Topdressing a Lawn: How to Do It and Its Benefits (2024)

Topdressing a Lawn: How to Do It and Its Benefits (1)

If your lawn is plagued by weeds and disease or just looking a little lackluster, topdressing might be the solution. This simple lawn care technique can turn your struggling landscape into a showstopper. Let’s learn all about topdressing a lawn, including the materials you need, how to do it, the benefits, and when to knock this task off your to-do list.

In this article, we’ll cover:

  • What is topdressing?
  • What materials can you use for topdressing?
    • Choosing the best topdressing material for your soil type
    • How much material do you need for topdressing?
    • Supplies you’ll need for DIY topdressing
  • 8 steps for topdressing your lawn
    • 1. Remove the thatch
    • 2. Clear away debris
    • 3. Pull out the lawn mower
    • 4. Overseed the lawn
    • 5. Spread the topdressing
    • 6. Rake and water the topdressing into the lawn
    • 7. Leave your lawn alone
    • 8. Wait for your topdressing results
  • Benefits of topdressing
    • Improves soil aeration
    • Improves soil quality
    • Adds beneficial soil microbes
    • Helps seed germination
    • Levels lawn
    • Breaks down thatch
  • When to topdress your lawn
  • FAQ about topdressing your lawn

What is topdressing?

Topdressing is the process of spreading a thin layer (¼-inch thick) of organic material on top of your lawn to amend your soil. You can topdress your entire yard or focus on bare spots and combine with overseeding to fill them in.

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.

What materials can you use for topdressing?

There are three options for topdressing materials:

  1. Sand is commonly used on golf courses because it improves bounce and resiliency. It can improve drainage in heavy clay soils.
  1. Topsoil helps smooth out the ground but doesn’t contain a lot of organic matter. It’s an inexpensive way to make your topdressing material go farther.
  1. Compost is recommended for all soil types. Use a compost that’s mature and screened with a fine particle size and a pH between 6.5 and 8.0. Look for these qualities on the label.

Most people use a mixture of the three to save money. A mixture works as long as you include compost and know what kind of topdressing material is best for your current soil type.

Choosing the best topdressing material for your soil type

You’ll want to use a topdressing material that’s comparable to your current soil. If you use something drastically different, like a sand-heavy topdressing mix on top of clay-rich soil, it creates a distinct layer that inhibits air and water movement. Instead, you want to use a mix that encourages incremental changes.

To determine what kind of soil you have, grab a handful of damp soil from your yard and rub it around in your hands.

How the soil feelsSoil typeTopdressing material
StickyHigh clay contentCompost
GrittyHigh sand contentSand, topsoil, and compost
Fine, soft, slightly dampLoamTopsoil and compost

How much material do you need for topdressing?

To amend a home lawn, ¼-inch is the recommended layer of topdressing. That means you need 0.77 cubic yards of material to topdress 1,000 square feet.

To find the amount of material needed for your yard, multiply the square footage of your yard by 0.77, then divide by 1,000.

Example: If your yard is 800 square feet, the calculations would be as follows:

  • 800 x 0.77 = 616
  • 616 ÷ 1,000 = 0.62 cubic yards of topdressing material needed

Supplies you’ll need for DIY topdressing

  • Power rake or aerator
  • Lawn mower
  • Regular rake, shovel, or garden fork
  • Wheelbarrow
  • Grass seed (if overseeding)
  • Topdressing material

8 steps for topdressing your lawn

Topdressing a Lawn: How to Do It and Its Benefits (2)

1. Remove the thatch

Use a power rake or core aerator to break up the thatch layer so the topdressing material can penetrate the surface. Thatch is the interwoven layer of living and dead materials between the grass blades and the soil. It can block topdressing materials (along with water and other nutrients) from ever reaching the soil.

2. Clear away debris

Remove grass clippings, loosened thatch, or plugs of soil (from lawn aeration) from the area you’re going to topdress.

3. Pull out the lawn mower

Mow the grass as short as possible within its recommended height range.

4. Overseed the lawn

Spread grass seed if you’re overseeding. This is a great chance to grow new grass because the topdressing will help speed up seed germination.

5. Spread the topdressing

Shovel a small amount of your topdressing material over a few square feet at a time. Fling them with a motion like hitting a hockey puck to spread the material in a ¼-inch layer. You can use a fertilizer or peat moss spreader for compost as long as the compost is dry and screened. Screened compost is filtered to separate out the large particles.

6. Rake and water the topdressing into the lawn

Gently rake in the organic material after spreading, then water your lawn well to move the material down to the soil surface.

7. Leave your lawn alone

Avoid heavy foot traffic on your lawn for the next week and wait 7-10 days before mowing again.

8. Wait for your topdressing results

Watch and wait. It may take a few seasons to see the full benefits of topdressing, but you should see improvements in drainage and water retention within a few weeks.

Benefits of topdressing

Topdressing a Lawn: How to Do It and Its Benefits (3)

Topdressing helps with a lot of aspects of lawn care. When done properly, it cuts down on your lawn’s fertilizer and general maintenance needs.

Improves soil aeration

Soil organisms break down the compost and cause little air pockets to open up. This aerates the soil so the grass roots get more oxygen and water can penetrate the ground.

Improves soil quality

Topdressing adds a lot of nutrients to the soil, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. It also improves the soil’s cation exchange capacity — its ability to hold nutrients and water. This gives you greener grass.

Adds beneficial soil microbes

Compost carries beneficial soil microbes. Soil microbes break down organic material through the chemicals in their body. Part of that process fixes nitrogen, an essential step before plants can absorb the nutrient. They also help control diseases and regulate carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous levels.

