Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer

How to Grow Grass in Sandy Soil

Sandy soil is one of the more difficult soils to grow grass in. Even if your soil is sandy, there are sandy soil lawn care to give you that lush and green lawn that you desire. To grow grass anywhere requires not only soil and water but nutrients, air, sunlight, and reasonable soil stability. Here are some tips on how to grow grass in sandy soil.

growing grass in sandy soil

Growing Grass Successfully in Sandy Soil


The best time to plant new lawns is in the spring as soon as suitable conditions allow. Or, preferably, in the early summer.

Get the soil tested for texture, nutrients, and organic matter


Get your soil tested for texture, nutrients, and organic matter. Knowing what you're dealing with will help you make better decisions and waste less time and effort. Sandy soil is notoriously low in soil organic matter, leading to well-draining lawn soil. Organic matter will help the soil hold water for long enough that the plants can absorb what they need. The test may take a few weeks, but it may also save you a few years of headaches.

Add organic matter (and/or other recommended amendments)


Many lawn owners are moving for soil style "sandy loam." This soil is primarily sandy, but still has some clay and silt, as well as organic matter. Sandy loam is easy to deal with, drains easily, and grass will be able to grow up its roots easily. The downside is that sandy loam dries easily, so apply organic matter before planting turf.

Plant grass seed 


Most forms of turfgrass grow very well in sandy loam, providing adequate sunshine and moisture. Grass does not thrive easily in mud, silt, or organic matter. As discussed in the previous paragraph, there should be other grass combined. See What grass that grows in sandy soil

1. Southern Warm-Climate Grass for Sandy Soil

Bahiagrass has a high resistance to heat and drought. It's fine in sandy soil and it doesn't need a lot of precipitation.

Bermuda grass thrives in mild temperatures and mild seasons but is resistant to frost and shade.

Zoysia Grass is the most temperature-adjustable grass and the light varies from these three grass types. Low maintenance and hard to make out of a seed, so many homeowners buy plugs instead of seeds.

2. Northern Cool-Climate Grasses for Sandy Soil

Fine fescue is one of the better lawn grasses if you live in a northern or cool-climate area. It normally lasts during the year, even in colder temperatures, and is very low maintenance. Fescue grows well in well-drained soils and is not tolerant of damp environments. The good news is that if your soil is dry, it might not be much of a problem for your grass. Look for a combination of grass seed that includes a combination of fine fescued and Kentucky bluegrass. Both fescues and bluegrass are high-quality shade.-like turf lawns.

Keep seed moist through germination and early establishment


Watering is the most important part of growing grass, particularly in sandy soils. Water the lawn every day on gloomy days and many times a day on sunny days. Water six to eight inches deep and as much as possible to keep the lawn safe. Any deeper than 8 inches or watering during the hottest time of the day can wastewater.

Cut the lawn high (3″) to encourage deep root growth


The cutting height of 3′′ is suitable for regular mowing of the grass. You don't want to cut more than 1/3 of the lawn height at a time. If the grass gets too tall, it's easier to trim it down to the length you like, a little bit at a time, than to chop it all at once.

If you have some other ideas on growing grass in sandy soil that you can share, make sure you leave a comment below.