Whether your lawn is thriving or just merely surviving, top dressing is an age-old practice that can breathe life back into your grass. By adding a layer of nutrient-rich compost to the top layer of your yard, you can improve the soil beneath, especially after aerating the area you’re looking to treat. With a few tools, materials from your local home improvement store, and a good amount of patience, you can transform your outdoor space by learning how to top dress your lawn from the steps below.
Prepping to Top Dress
Before you start spreading compost like mad, there are a few steps you can complete beforehand to ensure your soil is prepped and ready to absorb the nutrients from the organic matter. Since you’re already planning to top dress, it may help to perform a soil test first to determine if your lawn needs any extra treatment. A soil test, which is available at home improvement stores, will tell you the pH levels in your soil as well as what nutrients are or are not present.
If you have an aerator, it helps to aerate the area you plan to top dress so that the compost seeps into the holes produced by the machine. After aerating your lawn, you’ll want to mow your grass as short as possible without compromising its health. Once glass clippings and other debris are removed, now is the time to spread grass seed if you plan on overseeding. The above steps will not only improve the lifespan of your lawn but also ensure it gets maximum benefits from the compost you top dress with.
Select Your Material
Choosing the right material to top dress with will make all the difference when it comes to achieving a lush, green lawn. To select the right material, you’ll first need to figure out what type of soil you have. Grab a handful of damp dirt from your yard and rub it with your fingers. Soil with high clay content will be sticky and will need compost for top dressing.
Soil that’s gritty has higher sand content and will need sand, topsoil, or compost (or a combination of the three) for best results. If your soil is fine and soft, it’s likely loam and will benefit from a mixture of topsoil and compost. Once you know what top dressing materials you need, you can visit your local landscaping or home improvement store to purchase sand, topsoil, and compost.
Spread Compost
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Using your shovel, remove the material from its container and fling the matter in a sweeping motion over the lawn. Do this a few square feet at a time, spreading it evenly over the property to about 1/8 to 1/2 inches deep. If your grass grows at a heavier rate or is prone to thatch, you may need to spread a thicker layer of compost.
It’s also best to avoid filling holes or low spots with pure compost because it can lead to an imbalance of nutrients in the lawn. This imbalance can cause “burning” of your existing vegetation, which can negatively affect the health of your lawn.
Rake the Lawn
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Once you’ve covered the entire area with your top dressing material, gently rake it into the ground so it penetrates the soil as much as possible. You’ll want to rake to make sure the sand, topsoil, or compost is in an even layer across the entire yard, so your results are consistent and leave no room for dry or dead patches.
Water the Yard
Use a water hose or a sprinkler system to water the top dressing material, which will help the ground absorb its nutrients and improve your chances of growing a lush lawn. This can also help your grass adjust to any changes and better transition to its next phase of growth. Once the area is saturated, you’ll also want to avoid heavy foot traffic or any sort of physical activity in your yard for about a week since both can disturb the topdressing material.
DIY vs. Hire a Pro
Top dressing a lawn is an easy way to dip your toes into DIY waters, but it is also a task that takes time and manual labor to complete. If you’re short on extra hours and need the project done as soon as possible, it may be best to let a professional take the reins. The cost for a professional to top dress your lawn ranges from $400 to $1,000, depending on the size and needs of your yard.
A local landscaper or lawn care expert will likely have a motorized spreader machine that can top dress your grass quickly and efficiently. An expert can also take care of aerating, seeding, or using an organic fertilizer on your yard before they spread the top dressing material. They may also be able to recommend and order a specific type of compost, topsoil, or sand that would best address the needs of your lawn. Another benefit to hiring a professional landscaper to top dress your lawn is the added security of a warranty, in case your grass is harmed or you don’t see the results the experts promised.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best time to top dress your lawn depends on what type of grass you have and what climate you live in. Cool-season grass should be top dressed in late fall, while warm-season grass should be top dressed in late spring.
Most experts recommend a quarter-inch layer of compost for best results, and you will need about .77 cubic yards of material per 1,000 square feet. To measure how much compost to use, take the square footage of your yard and multiply it by .77, then divide that number by 1,000.
You should wait about seven to 10 days after you top dress your lawn to mow. This will give the ground ample time to absorb the nutrients from the sand, topsoil, and compost, and help facilitate growth before you trim the existing grass. It’s also best to water the lawn frequently in the week or so after you top dress and before you mow.
It’s not required, but it is helpful if your goal is to produce new growth. Any fertilization should occur after the lawn is aerated and before the compost is applied. If you also plan to spread seed, you’ll want to do so after the fertilizer is applied and once the ground is damp, but not wet.
Because top dressing raises the grade of your grass, you should only do it once every few years. Otherwise, you could cause erosion or drainage issues. However, if you’re only top dressing a few small areas that are more sparse than others, you can apply the compost once every three weeks, if needed.