Helps seed germination

All of the benefits of topdressing make it a valuable player for seed germination, which is why it goes hand in hand with lawn overseeding.

Levels lawn

Poor lawn grading can cause drainage issues that may lead to fungal disease and yard erosion. Topdressing smooths out uneven areas in the lawn. Just don’t go overboard, or you could raise the grade too much and cause more drainage and erosion issues. Topdressing works best for leveling mildly uneven lawns.

Breaks down thatch

Thatch is an interwoven layer of dead and dying grass leaves, shoots, and roots that can (if too thick) inhibit air and water movement. The microbes in compost break down the thatch, allowing water to flow freely and bring nutrients to roots.

When to topdress your lawn

Topdress your lawn while it’s actively growing. If you have a cool-season grass type, topdress in late fall. If you have a warm-season grass type, topdress in late spring.

While topdressing benefits any lawn, homeowners should especially consider it if they notice any of these signs in their grass:

  • Consistent disease
  • Yellowing of grass leaves
  • Grass that stays wet and squishy hours after you water it
  • Persistent weeds
  • Bald patches

It’s best to topdress the lawn no more than once every few years because the process raises the grade of your lawn. Raising the grade too much can lead to drainage issues and erosion. If you’re only focusing on bare patches, feel free to topdress whenever necessary.

FAQ about topdressing your lawn

What’s the difference between basal dressing and topdressing?

Basal dressing is an application of chemical fertilizer added in a topdressing fashion.

Is topsoil the same as topdressing?

No. Topsoil alone can help you even out your lawn, but it contains less beneficial nutrients, texture, and microbes than topdressing.

How much do the materials for topdressing cost?

Typically, topsoil costs $10 to $50 per cubic yard. Sand costs between $15 and $40 per cubic yard. Compost varies widely, but it’s always less expensive to buy in bulk. You can purchase 1 cubic yard of screened compost for $30 to $80, and garden centers often deliver.

What about the tools needed for topdressing? You may already have some in your garden shed, but here’s how much they cost if you need them:

DIY tools and equipmentAverage cost
Wheelbarrow$50
Garden trowel$10
Rake$25
Shovel$18
Garden gloves$12
Power rake or aerator rental$29-$150
Lawn mower$475
Bobcat$300/daily rental
Grass seed (if overseeding)$3-$10

You can rent equipment from local hardware stores, like Home Depot.

Should I fertilize before or after topdressing?

If your yard is due for fertilization, apply it a few weeks before topdressing. The fertilizer ensures your grass is healthy and will quickly grow through the topdressing. The best way to know if your lawn needs fertilizer is to get a soil test.

Don’t know where to start?

Topdressing isn’t necessarily complex, but it is labor and time-intensive. If you don’t have the time or the tools to take on topdressing yourself, call a local lawn care pro. A landscaping company in your area can topdress your lawn and maintain it once it starts growing strong and healthy.

Main Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Topdressing a Lawn: How to Do It and Its Benefits (4)

Rachel Abrams

Born and raised in Gainesville, Florida, Rachel Abrams studied creative writing at the University of Virginia. She enjoys volunteering at her neighborhood community garden and growing herbs in her New York City apartment.

Posts by Rachel Abrams

Topdressing a Lawn: How to Do It and Its Benefits (2024)

FAQs

Topdressing a Lawn: How to Do It and Its Benefits? ›

Grass top dressing involves applying a thin layer of compost, sand, or both to the surface of a lawn. Top dressing improves soil structure, enhances nutrient levels, and promotes a healthier turf. Fertilizers and biostimulants can also be added to the top dressing mix.

What are the benefits of topdressing a lawn? ›

Soil structure and drainage can be modified by topdressing with sand or other corrective materials. Topdressing regularly can smooth out bumps caused by worm castings and encourages a dense, lush lawn. Topdressing reduces lawn stresses, helps keep thatch under control, and acts as a long-term natural fertilizer.

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.

Is it worth top dressing a lawn? ›

It allows you to maintain a true and level lawn surface by filling in any imperfections or hollow areas to create a smooth surface which makes sowing a new lawn not only easier but will create a much better looking lawn.

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.

What season should I top dress my 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.

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.

Do you put grass seed down before top dressing? ›

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.

Should I scalp my lawn before top dressing? ›

Top dressing with aeration improves drainage, reduces thatch buildup, and creates resilient green grass. To top dress a lawn, you need tools like a wheelbarrow, shovel, broadcast spreader, and leveling rake. Before you start the top dressing process, you'll need to clean up your lawn with a light scalp.

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

While there are many products you can use for lawn top dressing, sand and compost are common materials used. Lawn top dressing products such as sand and compost form a protective layer over the grass, helping to keep the roots cool and shielding them from the sun.

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.

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.

How often should you Topdress your lawn? ›

You can top dress a lawn when it is in active growth. Lawns can be top dressed twice yearly, but if you are only going to do the job once, for best results, top dress warm-season grass in spring, and cool-season grass in fall.

Is top dressing better than fertilizer? ›

While top-dressing will provide long-lasting benefits to your lawn, fertilizer may provide immediately available nutrients, especially if you have just overseeded as well. Use a starter fertilizer, such as GreenView Starter Fertilizer, to give your grass seed the best start.

Should you fertilize lawn before or after top dressing? ›

The recommendation is to fertilise the lawn a week to two before applying a top dressing regardless of whether this is for nutrients or to repair holes or an uneven lawn. This boost to the lawn plant's growth will assist the turf to push through the dressing more easily and quickly.

What are the effects of topdressing? ›

Top-dressing introduces a material into your soil that will:

Improve drainage. Allow the soil to exchange gases with the atmosphere better. Promote the development of soil micro-flora and micro-fauna, which are needed to break down thatch and grass clippings.

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