Why Is My Dirt Hard?

How To Fix Soil Compaction
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Thanks for watching! I appreciate you!

[@PaulsPrimeCuts]

That blows my socks off every time I have seen u do that with that probe in these videos. I have seen N.C. clay yards u couldn’t beat that thing in the ground with a 5 pound hammer . Good demonstration Pete.

[@gregau21]

I can't get enough of, "This is Pete, with GCI Turf".... never gets old. Love your stuff Pete! Keep up the good work.

[@GCITurf]

Thanks friend

[@gregau21]

GCI Turf Services Pete, have you ever heard of anyone having a successful tall fescue lawn in Florida? I'm in Destin, FL (panhandle)

[@GCITurf]

Greg Kohls Jr. yikes. That’s a tough one!!! I can say this....if I lived in Florida I would have a tall fescue yard !!!

[@christiandreamer8728]

I am never complaining about my white sandy yard here in the Sandhills of NC ever again.

[@amberspaust1612]

I am so going to try this. My friend tried to till my yard with his tractor, and the dang thing just bounced. I asked "What in the haybales is this mess?" He just laughed and said his yard had different soil, so he didn't have a clue. I moved from black soil in Indiana to cement soil in Texas.

[@LLWW]

My husband and I just dug a downspout drainage system yesterday and this is exactly what we delt with. My husband thought we hit cement over and over but nope it was just hard ass clay. That's North Carolina for ya! Also once I saw you stick that probe in the ground so easy I am buying whatever you say now!

[@TheGreenerLawn]

Great video Pete! I have clay, the Bio Stimulant pack (Humic12, RGS Air8 and Micro Green)is just the trick I’m looking for! Seeing your yard, is inspiring, after dealing with the frustrations of clay! Thanks for all your videos!

[@austinpatrick2682]

Thanks so much for the video Pete this is exactly what I needed to know for my yard, the ground here in Southwest Virginia is hard enough to crack with a hammer in the dry part of summer. As a plumber I have a yard probing rod for finding sewer lines and tanks. It looks exactly like what you probed your yard with. I've tried it on my yard before and it wouldn't break through the surface, in the best places I got it through the turf and it got stuck and took all my strength and a bucket of water to pull out. I've seen this kind of ground A LOT in this area. Thanks so much for the info!

[@GCITurf]

thank you for watching www.gciturfacademy.com/product/n-ext-humic12-two-2-5-gallon-jugs-5-gallons-total/

[@jaymetheaccountant]

Get your dirt right!!! Love this

[@piedmontgardening8854]

Mine doesn't run off, but I do aggressive mechanical work to my land every year. I could stand to use some humic on my red clay here in Maryland. Sadly we are rocky as well so you might have an easy time getting it down but you're almost sure to find a rock in most compaction tests.

[@schaeferlawncareandpropert9625]

We have tons of red shale in our soil here in south east Pennsylvania. Soil gets so hard here during the summer, if you fall, you probably could crack your head open on it. My property is on a slight hill, but i never get run off on to my sidewalks. Every year i topdress 7 yards of topsoil and compost 2 times a year to my 8,000 sqft yard. Been adding liquid aeration (just switched to air8 this season) for the last 3 years. We also have a lot of rocks in our soil. Thinking of turface mvp

[@garryg1955]

Hey Pete, Up in the northeast Maine in particular we have the same nasty stuff except it is blue. Blue clay, sometimes gooey blue clay.

[@jimdavidson5208]

On hard packed clay soils, I use starter fertilizers with the high Phosphorus content. My small roots need HELP!! lol

[@xxTurtleNeck]

Finally. A guy just as smart as The Lawn Care Nut AND has north carolina red clay. You have another subscriber my friend

[@GCITurf]

cool beans! Glad to have you!!

[@tastylemonschris3415]

Dag-gum you got over 200 subs in 1 day! We have red clay something horrible in MO, we also have a lot of limestone shale which it binds to. I dig the videos Pete, im trying to get my yard right!

[@GCITurf]

Get you some humic12 bro and you'll be on your way!!

[@cliffcarr3632]

I am so pleased my soil is very dark, almost black and very rich where I live in the UK. They say feed your soil not your plants...If I was over there I would be hiring a big mechanical digger, check beforehand if any pipes lines are around first, and see what lays down deep. Is it going to be cost worthy, logistically abled, and worth the trouble. I would also most likely get expert advice off a landscaping company and see where would they go on it with a really hard clay garden, or yard. I lived in Ohio for a year, and I never saw any really lush green lawns as they are in the UK but still beautiful gardens all the same.

