Core aeration or add gypsum for a lawn on clay soil

Sam76

Hi, should i use Core aeration or add gypsum for a lawn on clay soil to improve it? Also should i fill the holes left by the core aeration with horticultural grit?

Sam76

Any help welcome!

treehugger80

i would core it and add some sharp sand or grit to start with, then maybe do a covering (1-2mm) of lawn sand (or silver sand) and allow the grass to grow through that, repeat as long as the lawn is growing.

Sam76

Thanks!

Fairygirl

I've seen gypsum mentioned before by various posters, but I've never looked up what it's meant to do. 

I'd agree with @treehugger80 about the grit, @Sam76, and possibly a top dressing of some kind  if necessary. 

JennyJ

Be careful of products labelled "lawn sand".  It's a moss killing treatment and needs to be spread sparingly at the correct rate.  For top dressing you want sharp sand, possibly mixed with loam/topsoil.