Top Dressing Lawn | Definition | Benefits | Lawn Weeds

Top Dressing

raking


Top dressing is the application of a bulky material to the surface of the turf. Usually, this material is a mixture of good quality soil, sand and a source of humus. Ideally this material should be sterilised. The annual application of top dressing is a matter of routine for the professional greenkeeper, but is an unheard-of technique for nearly all home lawn lovers!


Benefits of top dressing

Top Dressing 3

  • To make level any minor hollows on the lawn so that a true surface is obtained.
  • To produce a denser sward, the formation of new shoots is stimulated and the layer of top dressing promotes the development of runners.
  • The soil surface is gradually built up with a improved growing medium, thatch tends to decompose in this layer better and drought resistance is improved.
  • The water capacity in sandy soils can be improved by increasing the percentage of peat (humus) in the top dressing.
  • Drainage in heavy soils is improved by having a high percentage of sand in the top dressing, especially if hollow-tinning or spiking is carried out before.
  • Soil exchange can be achieved improving the growing medium by regular hollow-tinning and top dressing.
  • How to best apply the dressing

    The best time to apply top dressing is Autumn - so early September to the end of October.

  • Firstly, cut the lawn at your normal height of cut.
  • Scarify the lawn first if thatch is present.
  • Aerate by spiking, slitting or hollow tinning (clear up cores that you remove and put on compost heap).
  • Apply top dressing at a rate of 1 - 3 kg per square meter. If the material is bagged, tip the top dressing into small heaps evenly over the lawn. If the material is in bulk/loose, shovel the material into small heaps.
  • Use a rake, lute, birch broom to level evenly over area. (A heavy ladder pulled along the surface acts as a lute, pulling the top dressing off the high areas and dropping it into the low areas).
  • Use a drag mat to help move top dressing to base of plant.
  • Under no circumstances should you smother the grass.

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