Enter yourNeighborhood ft. For that product, in a 50-lb. In fact, if you simply want to level your yard without blowing your budget, you can use coarse sand. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Compost can be mixed with equal amounts of sand for topdressing on heavy soil. Top dressing is the process of spreading a thin layer of material (usually compost or sand) over your lawn, or sections of your lawn. As a soil amendment, topdressing can improve soil biology by adding organic matter and the beneficial microorganisms found in compost. You can ask Harold a question directly on his Ask the Expert blog. If you notice dips that you want to level out, add a thicker layer of your soil, sand, or compost and tamp it down. It can be used following seeding, overseeding or sprigging to protect the developing … Follow appropriate safety precautions when using power equipment. Her work has been published around the web, including on home improvement sites like Ron and Lisa. This is also the perfect time to bring out the aerator and allow oxygen to penetrate the soil while also breaking up any thatch. I would like to reseed and top dress the entire area. Go ahead and mow your lawn as you normally would, but try to otherwise keep lawn traffic to a minimum until you can stop watering the seedlings every day. Lawn Top Dressing - Compost is applied to your lawn at a depth of 1/4" to 1/2" What is Lawn Top Dressing: Lawn Top Dressing is the process of adding a thin layer of Top Soil onto your lawn… The following is a question-and-answer exchange between a homeowner and Harold Enger, the Director of Education at Spring-Green. Top dressing does not just improve the look of your lawn, but can also benefit the health of the grass too. Top dressing and overseeding your lawn can rejuvenate it and give it that lush, thick quality you strive for each year. Penn State Extension: Turfgrass Fertilization: A Basic Guide for Professional Turfgrass Managers. This … Wait for a rain shower or sprinkle the … You don’t need much—about a quarter inch or so is adequate. © Spring-Green Lawn Care Corp. All rights reserved. Topdressing regularly can smooth out bumps caused by worm castings and encourages a dense, lush lawn. Penn State Extension notes that grasses need 16 different nutrients to thrive, and your top dressing mix might not include each of these in adequate amounts. It is difficult for most homeowners to maintain adequate watering for 28 days unless they have a sprinkler system. Did you receive a mailing or email from us? This layer is only about a 1/4″ and is meant to amend … Top dressing benefits the lawn as it builds up the quality of the soil over a period of time, - sandy soils will be able to retain moisture better and so the lawn will be more resistant to drought, clay soils will … Then, go ahead and reseed. I am assuming that you used a bluegrass/ryegrass blend. Place approximately 1/4 inch of top dressing (a 3-way mix of sand, dirt and compost is best). The following pictures … Harold provides some expert tips on two important lawn care practices—reseeding and top dressing—and stresses the importance of doing them in the right order. Apply the seed at the recommended re-seeding rate found on the label. In regards to broadleaf weeds, like dandelions and clover, you need to wait until the grass has germinated and has been mowed three times before applying that type of product. On a seeded lawn: After sowing lawn grass seeds, apply a thin layer — about 1/4-inch — of compost as top-dressing to help maintain consistent soil moisture while seeds germinate and tender grass seedlings … Use this guide to learn about overseeding a lawn. Which should I do first and how long do I wait in between?”. She enjoys writing content that helps homeowners feel motivated and confident in handling projects around the home. On the question of whether to overseed before or after top dressing, it's best to do it after so that the seeds receive adequate sunlight for germination. I suggest you look for a product with an analysis of 14-14-14 or similar and supply about .75 to 1 pound of Nitrogen per 1,000 sq. Apply Top-Dressing. Top dressing is a good idea, especially if you have areas that have eroded or sunken over the last year. I am glad to read that you had good success in your seeding efforts last year. The material is spread one-quarter to one-half inch thick in spring or fall, depending on local climate and soil. To ensure the top dressing easily rakes through the grass, mow your lawn to about an inch high. Topdressing can be used to smooth the surface of the lawn. You will not be able to apply conventional crabgrass control products before or after reseeding, as they will prevent your new seed from germinating. Once you've selected the top dressing, empty the bags or dump the wheelbarrow loads throughout the lawn. When top dressing a lawn with any material, only a very thin layer should be spread evenly over the entire lawn. Weeds. It can reduce thatch buildup by encouraging decomposition. You don't want to accidentally smother the grass, but rather spread a rich organic material in a thin enough layer to allow the grass to push through and continue growing. Overseeding a lawn lets you fill in bare spots and improve your grass by adding in better varieties. Top dressing and overseeding are important components in any organic lawn maintenance program. Due to harsh winter conditions or other extreme circumstances, an established lawn may need to have some areas repaired by top-dressing with soil and over-seeding with new grass seed. Top dressing is the process of applying compost, soil, or sand over the surface of your lawn. It has been performed on golf courses since the sport was invented in Scotland, but has only recently … I do suggest you apply a fertilizer after seeding. ›, Overcoming Salt Damage: Reseeding & Weed Prevention. Alternatively, you can mix coarse sand with topsoil and/or compost to cover more area at a lower cost per square foot. Over seeding & top dressing your lawn is really easy. Any areas where it globs or mounds up should be corrected immediately. Before top-dressing the lawn, take the time to cut out weedy sections with a shovel to reduce competition and encourage a more uniform look to your lawn once the grass grows in. If you have a lot of top dressing to work into the lawn perhaps seeding afterwards is best so that the seed doesn’t … Topdressing's benefits are so numerous, it's hard to understand why it is not the foundation for every lawn care program. Working a few square feet at a time, shovel … To be absolutely sure you get a top dressing with adequate nutrients for your variety of grass, send a soil test to your local extension office for analysis. A good way to incorporate new seed into an existing lawn is to first core aerate the lawn. Overseeding is an important for growing a healthy, lush lawn. Did you receive a mailing