Where in the world are you? Using Bermuda sod says the southeast.

What did a good reliable soil test say about this soils pH and major nutrient levels? Are those nutrients in balance?

What is the level of organic matter in that soil?

What type of soil is there?

What kind of life is in that soil?

What does the soil smell like?

How is the drainage of that soil? How well does that soil retain moisture?

Where in the world are you? Using Bermuda sod says the southeast.

- I am located in San Antonio. The far West/northwest were you share seeing hills.

What did a good reliable soil test say about this soils pH and major nutrient levels? Are those nutrients in balance?

- I am in the process of getting a test done from Logan Labs.

What is the level of organic matter in that soil?

-Organic matter is probably not that high since the soil I have is what the builders brought in. Not sure exactly what they used but it is probably the cheapest option.

What type of soil is there?

-Not sure about the type of soil but my home for the most part sits on top of rock.

What kind of life is in that soil?

-Donot see much life in the soil. Every now and then I find earthworms.

What does the soil smell like?

-what do you mean smell? I don't really notice anything kind of smell.

How is the drainage of that soil? How well does that soil retain moisture?

-Soil seems to drain too well. That is why I put soap down to help with run off.

I am hoping that by putting a top dressing down that it will help with organic matter in the soil. This is also why I want to put molasses down because I read that it will jump start a lawn. My front yard looks good right now but the back needs some work. I have spent most my time focusing on the front. This weekend I will be scalping and leveling the back yard with the top dressing. I have already done this with the front yard. I will have to get some pictures up to show the progress made from the front.

"-what do you mean smell? I don't really notice anything kind of smell." Pick up a handful of soil and smell it. A good healthy soil will have a pleasant, rich earth, odor. If the soil smells like sewage or is otherwise unpleasant it is not good.

Unless whatever was used to top dress had a fairly significant amount of organic matter it will not add any to the base soil.

While waitng for the soil test results perhaps these simple soil tests may be of some help.

1) Soil test for organic
material. From that soil sample put enough of the rest to make a 4 inch level in
a clear 1 quart jar, with a tight fitting lid. Fill that jar with water and
replace the lid, tightly. Shake the jar vigorously and then let it stand for 24
hours. Your soil will settle out according to soil particle size and weight.
For example, a good loam will have about 1-3/4 inch (about 45%) of sand on the
bottom. about 1 inch (about 25%) of silt next, about 1 inch (25%) of clay above
that, and about 1/4 inch (about 5%) of organic matter on the top.

2) Drainage. Dig a hole
1 foot square and 1 foot deep and fill that with water. After that water drains
away refill the hole with more water and time how long it takes that to drain
away. Anything less than 2 hours and your soil drains’ too quickly and needs
more organic matter to slow that drainage down. Anything over 6 hours and the
soil drains too slowly and needs lots of organic matter to speed it up.

3) Tilth. Take a handful
of your slightly damp soil and squeeze it tightly. When the pressure is
released the soil should hold together in that clump, but when poked with a
finger that clump should fall apart.

4) Smell. What does your
soil smell like? A pleasant, rich earthy odor? Putrid, offensive, repugnant
odor? The more organic matter in your soil the more active the soil bacteria
will be and the nicer your soil will smell, to a point. Too much organic matter
can be bad as well.

5) Life. How many
earthworms per shovel full were there? 5 or more indicates a pretty healthy soil. Fewer than 5,
according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, indicates a soil that
is not healthy.

Soap is not a good thing to use on any soil. Soap, or detergents, reduce the surface tension of water so it will flow more freely allowing that water to exit the soil faster than any plants growing there can utilize it. Soaps are also bacteriastats and may reduce the population of soil bacteria needed to digest organic material in soil and feed the plants growing there.