[Vols_fan08]

Okay guys need some help. I'm seeding the second week of September. Currently nuking the lawn. I have a few good sized spots in my lawn that nothing has ever grown but crabgrass there. I did the screwdriver test and it only goes down about 3 inches after a decent rain. Should I just use baby shampoo on the area for the next four weeks and triple aerate it before seeding? Or should I till this area up down to six inches a week before seeding? I didn't get to Harley rake this area 2 years ago when I built my house. I ran out of time for the rental..

 

[Virginiagal]

Make sure there are no rocks or other debris buried in the ground. Put a shovel into an area where nothing grows but crabgrass and see if you hit objects.

 

[Vols_fan08]

I did do that. It seems to be a silty..? Browinsh grey Type soil area? It crumbles easily, it smells fertile really. Not a red or dark grey clay soil in my opinion.

 

[ericgautier]

So, you were able to dig down 6" without finding anything?

 

[social port]

Back in May my soil would only give me 3 inches or less.
Two applications of baby shampoo changed that considerably, and I added a third recently (which comes out to an application about every 3-4 weeks). I can now get 5-6 inches pretty consistently on most areas tested.
I'm surprised by the effectiveness. I don't know if you will have similar results with shampoo (you surely don't have 3 months to work with). It just happened to work with my particular set of circumstances--note that I am in a newly constructed house as well. I say go for it: worse case scenario is you're out 20 bucks or so and an hour for application time.
I've got humic acid and kelp extract on standby. I plan to use the humic acid near my seed date and possibly the kelp as well.

 

[GrassDaddy]

If you dig down 6in and don't find anything, then shampoo away. I can go a full foot when I'm up to snuff on my shampoo ;-)

 

[Vols_fan08]

So, you were able to dig down 6" without finding anything?

Yes

 

[Vols_fan08]

If you dig down 6in and don't find anything, then shampoo away. I can go a full foot when I'm up to snuff on my shampoo ;-)

I have the same hose end sprayer as you do. What ratio of baby shampoo and water you use? Also which setting?

 

[Vols_fan08]

Back in May my soil would only give me 3 inches or less.
Two applications of baby shampoo changed that considerably, and I added a third recently (which comes out to an application about every 3-4 weeks). I can now get 5-6 inches pretty consistently on most areas tested.
I'm surprised by the effectiveness. I don't know if you will have similar results with shampoo (you surely don't have 3 months to work with). It just happened to work with my particular set of circumstances--note that I am in a newly constructed house as well. I say go for it: worse case scenario is you're out 20 bucks or so and an hour for application time.
I've got humic acid and kelp extract on standby. I plan to use the humic acid near my seed date and possibly the kelp as well.

That's hopeful. This area was always farmed for hay. So a lot of tractors rolling through here for years.