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.
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:
- Sand is commonly used on golf courses because it improves bounce and resiliency. It can improve drainage in heavy clay soils.
- 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.
- 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 feels | Soil type | Topdressing material |
| Sticky | High clay content | Compost |
| Gritty | High sand content | Sand, topsoil, and compost |
| Fine, soft, slightly damp | Loam | Topsoil 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
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 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 equipment | Average 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
