Is the soil the problem

[millie]

Hi ,

I'm new to this and I really need help.

We purchased a new home which required grading and landscaping. Back in October of 2007 we hired a professional landscaping company to come and grade and seed our property.
We waited and waited last fall but barely and seed came up and what came was all weeds.

We still waited patiently as we were advised that they would sprout in Spring. Well Spring came and went and yet again all we have is weeds and nice HUGE healthy weeds.

I think the problem is the soil. It is very poor, had not been screened, all full of rocks and stuff. When I water, the soil just dries up and cracks.It is just like cement or rock.If I continue watering every day it almost looks mouldy green ( meaning too much water) but still cracks.

We keep trying to tell the landscaper it is the soil but he keeps insisting it is something that we have or have not done .

Any advice is greatly appreciated

[Jess]

Sounds like you have a large clay content.
Try this...wet a handful of soil and roll it into a ball. Dies it sound/feel gritty as you roll? Does it feel soapy? Roll it into a sausage shape. Does it stay together or break up/crack? Bend it round and join it together (like a bracelet) Does it break or do you now have a bracelet?