or email from us? But to get the best results possible, you'll need to do some additional prep work before you dive right into the top dressing and overseeding process. It can reduce thatch buildup by encouraging decomposition. Cathy Habas has been a full-time freelance writer since 2014. Enter yourNeighborhood Discount Code. Scotts recommends watering the lawn once or twice per day after reseeding until the seedlings catch up to the height of your existing grass. ft. “I planted about an acre of grass last spring. You will need about 3/4 cubic yard per 1000 square feet of lawn. Adding a layer of topsoil to your lawn is called "topdressing," and it's a technique you can use to improve the look of your grass. Mr. Campbell, Thank you for sending in your question. A good way to incorporate new seed into an existing lawn is to first core aerate the lawn. SHOP GRASS SEED … bag, you would apply about 5 to 6 pounds of product per 1,000 sq. Top dressing is the process of applying a very thin layer of compost or another soil amendment to the surface of your lawn. Try to get the top dressing about a quarter of an inch thick on all areas of your lawn. What to Do First: Reseeding or Top Dressing? Any uneven dips created by cutting out the weeds will be leveled when the top dressing is added. It has come in nicely, however, I do have a question. Top dressing involves adding a thin layer of organic material to provide long-lasting nutrients, whereas overseeding fills in bare or thin spots with fresh sprouts of grass. Repeat the Process if Necessary Allow the topdress to settle. Top dressing involves adding a thin layer of organic material to … If your lawn area is an acre, then you would purchase between 5 and 6 50-lb. Top-dressing is usually done at the same time of year as seeding Here’s the good news Most poor condition lawns can be renovated with top-dressing followed by re-seeding or over-seeding! She graduated from Indiana University Southeast with a Bachelor's degree in English. It allows you to maintain a true and level lawn surface by filling in any imperfections or hollow areas to … Guess what else will push through and grow stronger than ever? Top dressing is a good idea, especially if you have areas that have eroded or sunken over the last year. Combining topdressing with overseeding will gain the best result. Turf experts often recommend "topdressing" lawns with a thin layer of compost. – Spring-Green Lawn Care Tips, Enter your address to find available services. This would normally be a loam or a loam and sand mix, depending on the condition of your … It's important you prepare correctly and choose the right type of soil for a great-looking lawn. Finally, it's time to add more grass seed. The goal of top dressing is to amend the soil with nutrients so that the grass will grow greener, thicker and stronger. So why is … Topdressing can be used to smooth the surface of the lawn. Grass seed swells as it absorbs this moisture and produces a seedling ready for photosynthesis and rapid growth. Water the lawn right after seeding. After aerating, it’s time for top dressing: spread either pulverized top soil or a good quality humus compost across the lawn. You can add topsoil to an existing lawn -- and in some cases, you should. Landscaping has put together a few important tips for taking care of these lawn areas after topdressing and over-seeding … Top dressing and overseeding your lawn can rejuvenate it and give it that lush, thick quality you strive for each year. Topdressing reduces lawn stresses, helps keep … Discount Code. There are numerous blends available. It settles down through the grass and improves the quality of your soil at the roots. I suggest that you use a mix of 20% bluegrass and 80% perennial ryegrass. E.L.S. OverSeeding - We will Overseed your lawn using High Quality Tall Fescue Grass Seed. This will help to relieve any compaction issues, and it will also provide a good site for the seed to germinate. It adds valuable organic matter to the soil base which improves soil fertility and root … Now is a great time to Top Dress your lawn. … You top dress the surface of an established lawn with compost or other material to enhance its … Be sure to invest some money in the seed and get good quality, weed-free seed. Be sure to cover your entire lawn, even the areas that are already growing well. Top Dressing a Lawn: How It Helps Top dressing your lawn is an age-old practice on golf courses. Now you’re ready to get started. I would also like to “weed and feed”. Looking for some additional lawn care tips? The reason why I suggest more ryegrass is that it germinates in 5 to 7 days, whereas bluegrass takes 28 days to germinate. * Compost … Not all types of grass have the same nutritional requirements, so it's not always necessary to buy the most expensive compost or topsoil you can find. bags of a 14-14-14. Then use a garden rake to pull the top dressing out from the center pile on all sides. Use a hand-held or push broadcaster depending on the size of your yard. Choose the same kind of grass seed that is already growing in your lawn to achieve uniform color and height throughout the season. Water to wet the surface prior to a top dressing. Soil structure and drainage can be modified by topdressing with sand or other corrective materials. You should add the new grass seed after renovation and either before or after top dressing. Do not expect top dressing to smother weeds while sparing your grass. It can be used following seeding, overseeding or sprigging to protect the … He also addresses the best time to weed and feed. All you have to do is go to your local garden store and purchase some high quality certified grass seed with endophyte and some … You don't want to scalp your lawn, but you do want it to be short. Top dressing is the process of spreading additional soil over the surface of your lawn. It also help lawns damaged by a lack of water, heavy foot traffic and heat. Top Dressing with your overseeding is a great way to maximize the health of your soil – and the beauty of your lawn. Centenary Landscaping Supplies presents a guide to Top dressing your lawn, grass or turf. Then seed the lawn with half the amount you would for a new lawn and gently go over the entire lawn using the back of a metal tined rake, so the seed … Will also provide a good way to incorporate new seed into an lawn! Bags or dump the wheelbarrow loads throughout the lawn be mixed with equal amounts of sand for on! The perfect time to weed and feed ” you had good success in your question surface the..., dirt and compost is best ) dressing your lawn area is an acre, then you apply... Why is … topdressing can be used to smooth the surface of lawn... That have eroded or sunken over the last year '' lawns with a 's! Your address to find available services with equal amounts of sand for topdressing on soil! 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