Top Dressing Your Lawn: Benefits and Why It’s Important
For a lawn that’s healthy year-round, top dressing is an essential step in your lawn maintenance plan. If you’re unfamiliar with top dressing, we’ve got all the information you need to get started.
What is Top Dressing?
Top dressing is the process of spreading organic material to your lawn as a soil amendment. Typically applied as a thin layer (¼-inch thick), top dressing gives your lawn the TLC it needs—without having to pull up all of your grass. Your lawn will continue to receive nutrients as your grass grows through the top dressing.
What Materials are Used for Top Dressing?
There are three materials that you can use for your lawn’s top dressing. Each of these materials serves a different purpose that’s dependent on what your soil needs.
- Topsoil is a cost-effective top dressing when you need a little that goes a long way. While this option doesn’t contain tons of organic matter, it’ll produce a smooth result.
- Compost is filled with organic material and is recommended for all soil types. Use a mature compost that’s free of dye or unwanted ingredients.
- Sand can be used in heavy-clay soils to aid in draining. You’ll see sand often used as a top dressing on golf courses.
When to Top Dress Your Lawn
The appropriate time to top dress your lawn will depend on your grass type. Warm-season grasses should be top-dressed anywhere between mid-May to August. For fescue lawns and cool-season grasses, you’ll want to top dress during the fall for an improved soil profile and seed germination.
How will Top Dressing Benefit My Lawn?
When done properly, top-dressing your lawn is a great way to promote its overall health. Here are three reasons to incorporate top dressing into your lawn maintenance plan:
Better Soil Aeration
When adding organic material to your lawn, you introduce organisms that can break down that matter. In doing this, pockets of air open up, creating more space for oxygen and water to get into the soil.
Gives Soil Quality a Boost
Top dressing adds crucial nutrients back into the soil. For a healthy lawn that germinates, grows and fights off disease, it’ll need support from nutrients like nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.
Levels Your Lawn
A poorly-draining lawn may lead to issues like erosion and disease. Top dressing adds a smoothing layer to your lawn, keeping your soil and grass in its place.
Barefoot Lawn Care’s Top Dressing Approach
At Barefoot Lawn Care, we strive to provide our clients with lawn care services that yield lush, healthy lawns. Our organic-certified, compost top dressing has the essential nutrients and materials your lawn needs for years to come.
Contact us today to learn more about our top dressing services and how we can help you to achieve the lawn of your dreams!