[@keithsnyder7903]

Hey, Pete, I love your videos. I have a question. I have clay soil in Michigan how often would you recommend applying humic acid to my yard?

[@dailyDIYdude]

Great video bro... great title as well

[@notaverygoodguitarplayer]

I have that hard-as-a-brick red clay in my yard here in Central Alabama. I have just discovered humic acid from KZbin videos. Here it is the first of September. Should I go ahead and put some down now? Or wait until the spring? Just found your video, and loved it. Thanks.

[@sako4me]

Jonathan Greens love your lawn love your soil is loaded with humates. I’ve been using it with great results, my soil is actually soft to walk on. It’s gets spongy under the grass. It’s good stuff.

[@GCITurf]

I agree 100% They make an excellent product. I used them for years before I started making my own humic acid

[@sako4me]

Good on you Pete for whatcha doin. Wish you well.

[@datsuntoyy]

ground is so hard in my area that I rented a ditch witch that would not penetrate the ground. It was a BIG one complete with it's own trailerwheels and trailer hitch

[@freedomlandscaping7922]

Great video as always! Off the subject, can you do a video on your thoughts on mulching grass versus bagging? Thanks again for all your great videos!

[@GCITurf]

I will express my thoughts in an upcoming video

[@kjfaulkjr1]

Freedom Landscaping a

[@samlogosz8422]

I'm ree doing my lawn. The ground is so hard you can't eaven stick a shevel in it. I've douge up about 4 cubic yards and about half way done. Its about 4 inches thick. I'm adding back garden soil and top soil.

[@ColonelK0rn1]

That red clay is the devil, but I'd say that if you can drive a stake like that into your lot, you have to be doing something right. I shared your last probing video on TLF, and someone there said that after seeing that, it made them a believer in the liquid aeration products. FYI, I'm applying 9 oz/K of Humic 12 biweekly to my lot, per the recommendations of Brad @ GCF. I'm hoping that I can get my dirt right, 'cause it sure ain't.

[@lseeber01]

I'd hit a rock every time I tried to drive that in the ground. Heck... my spike sprinkler takes about 8-10 tries to bypass a rock!

[@Mikeoz196]

Good video Pete, gonna go heavy with the Humic on the compacted areas and see how it does. Another note.. you ever get nervous you're gonna puncture or damage a sprinkler line with your probe? That thing is long.. my sprinkler lines are just poly (maybe yours are sch40). I'd just caution some folks from "probing" your yard like that or you might hit a line. :D

[@GCITurf]

Mikeoz no sir. I do not. I know exactly where all the lines are at. No worries. But thx for the heads up. I appreciate that!

[@stevejurkovic1851]

Hi Pete. Wish I would have found this 4 years ago! Question for you - I live in zone 5 and have heavy clay. I suspect that things like the clay getting saturated then drying in the summer, plus getting saturated and freezing in the winter, cause some amount of the ground heaving, making for an uneven lawn. Do you think reducing compaction will help?

[@CWBush73]

What would you do with maybe 1 inch clay over pretty much rock? It’s pretty much a white rock that can be slowly picked apart

[@moparx12]

Hey Pete, can humic acid be overdone? I am going to renovate my lawn starting in about a month and was wondering if i could use this time to start applying the humic to soften it up a bit.

[@jakegraham1678]

GCI Turf Services Hey Pete can I core aerate, then add Air8, then add Humic-12 then overseed my lawn?

[@Doober80]

Man, I might go with a 36" soil probe. Just looked up those compaction testers, they are $150-$300. Nice info on soil compaction, Bro. Spot on with the notion that a softer soil allows for deep root penetration which leads to a larger and thicker root structure which means better and stronger turf grass.

[@GCITurf]

I bought a nicer one because I use it to teach clients all the time

[@Doober80]

GCI Turf Services totally understandable. Love that you want to teach clients, means better business bro!

[@bowmadman9562]

Hey Pete! What is the most cost effective way to add humic acid to your lawn...you say you have been doing it for years. What has been your source? I'm very intrigued by this.

[@mits_6131]

He's going to bury it. I love it!

[@benharrison1069]

Another nice video, Pete, and what you said certainly makes sense. One question - As you were probing at random locations in your yard you seemed to hit a bit of resistance at different depths while pushing the probe into your soil. Because of the different depths of resistance would that indicate uneven watering coverage across your lawn or maybe an uneven application of the Humic 12 or some other reason? If it's some other reason, what might that reason be? Thanks for the great info, Pete!

