Topdressing regularly can smooth out bumps caused by worm castings and encourages a dense, lush lawn. Now you’re ready to get started. So why is … Top dressing and overseeding are important components in any organic lawn maintenance program. On the question of whether to overseed before or after top dressing, it's best to do it after so that the seeds receive adequate sunlight for germination. Top Dressing a Lawn: How It Helps Top dressing your lawn is an age-old practice on golf courses. Penn State Extension notes that grasses need 16 different nutrients to thrive, and your top dressing mix might not include each of these in adequate amounts. * Compost … I do suggest you apply a fertilizer after seeding. Top dressing is the process of applying compost, soil, or sand over the surface of your lawn. It adds valuable organic matter to the soil base which improves soil fertility and root … If you have a lot of top dressing to work into the lawn perhaps seeding afterwards is best so that the seed doesn’t … Overseeding is an important for growing a healthy, lush lawn. To ensure the top dressing easily rakes through the grass, mow your lawn to about an inch high. ft. Topdressing can be used to smooth the surface of the lawn. It's important you prepare correctly and choose the right type of soil for a great-looking lawn. You should add the new grass seed after renovation and either before or after top dressing. You don't want to accidentally smother the grass, but rather spread a rich organic material in a thin enough layer to allow the grass to push through and continue growing. Landscaping has put together a few important tips for taking care of these lawn areas after topdressing and over-seeding … I would like to reseed and top dress the entire area. All you have to do is go to your local garden store and purchase some high quality certified grass seed with endophyte and some … This would normally be a loam or a loam and sand mix, depending on the condition of your … Finally, it's time to add more grass seed. … Repeat the Process if Necessary Allow the topdress to settle. He also addresses the best time to weed and feed. The reason why I suggest more ryegrass is that it germinates in 5 to 7 days, whereas bluegrass takes 28 days to germinate. Choose the same kind of grass seed that is already growing in your lawn to achieve uniform color and height throughout the season. You don’t need much—about a quarter inch or so is adequate. Any areas where it globs or mounds up should be corrected immediately. You will not be able to apply conventional crabgrass control products before or after reseeding, as they will prevent your new seed from germinating. Top dressing is a good idea, especially if you have areas that have eroded or sunken over the last year. If you notice dips that you want to level out, add a thicker layer of your soil, sand, or compost and tamp it down. Top dressing and overseeding your lawn can rejuvenate it and give it that lush, thick quality you strive for each year. In fact, if you simply want to level your yard without blowing your budget, you can use coarse sand. Top dressing is the process of spreading additional soil over the surface of your lawn. Over seeding & top dressing your lawn is really easy. Apply Top-Dressing. Topdressing reduces lawn stresses, helps keep … This is also the perfect time to bring out the aerator and allow oxygen to penetrate the soil while also breaking up any thatch. This will help to relieve any compaction issues, and it will also provide a good site for the seed to germinate. I would also like to “weed and feed”. A good way to incorporate new seed into an existing lawn is to first core aerate the lawn. Enter yourNeighborhood Topdressing's benefits are so numerous, it's hard to understand why it is not the foundation for every lawn care program. Top dressing involves adding a thin layer of organic material to … Top dressing does not just improve the look of your lawn, but can also benefit the health of the grass too. Top dressing involves adding a thin layer of organic material to provide long-lasting nutrients, whereas overseeding fills in bare or thin spots with fresh sprouts of grass. Grass seed swells as it absorbs this moisture and produces a seedling ready for photosynthesis and rapid growth. Top-dressing is usually done at the same time of year as seeding Here’s the good news Most poor condition lawns can be renovated with top-dressing followed by re-seeding or over-seeding! Try to get the top dressing about a quarter of an inch thick on all areas of your lawn. SHOP GRASS SEED … Harold provides some expert tips on two important lawn care practices—reseeding and top dressing—and stresses the importance of doing them in the right order. I suggest you look for a product with an analysis of 14-14-14 or similar and supply about .75 to 1 pound of Nitrogen per 1,000 sq. Weeds. She graduated from Indiana University Southeast with a Bachelor's degree in English. It has been performed on golf courses since the sport was invented in Scotland, but has only recently … When top dressing a lawn with any material, only a very thin layer should be spread evenly over the entire lawn. It is difficult for most homeowners to maintain adequate watering for 28 days unless they have a sprinkler system. She enjoys writing content that helps homeowners feel motivated and confident in handling projects around the home. Any uneven dips created by cutting out the weeds will be leveled when the top dressing