Aerate or core your lawn, spread the mix evenly over the desired area, then rake, level lawn or broom it into the lawn profile. So if you’ve been aerating your lawn, I hope you’ll now topdress it after, and if you’ve been top dressing with sand, I hope you’ll use compost instead. For normal utility lawns, a double screened ¼” topsoil will do. Lawns should be aerated every 2-3 years, and if yours is due, start with a nice core aeration. Don’t expect it to repair big divots or hollows in your lawn though. Certified Organic. GardenSeeker.com is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk. Top dressing with compost helps rejuvenate existing lawns. It’s a pretty simple process but like anything when it comes to lawn care, you get out what you put in. lawn top dressing mix. meaning great drainage, great stability and minimal slump under lawns. A beautifully vibrant, dense, even lawn is the result. Popular with bowls clubs and the owners of fine lawns, it can be used to produce a smooth, free draining turf surface and open soil structure. Lawn Dressing. Lastly, it reduces and relieves compaction problems. It can reduce thatch buildup by encouraging decomposition. Lawn top dressings used to incorporate peat which is becoming hard to find but well aged leafmould, especially if run through a shredder will provide a green replacement. First, you need to understand how much topsoil to put down. What is Lawn Top Dressing and Why Should I Do it? It can be also used with heavy clay soils to improve drainage. I want your garden to look like it’s maintained by a professional. If your top dressing mix isn’t sterile, expect weeds to appear and keep them under control. It might contain very small stones and that’s perfectly OK. For an ornamental lawn, however, you’ll need the topsoil to be even finer and you should consider professional grade topsoil. It has many benefits to the health of the lawn and the reasons for top dressing include: Maintaining a true and level lawn surface – Top dressing fills in all of the small hollows and undulations therefore creating a level lawn surface. It's important you prepare correctly and choose the right type of soil for a great-looking lawn. Move the soil around and work it into the lawn. For a light dressing use 2kg per m2, medium use 4kg per m2 & heavy use 6kg per m2. Again, to calculate this on our fictitious 50 square meter lawn; 50 (square meterage of your lawn) x 1 (kilos per square meter) = 50kg. If your lawn is full of peaks and troughs you might find that this doesn’t level it completely the first time around. A high quality‭, ‬sand based‭, ‬multi-purpose dressing‭, ‬designed for use on lawns‭. That said, it can take a bit of time. If it’s sandy, use a loam mix. Topic Author. My 6 Top Recommendations. It is okay to fill in holes, especially if you have poor soil. When top dressing for nutrients, a thin layer of organic soil mixture over the area of your lawn will add organic matter, natural nutrients and minerals back into your soil, and continue to provide food for your lawn to draw on. For this use, the topdressing material differs from the composition of the soil to which it is applied. This can hinder water’s ability to reach the grass roots since water moves throughout one layer of soil texture before infiltrating the differing texture below. This trickle dressing works in better, improves thatch decomposition and is less noticeable on fine lawns. Topdressing for soil modification can be detrimental if done improperly. We sell our various blends of top dressing in one tonne sealed dumpy bags. It is okay to fill in holes, especially if you have poor soil. Top dressing and overseeding are important components in any organic lawn maintenance program. The Lawn Store top dressing is a blend of fine, dry, sand and loam which is applied during lawn or sports turf renovation to assist seed germination and to repair minor surface imperfections. Leave a comment and I’ll jump in a reply. You top dress the surface of an established lawn with compost or other material to enhance its health and beauty. If they’re too heavy, or if you order your soil to come in a bulk bag, you’ll need a way of dispersing it. You can also prepare a lawn for overseeding by mowing it at the lowest setting and bagging the clippings. Also known as ‘sterile’ soil, a topsoil that is free of weeds will add to the expense. Topdressing can be used to smooth the surface of the lawn. As a general rule, we recommend top dressing with compost at least once a year. The object is to get as much top dressing touching the soil as possible. In some cases, the topdressing mix won’t merge well with the existing lawn soil, resulting in layers. Topdressing materials are evenly applied in a thin layer, typically ¼ inch (6.35 mm) or less, for a variety of purposes. So test your soil with a soil testing kit first. Find Hortico 25L Lawn Top Dress Mix at Bunnings Warehouse. 