My grass

OK, so people use the phrase "watching grass grow" as a deragatory statement about a boring activity. I wish I could watch my grass grow. It seems like it stopped growing about two years ago.

We moved to a new house with a new lawn. The sod was put down over about two inches of top soil and about 2,000 feet of Illinois clay. This is not just any type of clay. This is the heavy black clay that they used for the good old Sant Fe clay oval racetrack that used to be near Downers Grove. This is clay that will grab the shovel out of your hand and snap it in two. Not even Moses and the Hebrews could build bricks out of this stuff.

I have learned the hard way that the roots of bluegrass do not easily penetrate clay. In fact, it take a special breed of plant to survive with this type of soil, and bluegrass does not seem to be one of them. So my challenge is to try a variety of methods to recondition the ground under my grass to make it hospitable for worms, roots and grass in general.

I have tried core aeration with little success. I have had it done twice. It looks like a huge gaggle of incontinent geese have had their way with my lawn after the landscapers come through with their machines. But my grass does not grow any higher.

I have used pelletized gypsum, which is supposed to bore into the soil and loosen it up. But after spreading several hundred pounds of the stuff, I cannot say that it has made a difference.

Now I am trying a liquid product that claims to help break up clay to enable roots to grow. If it works, I'll be sure to name and recommend it. Watch for pictures!