Hi Charles, I lived in the south Aldershot area of Burlington near the old Filman farm house for 10 years until this past spring. I'm familiar with the pros and cons of lawn care and
gardening in the area so I'd be happy to share my experiences.
My neighborhood used to be a melon farm, from what I've been told. A relatively warm microclimate made up of sandy soil. We've had more success
gardening than with lawn care, to be honest. The soil is fertile (almost anything planted or drifted onto it will germinate, wanted or otherwise), but quite sandy.
Based on my landscaping adventures, my yard consists of several feet deep of sandy soil. Not much of a transition from surface to any sort of hardpan or fill you would see in typical construction these days, just a slow transition from black topsoil to tan sand below.
Moisture retention is your biggest challenge to maintaining a lush lawn. You have two main obstacles: the sandy soil and that maple tree.
The soil drains very quickly. You need to
water deeply and more often than with richer soils, or the weeds take over as July gives way to August. To conserve water and improve soil fertility, you need to
feed the soil a healthy supply of compost-rich ingredients. What you do lay down will be consumed quickly or leached away with watering. It will take some time and effort to build up and maintain a healthy and fertile topsoil that supports a thick lawn. I've seen many households re-sod on a regular basis as they lose the war of the weeds. I suggest a 3-4" layer of organic
compost every fall to feed the soil and lawn roots. White Clover became my ally, as it helped provide nitrogen to the soil, stayed green during the hot season as the grass went dormant and, thus, helped shade out weeds when the grass was most vulnerable. An annual clover seeding in early spring will build up a strong clover presence which will help your grass compete with its many enemies.
Secondly, those maple trees are a double assault on a healthy lawn. For one, they have a low and dense
canopy, starving your lawn of needed sunlight and rain. Fallen maple leaves also form a strong paper-like mat in the autumn that chokes out your grass, resulting in dead patches. You'll need to rake them and either replace their nutrients with an alternate source, or shred them before placing them back in the grass to feed the soil. Fortunately, you have plenty of alternate leaf material at your disposal, as most of south Burlington near the lake consists of mature tree lots. Second, maples have an extensive and shallow
root system that is competing with your grass for moisture at the topsoil level. I had a similar problem with the mature birch tree on my front lawn when I moved in, as they share a common rooting habit. Digging due to
city water main upgrades and a couple of dry summer seasons took its toll and the birch soon died top-down from a borer infestation. Your maple is hardier.
I eventually transformed about 1/3 of my corner lot to a front garden, starting with the areas under my trees by piling 6" of free
wood chips the city trimming crew was more than happy to dump in my driveway rather than haul for disposal. By the next spring, the soil under the mulch was black and teeming with worms and other positive signs of fertility. I found the gardening a surprisingly pleasant therapy from the stress of work and raising 3 little ones (who often took an interest in planting or picking flowers and berries). Once the gardens were established, they were relatively care-free, meaning less lawn to manage.
I would strongly consider planting a garden under the maple tree. Go with the flow, there are more dry-shade plants that would thrive with less effort in such an environment than grass. Have a look around your neighborhood and you'll see plenty of struggling lawns under the maples. Focus your efforts where grass has a fighting chance.
I moved earlier this year to a rural area of north Aldershot and I'm now facing an entirely different challenge: a large, bare backyard composed mostly of heavy clay and rubble. There will be many days ahead when I'll miss the ease in which I was able to work the my south-Aldershot soil!
best of luck