When Should You Topdress Your Lawn | Eden Lawn Care (2024)

Topdressing a lawn involves spreading a thin layer of material such as sand orcompostover the grass. When there’s a shortage of soil in your yard, which will inadvertently lead to loss of nutrients, the best option is to topdress. Read on to discover how, when, and why you should topdress your lawn.

When Do You Need Topdressing for Your Lawn

You need to topdress your lawn when:

  • There is a shortage of soil underneath your lawn
  • It requires an increase in soil nutrients
  • It’s uneven or contains holes
  • The grass wasn’t laid correctly

The Benefits of Topdressing for Your Lawn

Topdressinghelps increase and retain the soil nutrient, it helps the grass fight diseases and resist pests. It’s also useful for improving drainage, which will result in a thicker lawn. It decreases the chance of moss and weed infestations.

When you topdress, it helps break down thatch and grass clippings. It also allows the soil to retain moisture, especially during dry weather, and drains away excess moisture during heavy rainfall.

Your garden is not aging, it just needs regular nurturing. Call us and we will nurture it.

The Right Time to Topdress Your Lawn

The best period to topdress your lawn is in the growing season. It’d be best if you never topdressed during winter. It’s best to topdress in the spring or as soon as you’ve reached your regular weekly mow. The earlier in the growing season, the better. Late spring to early summer is the best time.

Don’t topdress during winter when your lawn is in its inert phase. Doing so will damage or entirely kill your grass. Also, avoid topdressing when rain is predicted as the wet weather will make leveling and dressing difficult.

When Should You Topdress Your Lawn | Eden Lawn Care (1)

How to Topdress Your Lawn?

Begin by removing thatch and moss from the lawn else; if not adequately raked, the layers of thatch will form barriers that prevent things like water and fertilizer from reaching the grass’s roots.

Ensure to source the right soil to match the soil on your lawn and confirm it’sfree of weed. Before starting, check that your soil is loose and aerate it. Use a spade to spread the top dressing soil as evenly as you can around your yard. Increase concentration in any particular spot that needs to be even.

Work the soil into the grass so that the new soil touches the existing topsoil adequately. You can do this with the back of a rake. Remember to remove any excess dirt from the surface of the grass.If your lawn hasn’t lost nutrients or isn’t uneven, there isn’t any need for top dressing, but if your yard suffers from these problems, consider topdressing.

Topdressing may appear easy, but it requires a level of precision and a degree of knowledge about the best soil for your lawn. Consider contacting aprofessional lawn care servicefor expert advice and help.

Your garden is not aging, it just needs regular nurturing. Call us and we will nurture it.

When Should You Topdress Your Lawn | Eden Lawn Care (2024)

FAQs

When Should You Topdress Your Lawn | Eden Lawn Care? ›

It is usually best to top dress in spring or as soon as you have reached your regular weekly mow. The earlier in the growing season the better. Generally late spring to early summer is best.

What month should I top dress my lawn? ›

It is usually best to top dress in spring or as soon as you have reached your regular weekly mow. The earlier in the growing season the better. Generally late spring to early summer is best.

What time of year do you topdress your lawn? ›

The best time to top dress is early fall or spring all at once or in stages where you deal with the problem where and when it appears. Top dressing your lawn usually puts a lot of strain on the grass and could even kill it if not applied correctly or at the right time.

Should you top dress before or after fertilizer? ›

It is generally recommended to fertilize your lawn before you start top dressing.

When should I top dress my new lawn? ›

Top dressing a lawn is best done during the growing season which is when your lawn is getting mown weekly, typically this is during late Spring/early Summer. Top dressing a lawn should only be done when the grass is actively growing.

Should I aerate my lawn before top dressing? ›

As the compost mixes with the clay, it helps create a better layer of topsoil by improving soil structure and microbial life. Lawn topdressing should be performed right after aeration as it's not nearly so useful to do it without the holes already there.

What is the best thing to top dress a lawn? ›

Lawn top dressing mix is made up of sandy loam or good quality free-draining topsoil, along with sand and well-rotted organic matter. Either make this up yourself or buy lawn dressing ready to use.

What are the disadvantages of top dressing? ›

The disadvantages of top dressing include the struggle of applying nitrogen at the correct time and potential for increased nitrogen losses. Although top dressing is a quick job to complete, it often needs to be completed when growers are busy finishing seeding or starting in-crop herbicide.

Do I need to water after top dressing lawn? ›

Your goal is to get the soil saturated. Once the soil and seed are saturated then you just have to keep it damp. Usually by the 3rd week you can back off on watering some, but we still recommend paying attention to weather conditions and watering at least every other day.

Will grass grow through top dressing? ›

Topdressing is the best way to rejuvenate your lawn without pulling up all your grass (which is a pain) and starting over. As your grass grows through the layer of topdressing, the organic material is incorporated into the soil beneath it, adding nutrients and improving soil quality.

Should you seed or Topdress first? ›

After aerating, it's time for top dressing: spread either pulverized top soil or a good quality humus compost across the lawn. You don't need much—about a quarter inch or so is adequate. Then, go ahead and reseed. Be sure to invest some money in the seed and get good quality, weed-free seed.

How short to cut grass before top dressing? ›

Step 1: Before top dressing your lawn, you'll need to scalp it first to remove excess thatch and organic matter. This will also help you see the uneven areas on your lawn. A good target is to scalp the turf to a height of 0.5”-1.5”. Step 2: Remove as many grass clippings and debris as possible from your lawn.

Which is the best fertilizer for top dressing? ›

In the realm of top-dressing fertilizers, the choice between Urea and Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) is a decision that demands careful consideration.

Should I roll my lawn after top dressing? ›

Rolling your Lawn

So, rolling is to firm the surface; meaning the top 1” to 2” of soil. A light roller, half filled water roller or a pedestrian lawn mower roller can be used to firm top dressing and roll after seeding.

Should I scalp my lawn before top dressing? ›

After your lawn is scalped and before the new growth starts is the perfect time to top dress your lawn. The term top dressing refers to putting down a sand and dirt mixture over your entire lawn. This will help level the low spots in your lawn providing a better more even cut each time your lawn is mowed.

Can you topdress a lawn in summer? ›

Top dressing your lawn is best conducted while the lawn is going through a growing phase. Applying a top dressing while actively growing will ensure that the lawn plants are well suited to being able to push up through the top dressing.

What month should I scalp my lawn? ›

It is recommended to scalp between late February and mid-March, depending on your geographic region. Cutting too low: Cutting your grass too low can damage the grass blades and expose the soil, which can lead to weed growth and soil erosion. It is recommended to cut no more than one-third of the grass blade at a time.

What are the disadvantages of top dressing fertilizer application? ›

The disadvantages of top dressing include the struggle of applying nitrogen at the correct time and potential for increased nitrogen losses. Although top dressing is a quick job to complete, it often needs to be completed when growers are busy finishing seeding or starting in-crop herbicide.

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