The secret to the perfect lawn? Topdress your yard!
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What is topdressing?
Topdressing entails spreading a thin layer of enriched topsoil or compost on top of your lawn. It seems counterintuitive to spread dirt on top of your grass, since soil should be under the lawn. But the material does work its way down and eventually gets beneath the lawn and into the soil profile. The existing grass will push through the topdressing material.
Why topdress: the benefits of topdressing a lawn
Unfortunately, most homes do not come equipped with perfect soil, especially homes in sub-divisions where the original sod was laid on a skim of topsoil that covered fill and construction debris.
Topdressing adds all-important organic matter to improve the condition of the soil.
When you spread a thin layer of quality organic material over an existing lawn, every year, you are:
- providing a boost to your soil quality by introducing organic matter, beneficial soil microbes and essential nutrients
- smoothing out uneven and lumpy areas
- reducing thatch buildup (thick thatch repels water and nutrients from reaching the roots and harbours chinch bugs)
- suppressing many turf diseases
- helping the lawn to retain moisture and to tolerate drought better
- keeping the roots cool in the summer
- increasing soil aeration and drainage
- reducing fertilizer usage
- improving soil health, which will result in enhanced grass
- providing an opportunity to incorporate grass seed and thicken your lawn when topdressing
What is the best topdressing for lawns?
For home lawns, the best material to use would be weed-free compost or enriched lawn soil.
C-I-L has developed the ideal product with its Enriched Lawn Soil. This product combines a high percentage of organic matter and essential nutrients to improve soil conditions and promote the establishment of a healthy, lush lawn.
How thick to topdress a lawn?
Because of the volume needed to put a thin layer of 0.6-1.2 cm (1/4-½ inch) of material over the entire lawn, there are companies delivering 1-cubic-yard bulk bags of compost, triple mix, enriched black earth or even a special topdressing mix.
Some garden centres supply bulk material that you can pick up yourself. A pickup truck with a 6-foot box will be able to carry 1 cubic yard of bulk material. However, bags of composted manure that are available at the local garden centre will do just fine.
For a 1,300-2,000 ft2 lawn area, you would need about one cubic yard of material, or 30 bags of compost.
How to topdress the lawn
The easiest way to topdress a lawn is to shovel or dump small piles of the soil mix all around your lawn and then spread it out into a thin layer using either a hard rake upside down or a leaf rake.
Don't leave the soil layer thick enough to smother the grass blades.
Should I mow my lawn before topdressing?
Just prior to topdressing, cut the grass, maybe a little shorter than usual. Bag the clippings or rake them off so as to not interfere with your topdressing material.
Should you fertilize a lawn before or after topdressing?
Fertilize the lawn to stimulate lawn growth activity one or two weeks before.
Should I overseed before or after topdressing?
Topdressing and overseeding can be done together. After topdressing, apply the grass seed to your lawn with a spreader or by hand. Broadcast the seed evenly but put down a little extra in thin areas. Work the surface so that the seeds come into contact with the soil with the back of a rake or shovel.
Wait until the young grass shoots are 8 to 10 cm long before mowing. Find out why in our other article.
PRO TIP: Always use a quality seed mix. Cheap seeds often contain empty shells, weed seeds or annual grass seeds that won't survive the winter. Learn how to choose quality seeds that are right for your yard in our other article.
When should you topdress your lawn?
Your lawn may be looking a little needy by mid-August, either from drought and/or insect damage. You can perform this topdressing in late August – early September. That gives your lawn a chance to fully recover before freeze-up. Alternatively, early spring is also a good time to do this.
The products you need are:
