Top Dressing

Top dressing refers to the application of a bulky material to improve the lawn surface. It is different from fertilisation in that top dressing may or may not have any plant food value. The purpose of top dressing is to even out hollows or bumps so that a truer surface is obtained, to build up the soil layer encouraging thatch to decompose at its natural rate, to improve drainage in heavy soils or in the case of sandy soils, improve the water holding capacity. Top dressing also encourages denser grass growth by stimulating the development of runners and new shoots. To achieve a first rate lawn, it should be top dressed once a year in early autumn.

The type of top dressing mixture varies according to the basic soil type in your garden. Normally we would use equal parts of sifted top soil, sharp sand and peat. If your lawn is in need of a feed, simply use a multi-purpose compost in place of the peat. For lawns on heavier soils, I would omit the soil and use half sharp sand and half peat/compost. If you wish to top dress the lawn, wait for a dry day and blend the mix well with your hand ensuring there are no lumps.

Lightly spread the mixture over the lawn. It is better to do this lightly and in several applications throughout the season rather than smother the lawn grasses in one go.
Using the back of a large landscaping rake, spread and brush it into the grasses of the lawn. A good stiff broom or besom will also do the trick. Ensure the mix goes down into the sward.
The grasses should be showing through as seen on the right. For those little hollows, apply a little extra mix, but again not too much. Far better to do it in several applications throughout the season.
Rough up the area with your fingers to get the grasses showing through.
As shown on the right, top dressing encourages a first class lawn