[@GCITurf]

Different layers of soil. It's not all clay all the way down. I can even feel rock in certain layers

[@GCITurf]

Blah ha ha ha!

[@caroylnhubbard2479]

What plants can I plant in Black hard clay

[@ruralrob228]

I live in the UK.Although my soil in the lawn isn't clay it is really compacted in places.Would this product help relieve that compaction and would you know if it's available in the UK.Many thanks

[@joshcosta423]

Is humic acid good for trees as well? Wouldn't want my trees toppling over

[@douglasgrant8315]

I live in Washington State we don't have red clay only loamy soil. But it gets harder than a brick. What can I do!

[@mikemarchese1764]

Pete, So I'm in southeast Tennessee, I have a fresh canvas, new home construction, and ready to seed and or sod or combo of both...ive cleared 2 acres of land, fresh clay that was once a pine tree forest...would I benefit any from your starter kit before I seed , or should I seed first then start a program afterwards?

[@GCITurf]

if it is 2 acres of grass I would go with the 5 gallon options of Humic12 and RGS and AIR8. apply those 3 with your seed. Once the turf is up and running then start the academy program www.gciturfacademy.com

[@whiteknucklestormchasing]

Do you have any videos on sandy dirt? My dirt is extremely sandy. Thanks

[@GCITurf]

White Knuckle Storm Chasing and Photography I do not. BUT the RGS product will help tremendously with your sand.

[@KatrinaTrys]

I cld bend a lighting rod in my North Ga clay lol.. 😁 🤗

[@jeffkepus2492]

There are so many rocks on my property here in NJ I can't barely get a screwdriver in the ground 3 inches. It's infuriating.

[@thew1neguy]

Where do you find those fancy compaction testers?

[@GCITurf]

Ha ha I got mine off eBay its a Dickey John brand

[@swflcichlids6879]

I live in Southwest Florida nothing but sand never compacted which is why I think our fertilizer gets flushed away from root zone

[@petebusch9069]

I have very little clay but my dirt still gets rock hard when its dry, why is that?

[@DeadZone318]

Man, I spread 10,000 cubic feet of fresh wood chips on my yard to break up my hard pan red clay. I expect it to be broken down in another year or two, but your way seems so much easier on the back!!!’

[@GCITurf]

Lord yes...... Yeah stop killing yourself bro do it the easy way LOL www.gciturfacademy.com/product/n-ext-rgs-two-2-5-gallon-jugs-5-gallons-total/

[@MarkAJ311]

Hey Pete, where can I get the N-Ext Air8?

[@GCITurf]

right here my friend www.gciturfacademy.com/product/n-ext-air-8-two-2-5-gallon-jugs-5-gallons-total/

[@jcahreevdy5940]

I'd need a sledgehammer to drive a rod like that 6 inches! Lol. Lots of rock with the red clay here.

[@WeatherNut27]

jcahreevdy, same here in CT. I can't even stick my soil temperature probe all the way down and thats only 4". Lol. I got lots of breaking up to do.

[@WeatherNut27]

Great video again Pete. LOVE the visual and explaination how the clay soil "fractures" and allows the water and roots to penetrate through. Keep these videos coming! And awesome u did one in the rain. Others are afraid of it. Hope you get some good rains.

[@GCITurf]

Right after I made that video we got 3.5" in 36 hours LOL

[@GCITurf]

heres the answer www.gciturfacademy.com/product/n-ext-humic12-two-2-5-gallon-jugs-5-gallons-total/

[@GCITurf]

here is your answer www.gciturfacademy.com/product/n-ext-humic12-two-2-5-gallon-jugs-5-gallons-total/

[@JeffSmith-eq3kc]

The Green County products are just stupidly expensive for a large yard. I buy 50lb bags of humic at a farming supply store for $25 a bag. One bag at $25 has more humic than 5 gallons of the Humic12. The Green County products probably work, but unless they substantially reduce their prices it's just silly.

[@ShaneLovesGardening]

Up here in West Virginia, we have clay and shale! Will the Humic work on the shale as well? Also I thought I heard you mention in a previous video that you added compost or top soil to your yard when you first started? Could you possibly address that in a future video? Thanks Pete!

[@GCITurf]

yep I did but its only 1"-3" deep under that is good ol fashion clay

[@robertswift6101]

i have come clay soil like that,i aerate sometimes spring and fall to break up the compaction also,,,nice tool you have there,i doubt i could ever push that all the down on my soil here and that would be awesome if i could aerate my yard 3feet deep also lol

[@68shiloh]

If I apply every 30 days, is that year around and when can I start seeing results. I have 1 & 1/2 acres. Gets expensive fast.

