Top Dressing Mixture For Lawns

If it sandy use a loam mix this will improve moisture retention.

Top dressing mixture for lawns.

It needs less water because the top dressing retains soil moisture reduces surface evaporation and keeps the roots cool in the heat of summer. The term topdressing also is used for the process of applying the material. Before you go out and buy a top dressing mix remove a few cores of turf from your lawn and inspect the soil. It is tedious and labor intensive however.

I would recommend watering the area well or top dressing before a nice rain letting the mixture settle for a day or two then go back with your rake and smooth out any little hollows or bumps that may develop. The good news is that choosing a top dressing mix is very simple. Topdress lawns with a thin layer of soil 3 organic humus compost to renovate and improve an existing residential or commercial lawn or sports field turfgrass. This figure can be increased for lawns with a more uneven surface.

Here s what top dressing does for your lawn. When top dressing a lawn with any material only a very thin layer should be spread evenly over the entire lawn. When tackled as a diy project the process isn t difficult. Amount to use when top dressing a lawn.

You then spread the top dressing over the required area using a flat surface such as the back side of a rake or a tool called a lute that is made especially for this purpose. Many people also make the mistake of top dressing with sand to try to correct clay soil. Any areas where it globs or mounds up should be corrected immediately. The grass grows greener because the soil is fed with well aged organic matter that enhances soil health.

Use compost topdressing to improve lawns and as a fertilizer application. Topdressing is a sand or prepared soil mix applied to the surface of the lawn. Topdressing can be used to smooth the surface of the lawn. If it s heavy clay choose a sandy loam mix to help improve drainage.

Open up the thatch layer with a power rake or aerator to create channels for the topdressing material to penetrate the surface. With this layer of soil 3 compost we are addressing the problems of thinning or unhealthy sod and or providing the first application of fertilizer for the year. A general guide is around 1 5 2 kg 3 4 lb of top dressing mixture per square metre. Check the soil ph and adjust accordingly if it is out of range.

Where it is necessary to amend soil or where your lawn has compaction issues first use a core aerator then top dress the lawn with sand or a sand organic matter blend a plug aerator removes small plugs of soil and turf so that air water and nutrients can move through the root system. An organic soil such as black dirt or dry sand will prevent water from penetrating too deeply and drowning the grass. Topdressing materials are evenly applied in a thin layer typically inch 6 35 mm or less for a variety of purposes. When ordering top dressing first determine the surface area and multiply by the depth of top dressing desired generally 1 8 to inch.