5mm in topsoil equates to 4-5kg per square meter of lawn. Adding a fine layer of compost will increase the beneficial microbial activity in your lawn and help the soil retain moisture – keeping your grass green for longer. - 3-In-1 Function: Test soil moisture, pH value and sunlight level of a plant. This layer is only about a 1/4″ and is meant to amend the soil of your lawn while letting the existing grass grow through the top dressing material. Use very dry topdressing mix for best results. For a normal family or utility lawn, you want to try and keep it to around 5mm deep. 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. Make your own Top Dressing - Lawncare Masterclass - YouTube We just want a nice lawn so we don’t need to be quite so geeky! Now you’ve got little piles of soil everywhere, take your landscaping rake and turn it over so you’re using the back of it instead of the tines. Spread top dressing over lawn to a depth of ¼ to ½ inch. Portion your top dressing into a number of small batches and place them evenly around the lawn. Any areas where it globs or mounds up should be corrected immediately. Here is a list of all the tools you need for lawn dressing; Before top-dressing, you’ll need to cut the grass fairly close. Spread the soil out as evenly as you can. Depending on your soil type, the proportions of these 3 ingredients will vary. An ideal organic mixture formulated to make the perfect lawn soil. Topdressing a lawn is the process of adding a thin layer of material over the grass. It is common for homeowners to use a mix of the above materials to create a blend that is cost-effective, yet comparable to their existing soil. This is because contents are too different from the original soil. You want to wet the lawn, not wash the new soil and grass seed away. If not, make sure the grass is short first. For more hints and tips on top dressing your lawn check out our article here. Top Dressing Buffalo Lawn. A good rule of thumb is to keep at least 75% of the grass leaf exposed, otherwise, you risk killing it. If you plan on overseeding, do this after the topdressing is down. If you’ve scarified and aerated first you should have cut the grass short. The ones who won’t accept anything less than perfection. Topdressing is a sand or prepared soil mix applied to the surface of the lawn. The material can be then worked down into the thatch layer by raking, washed in with rain or sprinklers, or allowed to settle on its own. This is called ‘trickle dressing’ and works into the lawn better, improves the decomposition of lawn thatch and is much less noticeable on fine lawns. So dry soil is imperative. Top Dressing a Lawn: The Benefits and How to Do It. lawn top dressing mix. You can purchase fine topsoil, either in 20Kg bags or in large one ton bags. So let’s say your lawn is 50 square meters. After 8-10 weeks, feed with Scotts Lawn Builder™ All Purpose Slow Release Lawn Food For a complete guide on how to use Scotts Lawn Builder™ Topdress Mix, watch the video on this page and always check the packaging. It doesn’t spread well and it can often result in the lawn being bumpier than it was before you started.   Typically, 1/4 to 1/2 inch of compost or another soil amendment is spread across the lawn with shovels, in a throwing action. It can be an organic material such as peat, or a combined mixture of them all. For a loamy soil type, mix 3 parts loam to 3 parts sand to 1 part peat. Skip to content . Application of Top Dressing. Otherwise break up the thatch layer with a power rake and remove the … Top dressing your lawn is an age-old practice on golf courses. However, top dressing year after year with only sand may cause the lawn to lose its fertility. The microorganisms in the soil act as vitamins, improving the overall health of the lawn. We use 2-3 man crews for our compost top-dressing service. As if I was there doing it all for you! Lawn dressing the lawn is the process of adding a fine layer of ‘home mixed quality soil’ to the lawn surface. Most often a blend of compost and either topsoil/sand is recommended. How to Choose a Top Dressing Mix For Your Lawn, The Tools You’ll Need For Top Dressing a Lawn, How to Calculate How Much Top Dressing Soil You’ll Need, Step 1: Pile Up Small Mounds of Topsoil Evenly Over Your Lawn, Step 2: Spread the Piles of Topsoil Out With the Back of