Sometimes, fertilizer just isn’t enough for the lawn and it needs an extra boost to thrive! Top-dressing is an ecological and effective practice that can correct several problems directly at the source (the roots) and generate a healthy lawn – naturally!
Top-dressing involves spreading a thin layer of soil or compost over the entire lawn surface. To do this, you can use a rake (more labour-intensive) or a compost spreader, which can be rented or sometimes even borrowed from a garden centre.
Why top-dress?
- It improves the soil structure and provides a healthy dose of organic matter.
Top-dressing is even more important if the lawn has been seeded or if it is poor in nutrients. A lawn that is rich in organic matter will more effectively retain water and nutrients.
- It stimulates rooting and microbial activity in the soil.
The micro-organisms in the compost convert thatch into organic matter.
Top-dressing should be done every year in the spring or fall and should ideally be followed by seeding. We recommend that you aerate your lawn before top-dressing to make it easier to mix the new and existing soil. Watch our video to learn how to top-dress your lawn!
For more tricks and tips and to learn all about spring lawn maintenance, refer to our Lawn Calendar.