[@GCITurf]

casey 1959 start applications right before your Turf wakes up and stop right before winter sets in

[@68shiloh]

Thanks

[@juliemelville7957]

My back hurts just watching

[@kcummo]

Close your eyes and Forest Gump is talking about humic acid.

[@jbuck9824]

Thanks

[@sbuzz5889]

my granddaddy went to Destin FL to buy land, and said hell no @ 35.00 an acre. was all beach and sand cant grow shi!@##$ to make money. times change ,soil does not. clay holds nutrients TOO .

[@denisbrisebois7658]

Uhmm...very interesting !!!

[@tomr9509]

I wish you could've went to the neighbors that doesn't use the product and do a compaction test for comparison.

[@GCITurf]

didnt think about that but I will do that next time

[@FescueFreak]

Yes sir good comparison.. Also show the psi gauge

[@GCITurf]

sure but there was no reading on it it stayed in the green the entire time

[@FescueFreak]

That's awesome wish my place was like that.. My soil is so gritty

[@TOMVUTHEPIMP]

"No rain in 14 days" But its raining in the video.......

[@Joe-sg8tk]

Watching you push that rod in deep makes me want to say - come down here to Alabama red clay! I do 3 inch lawn core aeration but that’s it. Never could I do that. I’d look into buying that for high end customers but would they buy it?

[@GCITurf]

The rod was just to show how well humic acid works to de-compact soil over time.

[@uberwebd9824]

I thought Air8+RGS was the compaction cure

[@jeffwilliams6101]

Good video Pete but us poor folks can't afford a $200-300 compaction test. How about a piece of rebar? Bahaha. I think you're holding out on that video. Hasn't rained in two weeks? It's rained a monsoon for 2-3 days now. Lol Thanks bro.

[@leonardoestrada5899]

Jeff Williams thats what i thought also with al this rain we have been getting you can do that in any yard

[@GCITurf]

no no no I do not roll like that. I filmed 90% of the video BEFORE all the rain. It had just started to sprinkle on me when I used the probe. Right after I made that video we got 3.5" in 36 hours LOL I did that end shot today after all the rain.

[@GCITurf]

no no no I do not roll like that. I filmed 90% of the video BEFORE all the rain. It had just started to sprinkle on me when I used the probe. Right after I made that video we got 3.5" in 36 hours LOL I did that end shot today after all the rain.

[@jeffwilliams6101]

Leonardo Estrada I was just giving Pete a hard time about his video. His yard is legit and he can probably probe the ground like that 365 days a year. 😁

[@AgentSmith92011]

I live in NC and even with all the rain you still CAN'T do that to my yard.

[@lifeisgood070]

Give me the cheapest place to buy humic acid. The cheapest website I've found is $35/50lbs (free shipping). My farmers coop does not have it. Home depot does not have it. Lowes, ace, etc.

[@GCITurf]

your cost per 1000 here is only $1.00 hard to be that for this quality of humic www.gciturfacademy.com/product/n-ext-humic12-two-2-5-gallon-jugs-5-gallons-total/

[@gojoe36]

I been watching you and this Humic acid and I am 100% dealing with this issue because I live in North Carolina. I don't think Gypsm is the answer to Carolina Clay...I think core aerating and removing the plugs after core aerating an constantly applying Dry Humates with Humic12 is my answer. If you can convince me Dry Humates are NOT needed and just Humic12. I will buy them for the next 10 years off your web site. CONVINCE me why Dry Humates aren't needed!

[@GCITurf]

It all depends on the quality of your dry humate. I still use dry humate in my custom blended fertilizers. But I use humic acid in all my liquid apps as well. Its a great combo. I never remove my plugs after I core aerate

[@gojoe36]

Thanks Pete, been looking through all your videos so I am going to start ordering your stuff. Where you getting dry Humates from since you don't sell them. I live by the Charlotte Motor Speedway

[@PanteraDeNoche]

It literally is a brick haha

[@tribulation138]

I have the opposite I have almost zero clay and all silt and or sand. The soil dries way to fast.

[@GCITurf]

You need RGS then. It will build a larger root system so thats more roots to hang on to more soil allowing the soil to hold water better. www.gciturfacademy.com/product/n-ext-rgs-two-2-5-gallon-jugs-5-gallons-total/