Can You Put Dirt Over Sand And Grow Grass

Everyone pictures a lush green lawn when they imagine their perfect home. Not every place is suited for grass, though, so you may be someone facing a sandy lot where it could be difficult to grow grass. You start to stress, asking: Can you put dirt over sand and grow grass?

You can put dirt over sand and grow grass. Having dirt and sand mixed will create better drainage and, in turn, healthier grass. 

Sand and dirt are a better combination than you might initially think, so we will dive deeper into that in this article. Keep reading to learn how to plant grass over sand!

Can You Put Topsoil Over Sand

Yes, you can put topsoil over sand. 

If you have a sandy yard, you may be worried about putting topsoil over sand, but you can do so.

Putting topsoil over sand is a great thing because it will create better drainage. 

Before putting topsoil over sand, you should do some work to prep the sand. You do not need to do this, but it will ensure you have a long-lasting foundation for your grass.

Till the sand first. Remove any rocks, especially larger ones. Look for any weeds or growth you do not want to run rampant in your new yard.

Once the sand is prepped, you can add the topsoil right over the sand. 

How Much Topsoil Over Sand To Grow Grass

You need about half a foot of topsoil over the sand to grow luscious green grass.

Now that you’ve prepped the sand for topsoil, you might wonder how much topsoil you need.

Most gardeners and landscapers recommend that you add about six inches of topsoil over your sand for your grass. 

This may not seem like much dirt when you think about how much six inches is, but it can amount to quite a bit of topsoil when you consider that you need to cover your entire yard.

Depending on what kind of yard you want, you may have to remove some of the sand to make a bed for your grass. After all, you don’t want your yard to be higher than walkways or overgrown in some areas.

Does Sand Stop Grass From Growing

No, sand does not stop grass from growing.

It might seem counterintuitive, but sand does not stop grass from growing.

Sand doesn’t hold nutrients or water since it is not as densely packed as dirt or topsoil, but it can still be great for grass.

In this case, we’re not planting grass seeds directly into the sand, so we don’t have to worry about sand stopping the grass from growing.

When sand is mixed with soil, it helps your grass grow. 

You might have trouble growing grass only on sand, but usually, you won’t be in that situation. 

How To Grow Grass Over Sand

Now that we know that grass can grow over topsoil and sand let’s talk about the process of doing it. 

Most people undertaking this will hire a professional landscaper to do the work for them. Landscapers have heavy equipment that can easily maneuver and bring in the required materials.

Just because it is easier to hire a professional does not mean that it is impossible to plant grass over sand yourself. It may just take a little more elbow grease! 

Prepare Your Sand

We mentioned this earlier, but the first thing you need to do is prepare the sand that you already have.

Think of this as the foundation of your new yard.

Remove any large rocks, pull out weeds, and till the sand. The deeper you go with this process, the better start you will have to your lawn. 

You might be tempted to skip this step, but think about this: Do you want a house with a foundation that was slapped together? No, probably not!

We want healthy grass once it begins to grow, so the effort will be well worth it as your grass comes in.

Add The Topsoil

Next, you will add the topsoil.

If you’re on your own, you will need a pick-up truck to deposit all the topsoil you need. You can use a wheelbarrow if it is all you have, but you will be making dozens of trips to get all the dirt you need.

Again, you will need about six inches of topsoil over the grass.

Once all the dirt is over the sand, it is easy to spread out the topsoil evenly across the entire space.

And you’re finished with this step. The hardest work is done now.

Lay Your Grass Seed

Grass seed is not like regular seeds, so you cannot just throw it down and expect to have the best results. 

Grass seed has a pattern that you need to follow.

While I can try to describe all the ways that you should lay grass seed, the best piece of advice I have is to follow the directions on the grass seed box.

Don’t worry – this doesn’t make you seem stupid. There is a method that you must follow to produce the best results.

Generally speaking, you need to throw grass down in two directions to create a criss-cross pattern where you want it to grow. 

Once all of your grass seed is thrown down, rake over the topsoil to cover the seed.

Tend To Your Growing Grass

Now that your seed is planted, you’ll need to start taking care of it. 

As your seed grows, you need to protect it. One of the most common ways is to add hay on top of the soil. This acts like mulch and prevents your grass seed from blowing away or being eaten by birds.

Keep the seed and soil moist by watering it daily. Do not overwater the seed; it does not need to be saturated.

Since you are most likely planting grass in the summer, you might need to water more than once a day until your grass reaches a healthy height of about one inch. 

You will mow for the first time when your grass reaches about three inches tall. 

Continue to water and mow your grass as it grows into a thick bed.

Once you have a modest yard begun, you can start to add the product to keep weeds and crabgrass at bay for the best lush lawn in the neighborhood. 

Facing a sandy lot in the beginning, may have been scary, but with some elbow grease, you’ve grown a beautiful lawn from scratch!