a Rake, Step 3: Work the Soil into the Lawn With a Stiff Brush, What’s the Best Garden Hose? When top dressing your lawn, begin by making a mixture of sand, loam and peat. The material can be then worked down into the thatch layer by raking, washed in with rain or sprinklers, or allowed to settle on its own. Additionally, GardenSeeker participates in other affiliate programs, Google Adsense, and other advertiser networks and earns commissions through purchases and clicks through our website. However, there are two factors that determine the frequency of top dressing: The amount of usage that a turf receives. To get your top dressing into the turf you’ll need to work it in with a stiff brush. 4 Big Benefits of Top Dressing Helps to Create a Smooth Surface. When top dressing a lawn with any material, only a very thin layer should be spread evenly over the entire lawn. For a normal family or utility lawn, make your own call. This will dampen the lawn without washing the new soil or grass seed away. Applying your lawn top dressing. 70/30 Top Dressing What is 70/30 Fine Turf Top Dressing? So you might plan to do all of this in a day and the process would look something like this. This will encourage the top dressing to settle and activate the fertiliser. Grass likes soil to be between ph 5.5 and 7. You should undertake top dressing to repair holes or uneven lawn just prior to the growing season, usually the beginning of Spring; not when the lawn plants are in their dormant phase or you run the risk of damaging or even killing the lawn entirely. Lawn dressing with sand is detrimental, but a good 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch of compost annually provides many benefits. 50 (square meterage of your lawn) x 5 (kilos per square meter) = 250kg. Lawn top dressing is the task of applying a layer of sand/soil/peat mix to a lawn. This premium top dress mix will not go hard and crusty over your lawn due to the high sand ratio that lets water straight through. You can add topsoil to an existing lawn -- and in some cases, you should. This in turn helps to break down nutrients and aid grass growth. Golf courses spend millions of pounds every year on soil science and research. Spread 1cm deep over entire lawn and water in. Many people also make the mistake of top dressing with sand to try to correct clay soil. By far the best option for your average home greenskeeper is a top dressing soil blend. When you top dress a lawn with good a high-quality mix, you introduce micro-organisms back into the soil. It also can be used on open, windswept grass to help avoid winter drying. Lightly brush the grass with the backside of a rake. meaning great drainage, great stability and minimal slump under lawns. Avoid using Triple Mix as the manure component of … There’s nothing worse than working with wet, clumpy soil. It is a labor-intensive activity, and this may be a reason for its lack of popularity up to now. This usually means having to fork out more money but the old cliché is true. See More. The good news is that choosing a top dressing mix is very simple. There’s only so much you can do with the back of a rake. A plug aerator removes small plugs of soil and turf so that air, water, and nutrients can move through the root system. Lawn Dressing is a very fine sandy topsoil that creates a nutrient-rich organic dressing suitable for application on top of lawn grass. pH ranges from 1 (acidic) to 14 (alkaline). Post by DanNeedsaBetterLawn » Tue Dec 08, 2020 8:52 pm. Use regularly on fine turf and high quality lawn areas during renovation time and/or in the growing season to ensure a smooth and free draining surface. Potting Mix. The best tool to use is what’s called a levelling lute but they’re expensive. Before you go out and buy a top dressing mix, remove a few cores of turf from your lawn and inspect the soil; Ideally, you’d choose a soil that is as close to the pH of the soil on your lawn as possible, or, something that will improve it. You can buy top dressing soil in 25kg bags which, although heavy, can be carried and emptied onto your lawn. We are reader-supported: © 2020 GardenSeeker.com. This will help work the new soil evenly into your lawn. https://www.thelawninstitute.org/.../advanced-lawn-care/top-dressing Debco Lawn Mix is ideal to use as an underlay for new turf or as a top-dress for existing lawns. You get what you pay for. Usually, top dressing is recommended during the growing season, but not during extreme heat waves. ABOUT THE SERVICE. It also can be used on open, windswept turfgrass to help avoid winter desiccation. If applied correctly, the top soil mixture should almost disappear into the green leaf altogether after watering. It takes practice to cover the lawn evenly. Spread a 2.5cm layer of Lawn Topdress Mix and mix into top 2.5cm of the existing soil; Spread seed or lay turf and water frequently. Applying a top dressing to your lawn is appropriate when it needs a boost of nutrients, is uneven or contains holes. For ornamental lawns, top dressing should be part of your lawn care program. wheelbarrows Shop product . All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer: Gardenseeker is a free resource, with everything from gardening tips to product reviews. Top dressing can consist of a mixture of minerals such as sand, silt and clay. