Construction messed up my soil. What do I do? (Compaction and high-clay soils)

Picture this: renovations on your brand new home have been completed! Sounds great, right? Well, your soil may not agree. After construction, your soil may need some reevaluation. Start with a soil test! Sites of construction damage often have deficiencies in organic matter content, aeration, fertility, and drainage. A soil test can help determine what amendments are needed to address these deficiencies in soil chemistry. Next, check your soil's physical status including structure and texture. Often, the wear and tear done by construction equipment destroy soil structure, especially in high clay soils. According to Mr. Chad S. Blake, operations manager at Ponder Landscaping, the major problem with your soil structure after construction impact is usually compaction. Compaction impedes the efficient water infiltration, airflow, and plant root growth that should occur without issue in a healthy soil.

Taking action

A universal solution is adding high-quality compost. Neutral, high-organic matter compost will address a variety of problems including poor infiltration, water holding capacity, and nutrient deficiency. Avoid merely placing the compost; Instead, try mixing it with the soil that is already present. Simply placing the new material at the surface will make layers of soil with different characteristics, rather than being uniform throughout. Mr. Blake offers some additional solutions: “You can fix your soil by aerating, tilling, and cultivating it. You can also add gypsum, a natural way to aerate compacted soils.” Gypsum in particular might be helpful for compacted soils that are high in clay and low in calcium. With the right techniques, it is certainly possible to reverse compaction damage due to construction.

As explained by Mr. Blake, moderate amounts of clay in your soil are actually good for your lawn; it’s when it there are heaps of clay that it becomes a problem. “If it’s in the right amount, [clay] helps provide good water retention so water doesn’t go straight through [the soil]. Clay helps soil retain the moisture. However, it can have the reverse effect. If there is too much clay, water doesn’t flow through it.” All soil has clay in it; it’s the amount of clay that matters.

Waiting to lay down sod

Mr. Blake gave a walk through in the process of installing a new lawn following construction damage. “We start by taking a soil sample, which will tell us any deficiencies. Next, we apply the necessary organic fertilizer and use a product, like limestone, to get the pH right if it wasn’t right. We always cultivate it and bring in a certain amount of topsoil. We also install any drainage necessary.”

Don’t be alarmed by a heavy, compacted lawn following property renovations. Maintain your excitement for a new property and relax, because compaction damage is reversible!