California Native Sod and low-water groundcover lawn alternatives require excellent soil drainage. These plants typically root much deeper than conventional lawn, which is what lends them their resilience. But if soils are too heavy and compacted they'll never achieve the drought tolerance their capable of - or worse - rot in standing water any time they're over irrigated or in seasonal rains. 

If you're on a slope that's not heavily eroded or have somewhat sandy soil you're good to go. Otherwise, here's the best ways to prep your dirt for native lawn grass and ground cover...

How to Improve Soil Drainage

For Native Lawn & Drought Tolerant Ground Cover

If your former lawn has sat dead or unirrigated for awhile, or your yard's just been getting beat hard by building equipment or the sun, it's going to need a little love to get new plants off the ground (and new roots deep into it). 

Compaction

Many suburban and urban soils suffer from compaction. This means that your soil has minimal nutrients or airspace left after years - sometimes decades - of abuse and neglect. If you live within a few miles of the coast or on a decomposed granite wash it's usually not a concern. But if you've got any kind of significant clay content in your soil, drought-tolerant lawn alternatives will struggle if their sensitive and deep wandering roots don't have enough airspace to breathe and room to dig deep. 

The Best Fixes for California Soil Compaction 

Improving your soil will provide a spongey breathable rooting base for your new grass and ground cover. This ensures they can endure any and all climatic fluctuations for years to come by giving them the environmental conditions they need to thrive. 

• Add 2-3" of fast-draining soil blend directly on top of your existing dirt. Gently aerate existing soil with a broad tine fork first. Then dump the soil on top and rake it smooth. Water in well to help it settle.  
• Lightly till in half sand / half compost mixes (or any good draining soil mix) into the top 6" of your existing soil. Deep tilling can weaken soils overtime so avoid excessively heavy machinery. Again, water in well to help it settle. 

Wherever possible, avoid grading or scraping off existing dirt by adding higher edging to your lawn area's perimeter. Along sidewalks and walkways this may not be desirable, so feel free to dig out and lightly grade trenches along here and then gradually increase height to keep areas level. 

If you're tight on time or don't have the access to bring in large amounts of soil, consider the following nutrient amendments to help kickstart your soil food web and nature's own aeration process...

Quick Fix Amendment Options

Let's say your soils not so bad or you just don't have the capacity to do the bigger work in compaction reversal. Here are a few things you can do to improve your dirt. Make sure you apply them in the following order:

• Mycorrhizal Inoculants - these bring your soil to life! Just sprinkle on soil surface before you lay down sod. Order link. 
• Sand or DG - any amount will help give that little bit of air to your sod roots. 
• Worm Castings - another plant superfood that will help feed, support and provide surface air pores for new baby sod roots. Order here. Order link. 

What if My Native Lawn's Already Installed? 

First aerate and then and immediate sprinkle aerated areas with decomposed granite or fast-draining soil mixes. You can aerate with a special tool, or just stab the ground with a screwdriver. can help for lawns already installed but if done in excess it can also exacerbate compaction over time. 

Also checkout our FAQs for more detailed information on pests, patchy spots & herbicides. Plus other frequently asked questions, like what irrigation types are best and what types of lawn work best where. 

Soil Prep Basics for Sod

CLEAN IT UP

Pull out weeds, stumps & any plants you donʼt want (flag those you do for install crews if needed). Play around with your lines with marking paint to get your layout just right. 

LOOSEN IT UP

Use a shovel or tiller to lightly loosen the top 2-4 inches of soil IF you have compacted soil. Add ½” layer of fully mature compost and mix in. If you've got compacted soil add an additional 1" of decomposed granite to mix in to topsoil surface. 

SMOOTH IT OUT 

Remove smaller rocks, clumps & roots. Level soil to be as smooth as possible.

SOAK IT DOWN

2-3 days prior to delivery, water soil deeply. Look for dry spots to correct your spray angles. Ensure sprinkler coverage is adequate. You can start doing it a week in advance if you want to check for any troublesome seed sprouts to uproot. 

Aftercare for Native Lawn...