soil test using the UMN lab. See this web page. There is a fee for this service, $22.00.
https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/
Weed and feed products are not advised because the weeds come up at different times and should be treated individually. Those times may be different from when the lawn needs fertilizer. When you receive your soil test results, purchase fertilizer with the NPK numbers as close to the recommendations as possible. But they don't have to be exactly the same.
Whether or not you need topsoil will depend on the condition of your existing soil. Coring and dethaching are possibilities, but may not be needed. The workmen may have compacted your soil and coring may help with that. See these web pages for reseeding the bare areas.
https://extension.umn.edu/lawn-care/seeding-and-sodding-home-lawns
https://extension.umn.edu/lawn-care/buying-turfgrass-seed-minnesota-lawns
https://extension.umn.edu/lawns-and-landscapes/lawn-care
https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/
Weed and feed products are not advised because the weeds come up at different times and should be treated individually. Those times may be different from when the lawn needs fertilizer. When you receive your soil test results, purchase fertilizer with the NPK numbers as close to the recommendations as possible. But they don't have to be exactly the same.
Whether or not you need topsoil will depend on the condition of your existing soil. Coring and dethaching are possibilities, but may not be needed. The workmen may have compacted your soil and coring may help with that. See these web pages for reseeding the bare areas.
https://extension.umn.edu/lawn-care/seeding-and-sodding-home-lawns
https://extension.umn.edu/lawn-care/buying-turfgrass-seed-minnesota-lawns
https://extension.umn.edu/lawns-and-landscapes/lawn-care
Thank you very much!
EdK