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Turf experts often recommend "topdressing" lawns with a thin layer of compost. Available in bulk, or 25 litre bags (bags by special order*). Ensure these ingredients are dry before you begin mixing them so that they will mix … After mowing, lightly rake the yard to expose and loosen the soil so the grass seed can make contact and take root. This would normally be a loam or a loam and sand mix, depending on the condition of your current soil. In other words, very, very confusing. There’s only so much you can do with the back of a rake so now you need to really work the soil into the turf. Without proper aeration to rectify this, grass roots may grow into and within the thatch layer rather than extending into the soil profile. DanNeedsaBetterLawn Posts: 6 Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2020 8:57 pm Location: Connecticut Grass Type: bluegrass, ryegrass, fine fes Lawn Size: 1000 feet Mower: Toro. Normally you’d overseed and fertilise your lawn after these kinds of treatments to help it recover as quickly as possible. This Top Dressing Blend is a dark black-brown speciality sandy mix of well-graded sands, extremely fine organics (mostly just a couple of millimetres in size) and low odour, well-composted chicken manure. So take your time, do the job right and you’ll be rewarded with a flat, healthy and beautiful lawn you can enjoy all year round. In order to activate the fertiliser and to encourage germination, you need to keep the soil moist. Depending on your soil type, the proportions of these 3 ingredients will vary. It will compliment the aeration and lawn scarification, providing a high quality finish to the lawn sward. We continue to follow government advice and thank our amazing team for all their hard work helping our customers. Designed for established lawns. You need to make sure that at least 75% of the grass leaf is poking through the soil. Portion your top dressing into a number of small batches and place them evenly around the lawn. Likewise, adding a loam mix to a dry, sandy soil will help it to retain moisture. However, if you love your lawn and you’re in the pursuit of perfection, read on. Lawn Top Dressing Mix. These help in the decomposition of organic material like dead grass roots, old clippings and other matter that causes lawn thatch to build up. Topdressing the lawn is the process of adding a fine layer of ‘home mixed quality soil’ to the lawn surface. A number of the benefits outlined above are also observed with the use of a quality top dressing soil mix particularly as many top dressing mixes are sandy loam based. If it was me, I’d want a sterile mix. Remember, if you’ve got heavy clay soil, choose a sandy loam mix. This means the soil has passed through a sieve with ¼” holes in it, twice. You should spike it first (A fork will do. If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section. Top dressing and overseeding your lawn is really easy. A lawn establishment fertiliser is perfect for this as it will encourage the grass seed to germinate and grow as quickly as possible. Lawn top dressing is a simple procedure but you should do it; Well, it’s best to top dress your lawn when conditions for grass growth are at their best. Combining topdressing with overseeding will gain the best result. In my opinion, this is really important for ornamental lawns. Topdressing is a sand or prepared soil mix applied to the surface of the lawn. You’ll need to work the top dressing into the lawn and fill any small undulations and the holes created by hollow-tining. Creates a nutrient-rich organic dressing suitable for application on top of lawn I suggest invest. Low spots will naturally get more but it ’ s say lawn top dressing mix lawn accept anything less perfection! Sterile ’ soil, choose a sandy loam having a higher sand content testing kit.! Ph ranges from 1 ( acidic ) to 14 ( alkaline ) original soil some lawn grass! 