The recommendation is to fertilise the lawn a week to two before applying a top dressing regardless of whether this is for nutrients or to repair holes or an uneven lawn. This boost to the lawn plant's growth will assist the turf to push through the dressing more easily and quickly.
FAQ About Topdressing
It's optional, but yes, you can fertilize before topdressing a lawn. If you decide to aerate, the fertilizer should be put down after you aerate and before you place the topdressing material. This extra fertilizer boost will help increase the turf's growth and health.
Preparation: Fertilise the lawn. At least one to two weeks before the application of the topsoil, fertiliser may be applied. Give it time to rest and for the grass and soil to absorb some of the nutrients.
Top dressing is commonly carried out by lawn care experts during Autumn or Spring. Many of the UK Lawn Care Association's lawn care experts opt for organic top dressing, which is made from well-rotted garden waste and helps to get organic matter back into the soil.
The disadvantages of top dressing include the struggle of applying nitrogen at the correct time and potential for increased nitrogen losses. Although top dressing is a quick job to complete, it often needs to be completed when growers are busy finishing seeding or starting in-crop herbicide.
It is not advantageous because it encourages weed growth all over the field. Most of the material remains on the soil surface and does not reach the root zone for uptake by plants. There is a more significant loss of fertilizer nutrients due to washing, run-off, volatilization.
You should apply fertiliser to your lawn prior to top dressing. This will encourage grass growth and allow your lawn to gain the maximum benefits from top dressing.
If you plan on overseeding, do this after the topdressing is down. The reason for doing it after you top dress, is so you don't bury the seed too deeply. If you overseed, remember to keep the soil moist, but not too wet, until seeds have germinated.
'Gradually add no more than a layer ½in thick, so the grass can grow though it and form roots at a higher level,' continues Steve Bradley. 'If the top dressing is too deep the grass beneath will die off and leave a bare patch where weeds can establish.
Late afternoon or early evening (when there's still light, of course) is the best time of day to apply lawn fertilizer. Applying it in the heat of a scorching afternoon can cause the sun's rays to burn your grass—and when your goal is “lush and green,” burned grass blades simply won't cut it.
Typically, you should hydrate your lawn prior to applying any fertilizer, or apply it during the early hours of dawn when the grass is still damp with dew. The moistness aids the fertilizers to adhere to the weeds' leaves.
TOP TIP: Mowing your lawn shorter than 1.5” makes it easier to see where you'll need to add your top dressing mix. Step 3: Core aerate to reduce compaction and allow the top dressing leveling mix to integrate into the soil better.
The right time of the year to top dress your lawn
You must top dress in the growing season, NOT in winter. It is usually best to top dress in spring or as soon as you have reached your regular weekly mow. The earlier in the growing season the better. Generally late spring to early summer is best.
Applying fertilizer in the wrong season can cause increased tender new growth that can be damaged, especially if applied in cold weather in late fall or in winter. So it is best to stop fertilizing during dormant seasons. Additionally, in zones that can be in danger of a late freeze, it's best to wait until mid-spring.
Step 6: Gently rake in the organic material after spreading, then water your lawn well to move the material down to the soil surface. Step 7: Avoid heavy foot traffic on your lawn for the next week and wait 7-10 days before mowing again.
It's best to wait a few weeks after fertilizing before seeding, to allow the fertilizer to fully penetrate the soil and avoid the risk of burning the new grass. ' 1.
If you are applying a heavy amount of topdressing, it is best to spread the seeds once you are finished in order to help ensure even seed placement. However, if you are simply applying a light topdressing to give your lawn a little boost, you can lay the seed before applying the topdressing.
So go for a topdressing mixture consisting of two parts loam, one part peat and four parts sand. Loam-based soil usually falls into the perfect middle. For it, you can use a mixture which contains three parts loam, one part peat & three parts sand.
The easiest way to topdress is to use a spreader. If you don't have one, you can use a shovel or rake to spread the material evenly over the surface of the lawn. Once you've spread the top dressing soil, water it in well. This will help the material to settle into the lawn.
There are various fertilizer application methods that a grower should consider. The four main types of application methods consist of broadcasting, foliar, placement, and fertigation.
High doses of inorganic N fertilizer are applied to soil before sowing (basal dressing), with additional doses supplied along the cultivation (top dressing).
Repeated chemical fertiliser applications may lead to a toxic build-up in the soil of heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, and uranium. Not only do these toxic heavy metals pollute the ground, but they also accumulate in food grains, fruits and vegetables.