April 15, 2025, 12:58 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Sand can help grass grow dense, even, and healthy. A lawn expert explains on myHOMEBOOK when sanding is worthwhile and how to do it correctly.
Garden owners who want a dense, green, and well-maintained lawn must regularly carry out certain care measures. In some cases, this includes sanding the lawn. Dr. Harald Nonn from the German Lawn Society explains the benefits of this method and how to apply it correctly upon request from myHOMEBOOK.
Overview
Why Should You Sand the Lawn?
Sanding the lawn promotes the well-being and development of grass plants in several ways. “Sand makes the lawn permeable, even, and reduces thatch,” says Dr. Nonn. If the lawn is impermeable and matted, it might be worthwhile to apply sand to the area.
Related: How to Get Rid of Lawn Thatch Long-Term
How Much Sand Do You Need?
“You must not underestimate the effort,” says Dr. Nonn. The expert calculates an example: For a sand application of three millimeters, you would need a total of 600 liters of sand for an area of 200 square meters. That is roughly one ton.
“The sand must also be distributed evenly,” adds Dr. Nonn. If the lawn is aerated and the holes are to be filled with sand, the amount would even double.
Which Sand Is Suitable for the Lawn?
When sanding, you should use washed quartz sand with a grain size of 0.2 to 0.4 millimeters. This prevents unwanted seeds from entering the soil. For a lawn area of ten square meters, you need about 100 liters of quartz sand.
Clarify Soil Condition and Lawn Quality
For a lush, green, and dense lawn, soil quality and composition are crucial. Only on the right soil can grass plants thrive optimally. The acidity and alkalinity levels, nutrient content, minerals, trace elements, and consistency (clay, sandy) are decisive.
If you want to know precisely, you should take soil samples and have them analyzed in a specialized laboratory. Prices vary depending on the scope of the analysis but provide a good indication of optimal fertilization.
Also interesting: How to Properly Aerate Your Lawn
Prepare the Lawn Properly
To sand the lawn, you must prepare it accordingly. First, remove wild herbs and weed them with the root. Dig out deep-rooted dandelions, then mow the lawn and thoroughly aerate it. This loosens the soil and removes matting in the root system of grass plants as well as moss. The turf is better supplied with oxygen, benefiting the beneficial microorganisms in the soil.
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Tip: Sand the Lawn and Fertilize Simultaneously
After aerating, two to five liters of washed quartz sand from the building materials store are needed per square meter of lawn area. You can also apply fertilizer simultaneously. Depending on soil quality, add lime, horn shavings, compost, or special lawn fertilizers.
If you also sow grass seeds, you promote the density of the lawn. Simply mix the additives under the sand. With one operation, you have provided the lawn with multiple benefits. Afterward, the lawn should be watered extensively. What to consider in this process is explained in this article.