is added. “I planted about an acre of grass last spring. bags of a 14-14-14. What to Do First: Reseeding or Top Dressing? I suggest that you use a mix of 20% bluegrass and 80% perennial ryegrass. Then use a garden rake to pull the top dressing out from the center pile on all sides. Cathy Habas has been a full-time freelance writer since 2014. It can reduce thatch buildup by encouraging decomposition. ft. For that product, in a 50-lb. It can reduce thatch buildup by encouraging decomposition. You don't want to scalp your lawn, but you do want it to be short. On a seeded lawn: After sowing lawn grass seeds, apply a thin layer — about 1/4-inch — of compost as top-dressing to help maintain consistent soil moisture while seeds germinate and tender grass seedlings … Did you receive a mailing or email from us? Overseeding a lawn lets you fill in bare spots and improve your grass by adding in better varieties. Which should I do first and how long do I wait in between?”. Soil structure and drainage can be modified by topdressing with sand or other corrective materials. Top dressing is a good idea, especially if you have areas that have eroded or sunken over the last year. E.L.S. Go ahead and mow your lawn as you normally would, but try to otherwise keep lawn traffic to a minimum until you can stop watering the seedlings every day. Mr. Campbell, Thank you for sending in your question. © Spring-Green Lawn Care Corp. All rights reserved. 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. It also help lawns damaged by a lack of water, heavy foot traffic and heat. You will need about 3/4 cubic yard per 1000 square feet of lawn. The material is spread one-quarter to one-half inch thick in spring or fall, depending on local climate and soil. bag, you would apply about 5 to 6 pounds of product per 1,000 sq. Top Dressing with your overseeding is a great way to maximize the health of your soil – and the beauty of your lawn. Centenary Landscaping Supplies presents a guide to Top dressing your lawn, grass or turf. Once you've selected the top dressing, empty the bags or dump the wheelbarrow loads throughout the lawn. Apply the seed at the recommended re-seeding rate found on the label. Be sure to cover your entire lawn, even the areas that are already growing well. Now is a great time to Top Dress your lawn. Place approximately 1/4 inch of top dressing (a 3-way mix of sand, dirt and compost is best). Before top-dressing the lawn, take the time to cut out weedy sections with a shovel to reduce competition and encourage a more uniform look to your lawn once the grass grows in. Penn State Extension: Turfgrass Fertilization: A Basic Guide for Professional Turfgrass Managers. It has come in nicely, however, I do have a question. Lawn Top Dressing - Compost is applied to your lawn at a depth of 1/4" to 1/2" What is Lawn Top Dressing: Lawn Top Dressing is the process of adding a thin layer of Top Soil onto your lawn… A good way to incorporate new seed into an existing lawn is to first core aerate the lawn. Turf experts often recommend "topdressing" lawns with a thin layer of compost. It can be used following seeding, overseeding or sprigging to protect the developing … Follow appropriate safety precautions when using power equipment. Use a hand-held or push broadcaster depending on the size of your yard. I am assuming that you used a bluegrass/ryegrass blend. Topdressing can be used to smooth the surface of the lawn. I am glad to read that you had good success in your seeding efforts last year. Wait for a rain shower or sprinkle the … ›, Overcoming Salt Damage: Reseeding & Weed Prevention. OverSeeding - We will Overseed your lawn using High Quality Tall Fescue Grass Seed. The following is a question-and-answer exchange between a homeowner and Harold Enger, the Director of Education at Spring-Green. Top dressing and overseeding your lawn can rejuvenate it and give it that lush, thick quality you strive for each year. After aerating, it’s time for top dressing: spread either pulverized top soil or a good quality humus compost across the lawn. In regards to broadleaf weeds, like dandelions and clover, you need to wait until the grass has germinated and has been mowed three times before applying that type of product. Use this guide to learn about overseeding a lawn. This layer is only about a 1/4″ and is meant to amend … The following pictures … Did you receive a mailing or email from us? Discount Code. You can ask Harold a question directly on his Ask the Expert blog. Enter yourNeighborhood Discount Code. – Spring-Green Lawn Care Tips, Enter your address to find available services. If your lawn area is an acre, then you would purchase between 5 and 6 50-lb. But to get the best results possible, you'll need to do some additional prep work before you dive right into the top dressing and overseeding process. You top dress the surface of an established lawn with compost or other material to enhance its … Top dressing benefits the lawn as it builds up the quality of the soil over a period of time, - sandy soils will be able to retain moisture better and so the lawn will be more resistant to drought, clay soils will … Top dressing is the process of applying a very thin layer of compost or another soil amendment to the surface of your lawn. Invented in Scotland, but can also benefit the health of the lawn dressing out from center. Or twice per day after Reseeding until the seedlings catch up to height... 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