# Sodbusting: Easier before or after rain? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 11, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sodbusting-easier-before-or-after-rain/303407 "2005-05-11T16:21:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sodbusting-easier-before-or-after-rain/303407/1 "2005-05-11T16:21:31Z")
I need to remove some sod so I can expand my garden. There’s a chance of thunderstorms tonight. Should I do it today, when the ground is dry, or wait until tomorrow, when the ground is wet? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sodbusting-easier-before-or-after-rain/303407/2 "2005-05-11T16:39:39Z")
When the ground is wet, it’s going to be quite heavy. I vote for doing it now. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sodbusting-easier-before-or-after-rain/303407/3 "2005-05-11T18:15:12Z")
A lot depends on where you are on the scale of soil type: sandy, loam, clay. Sandy soil can be worked just about anytime it’s not underwater. Clay soil is very hard to work when it is dry and makes a complete muck when wet. I have this and I have a narrow “window” of soil moisture in which turning soil is best. (Which means I usually have to work the soil in suboptimal conditions.) Loam is in-between. As long as there’s a moderate amount of moisture, go for it. Garden books talk about grabbing a fistful of soil and crushing it in your hand. It should fall apart like cake. ---
**Author:** ![Ezstrete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ea924/32.png) [@Ezstrete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ezstrete)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sodbusting-easier-before-or-after-rain/303407/4 "2005-05-11T19:35:59Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > A lot depends on where you are on the scale of soil type: sandy, loam, clay. > > Sandy soil can be worked just about anytime it’s not underwater. > Clay soil is very hard to work when it is dry and makes a complete muck when wet. I have this and I have a narrow “window” of soil moisture in which turning soil is best. (Which means I usually have to work the soil in suboptimal conditions.) > Loam is in-between. As long as there’s a moderate amount of moisture, go for it. > > Garden books talk about grabbing a fistful of soil and crushing it in your hand. It should fall apart like cake. Depends on what you’re going to do-------- The books advice is good! If you’re stripping the sod with a sod knife for use elsewhere a minimum damp is what you want. Then,after the sod is set aside, rotary till the heck out of it. ## While tilling throw in some peat moss,gypsum and manure. If you’re tearing up the south forty with a plow and sodbuster— minimum damp is good also.-----------but watch out for tree roots that’ll snap like an alligator ## Turn the grass under ---------it’s called “Green manure”. If you’re just addng a couple of dozen sq.ft. to an existing plot--------strip the grass and fit the plot up[as above] for planting, Happy harvest! EZ ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sodbusting-easier-before-or-after-rain/303407/5 "2005-05-11T19:45:34Z")
> [@](#): > > While tilling throw in some peat moss,gypsum and manure. If it’s clay, also throw in about 1000 lbs per 100 sq feet of sand. That’ll turn it into something resembling decent soil. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sodbusting-easier-before-or-after-rain/303407/6 "2005-05-11T19:58:29Z")
I did this myself last year. Borrowed the sod cutter and the sod shovel from the neighbors and _moved_ my entire garden from the middle of the backyard to the back of the house. About 50 feet. I found that the mud factor would have been hell, since you’ll be handling the sod a great deal, you want as little mud as possible so I tried to do it when the ground was dryer. Wet sod is also more brittle and doesn’t come up as easy. For what it’s worth I found that dryer sod was much more easy to handle. You need a little moisture but not too much. Nor too dry. Hope that helps. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sodbusting-easier-before-or-after-rain/303407/7 "2005-05-12T06:35:50Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > If it’s clay, also throw in about 1000 lbs per 100 sq feet of sand. That’ll turn it into something resembling decent soil. Ten pounds per square foot? I don’t have any handy references - how many inches would this be? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sodbusting-easier-before-or-after-rain/303407/8 "2005-05-12T10:01:41Z")
> [@Oslo Ostragoth](#): > > Ten pounds per square foot? I don’t have any handy references - how many inches would this be? At 65 pounds per cubic foot (this varies), 2 inches will give you about 10 Lb/ft[sup]2[/sup]. See [Preparing a New Garden](http://www.gardenweb.com/sesbania/newgard.html) > [@](#): > > An ideal garden soil, or loam, would be about 40% sand, 40% silt and 20% clay. 10 Lb/ft[sup]2[/sup] worked well for my soil, however, see ref, it can get you in trouble with some very clayey soils. which fact I had _forgotten_ until 5 this morning Best consult a master gardener, or the extension office in your area. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sodbusting-easier-before-or-after-rain/303407/9 "2005-05-12T14:03:05Z")
Thanks for the replies. I turned it yesterday (and the weather forecasts were utter crap, yet again … so it didn’t even rain, anyway). Just did it with a shovel. We’re going to add compost and till on Monday. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sodbusting-easier-before-or-after-rain/303407/10 "2005-05-12T14:18:15Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > If it’s clay, also throw in about 1000 lbs per 100 sq feet of sand. That’ll turn it into something resembling decent soil. Be careful with this, though. In some clays, adding sand won’t help much, and can actually make things worse. If you’re thinking about doing some serious soil ammending, the best thing to do is to call your county’s agricultural extension office and solicit their advice. They’ll know what’s best for the local soil types. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sodbusting-easier-before-or-after-rain/303407/11 "2005-05-12T14:22:15Z")
Doh! I see **Squink** already ammended his advice on ammending with sand. Sorry… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sodbusting-easier-before-or-after-rain/303407/12 "2005-05-13T03:27:27Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > At 65 pounds per cubic foot (this varies), 2 inches will give you about 10 Lb/ft[sup]2[/sup]. > See [Preparing a New Garden](http://www.gardenweb.com/sesbania/newgard.html) 10 Lb/ft[sup]2[/sup] worked well for my soil, however, see ref, it can get you in trouble with some very clayey soils. which fact I had _forgotten_ until 5 this morning Best consult a master gardener, or the extension office in your area. Makes sense. The sources I have used always say add 2 inches of sand to clayey soil. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sodbusting-easier-before-or-after-rain/303407/13 "2005-05-13T16:16:57Z")
A good lazy way to make a garden is to pile on horse/cow manure ijn the late summer/early fall then cover with a tarp. In the spring, rototill the heck out of the plot. Ta da.