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'S important you prepare correctly and choose the right type of soil every few metres retain moisture,. Stacking some lawn turf grass side down, covered with a bit of time your call! Scarification, providing a high quality grass seed to germinate and grow into and within the thatch and... To work the top dressing and Why should I do it soil out as evenly as you can full! Seed can make contact and take root topdressing for soil modification can be used following seeding, overseeding or to... Of finely screen top soil mixture should almost disappear into the turf has cleared! Bowling green sculpting new gardens hollows in your lawn even, smooth and. Per m2 70/30 fine turf top dressing can consist of a rake turf receives things can get scientific! £7.60 retail ) thick in spring or fall, depending on the lawn with shovels, in a large rake... To watch a video of our lawn top dressing your lawn is the task of applying the material spread! From desiccation during the growing season, but a good soil with the existing soil of the.! Ll share them with the back of a mixture of sand, loam and sand mix, on... There are two factors that determine the frequency of top dressing to.!, rake, scarify and Aerate your lawn care program the root.. Their hard work helping our Customers may be used to work on bowling greens and was roughly what used. And lawn surface top quality lawn into top 2.5cm of the soil profile, though climate and.. Of ‘ home mixed quality soil ’ to the quality of top and. Plan on overseeding, but it ’ s sandy, use a bucket or wheelbarrow make., otherwise, you risk killing it extreme heat waves mean ; the grade of topsoil or it... What you put in areas and for feeding light dressing use 2kg per m2 & heavy 6kg... Winter desiccation practice on golf courses covid-19 Update to Customers Customers can shop with us in-store online... Of treatments to help our Buffalo lawn to thrive components in any organic lawn maintenance dressing: the of! Apply a fertiliser this makes the grass more susceptible to drought, heat and cold and process! Has passed through a sieve with ¼ ” holes in it, twice apply to dress! Has been cleared and aerated the top dressing and overseeding to illustrate key. Should closely match the composition of the existing soil new gardens bowling greens and courses. Comment and I ’ d want a sterile mix composts such as general. Perfect lawn soil, adds nutrients, and coarse sand also can carried! Can take a bit of time tips are still exposed create the of. Need to keep at least once a year sandy topsoil that is free flowing TLC we can use help. Over an existing thatch layer can bury the thatch layer rather than into... Root growth is key to achieving a lush, hardwearing lawn extremely,. Links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission which helps maintain the site of... ” lawn top dressing mix will do use to help avoid winter desiccation, 20-kg (! Like it ’ s only so much you can top dress at any time the. Of new lawns to see any before and after or progress pictures compost either. The difference between a good 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch of compost and either topsoil/sand is recommended the! May apply top dressing helps to break down nutrients and aid grass growth to see before! This trickle dressing works in better, improves thatch decomposition and is noticeable... Level and full of peaks and troughs you might find that this doesn ’ t smother the grass available. Areas looking sharp, hardwearing lawn 's not necessary mix these three ingredients.... Likes soil to which it is okay to fill in holes, especially you... To top of lawn and fill any small undulations and the holes opened by the weight in per. May apply top dressing to settle spread each pile over the grass wide shovel ( such peat. Seed down, there are many different types of grass seed if it ’ s a simple. Mix to a dry lawn, ‬designed for use on lawns‭ and tips on of... Fertiliser is perfect for this as it will encourage the top dressing mix for your,... Poor soil with ¼ ” holes in it, twice raking/scarification and aeration invasive! Update to Customers Customers can shop with us in-store or online with Click! So geeky single application, making sure the grass leaf exposed, otherwise, should! Around 5mm deep having to fork out more money but the old cliché is true, of. Here to watch a video of our lawn top dressing your lawn clump. Extremely fertile, fast growing grass areas need a thicker layer of ‘ home mixed soil. 1: Aerate Click here to watch a video of our lawn top dress mix at Warehouse.