Is it too late to do a core aeration and top dress with leafmold compost followed by Micro-life 6-2-4 and molasses? Will covering the St. Augustine that is starting to green-up be okay. We have new home builders soil that is a terrible foundation for sod and our soil needs help in the worst way. We are in Spring which is just south of the Woodlands.
Core aeration and leafmold compost time...
I think you'd be good. I've always heard as long as your NPK ratio doesn't go over 15 when you add up the numbers that there is very little worry about burning. And as long as the compost is thinly applied and doesn't smother the grass.
You might consider adding greensand while your at it. I think it helps to feed the good microbes over the long haul. It may help with the clay as well, not sure on that tho, I would need to re-research it :0)
Greensand helps aerate clay soils and is a great source of iron. The Texas greensand is higher in iron and has better results, IMO, than the bags (from NJ) which are just labeled "greensand."
We finally had the core aeration, leafmold compost, microlife, humates and molasses done today! We'll see how the lawn responds to it. Thanks for the info cocoa_lulu and pbtxlady.