What is Top Dressing for Lawns?
Top dressing a lawn is the process of spreading a thin layer of Material over your lawn, usually compost or sand. The top dressing layer should be about ¼” thick and is intended to amend the lawn’s soil while allowing existing grass to grow through.
With top dressing more does NOT equal better.
A top dressing layer that is too thick can suffocate the existing grass.
What are the Benefits of Top Dressing Your Lawn?
- Improves Soil Structure
Top dressing adds nutrients to your lawn and improves drainage - Improves Water Retention
- Breaks Down Thatch
Microbes present in top dressing materials helps break down thatch, a brown layer of mainly dead grass that accumulates in some lawns between the green grass blades and the soil surface. A thick thatch layer can restrict air and water movement in and out of the soil. - Levels Lawn
If there are bumps and divots in the yard, top dressing is a great way to help flatten out these trouble spots caused by settling, worms, the freeze/thaw cycle, and water runoff. - Improves Stressed Lawns
Top dressing helps fill in bare spots and control weeds
* Note: Top Dressing is even more effective when incorporated after core aeration.
When is the Best Time to Top Dress a Lawn?
The best time to top dress a lawn is when it is actively growing. Do not top dress a lawn when it is extremely hot, dry, or dormant.
For cool season grasses such as fescue and bluegrass, late summer or early fall is the best time to top dress. For warm season grass such as Bermuda, zoysia, and centipede late spring or early summer is best. A good rule of thumb is to allow three to four mows after top dressing is completed before severe heat or cold sets in.
How to Top Dress a Lawn?
Items Needed:
- High Quality Compost or Top Dressing Material
- Wheelbarrow – to transport material to top dress the lawn
- Rake
- Broadcast spreader (optional – needed if overseeding and/or adding fertilizer)
- Grass seed (if over seeding)
- Fertilizer (optional)
Step 1: Test Your Soil
If you are considering top dressing your lawn, chances are you have had some troubling issues arise. This is a great time to test the soil and make amendments if necessary. Your local extension office can help with soil testing and amendment recommendations, as well as identifying your soil composition.
Step 2: Kill Existing Weeds
A few days before top dressing, spot treat any weeds in the lawn using a post emergent herbicide that kills weeds without killing the grass.
Step 3: Mow Short
Mow the grass as short as possible without stressing the lawn.
Step 4: Aerate
If one of your goals of top dressing is improving the soil, it is best to aerate prior to top dressing. Opening up the thatch layer by aerating creates space for the top dressing material to penetrate the surface of the soil.
Step 5: Spread Grass Seed if Overseeding (Optional)
Overseeding may be beneficial if there are thin or bare spots in your lawn, and aeration holes provide a perfect environment for overseeding.
Step 6: Choose Quality Top Dressing Materials
Be sure to purchase quality materials to add nutrients to your lawn. Selecting what top dressing material to use is one of the most important steps to top dressing your lawn. The top dressing material you choose should be similar in texture and composition to the existing soil.
The most common choices are sand, topsoil, quality compost, or a custom blend of materials. High quality finished compost or a custom blend of compost, topsoil, and sand is typically the most recommended topdressing material.
However, the best choice for your specific lawn will depend on your current soil and any issues within your lawn. Coarse sand will help increase drainage and allow more air to access the root system, while topsoil will add organic material to your existing soil. Sand also aids in maintaining a level yard over time as it does not compact easily.
Such topdressing materials can be purchased from garden centers, local nurseries, or even landscape companies.
Step 7: Fertilize (Optional)
While fertilization is optional, you can fertilize before topdressing a lawn. Fertilizer should be put down after aeration, but before top dressing material is put down. Apply a starter fertilizer, which has a higher phosphorus (the middle number) to promote root growth and early development.
Step 8: Make Small Piles
Use a wheelbarrow to transport and distribute top dressing material around the yard in small piles. The top dressing material you use should be dry to allow for easy spreading. Making many small piles will help ensure you are creating a thin layer and make it easier to rake out later.
Step 9: Gently Rake Piles
Break up any clumps and be sure to gently rake out each pile so it is not more than ¼” thick. Half the height of the grass blade should be visible once the material is raked out.
Step 10: Irrigate
Water your lawn after topdressing to help settle the material and keep it in place.
*Note: Do not mow directly after top dressing a lawn.
It is best practice to leave the lawn undisturbed for 7-10 days before mowing.
How Often Should I Top Dress the Lawn?
While routine top dressing does improve thatch and soil nutrient composition, it is best to treat bare spots as needed and top dress the entire lawn every few years.
Top dressing can be a lot of hard work, but if done properly, you’ll see positive results leading to a beautiful, lush lawn.
Have more questions about caring for your lawn? The Certified Turfgrass Professionals at NG Turf are happy to answer any lawn care questions you may have. Give us a call at 770-832-8608 or email [email protected].
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