A constant, fresh supply of organic matter is necessary to keep it growing healthy. While routinely adding an extra layer of topsoil to your lawn can be helpful, fall is the most opportune time to do so. This is because the winter can be a particularly difficult time for the plant life on your property.
You can apply topsoil anytime, but most gardeners like to add it in spring before planting. In the fall, it may also be added as a top dressing that will allow nutrients to break down into the soil.
Consider the specific requirements of the plants you want to grow. For example, if you're planting cool-season grasses, laying topsoil in the fall is ideal. Alternatively, if you're planting warm-season grasses or certain vegetables, early spring may be a better option.
Special consideration is needed to ensure that top dressing is done during the appropriate time, which is before or around the growing season. For most lawns, this is usually in early Spring, in September, although there are times when it can be done even up to November.
Top dressing is the addition of a thin layer of top soil worked into your lawn, primarily in the early fall, when there are still three to four standard mows remaining before the winter.
Applying topdressing in the fall improves your lawn's soil quality by reintroducing lost nutrients as the compost breaks down over time.
You can top dress a lawn when it is in active growth. Lawns can be top dressed twice yearly, but if you are only going to do the job once, for best results, top dress warm-season grass in spring, and cool-season grass in fall.
Those nutrients usually need to be replenished every so often for the healthiest growth, no matter which type of soil you have. This is especially true for the soil where you grow annual flowers and vegetables, which suck up a lot of nutrients to fuel their rapid growth.
If you're planning a new bed for perennials, groundcovers, shrubs or trees to plant next spring, the path to success starts with a good foundation. It's easier to improve soil before plants are in place, so the time to do so is now.
A rototiller also does a good job of loosening the soil but you still need to level it. If you are adding topsoil, while it may cost a bit more, it is worth it to have the landscaper loosen the soil first, then apply the topsoil, and then have the landscaper return to mix the 2 soils together.
It's the most important season of the year for improving your soil. What should you be adding to your soil this fall? Three things: finished compost, raw organic matter, and organic nutrients.
The main disadvantages of topsoil are that it can be difficult to predict its quality, it may contain pollutants and weed seeds, and it can be expensive. The quality of topsoil can vary greatly depending on the region and the supplier.
It is better to water the topsoil deeply and less frequently rather than more frequent shallow waterings. Most plants with their roots in the topsoil will benefit from this soil management approach and it will help the roots grow stronger and healthier.
Top dressing should be done annually or when you begin to notice common lawn problems like an uneven terrain, which is usually caused by water runoff, repeated freezing and thawing, tunneling critters or simply the settling of the existing topsoil over time.
Soil Depth is Crucial
Topsoil is typically thought of as the top 6 inches of soil. We recommend adding at least 2 to 3+ inches of topsoil and rototilling it 2 to 3+ inches into the existing dirt to get the recommended 6 inches depth.
In general, use potting soil for container gardening, garden soil for planting in flower or vegetable beds (you have to mix it with existing soil), and topsoil for larger projects or if your lawn or garden is in need of greater soil volume (for instance, if there's been soil erosion from strong winds or heavy rains).
The fall is the best time to add compost or manure to your garden soil. There are many forms of nitrogen that can exist in compost or manure. Not all forms of nitrogen are forms that plants can use. Some forms of nitrogen need to be broken down by bacteria or other plants into forms that are usable.
Add a Layer of Finished Compost and Mulch: Push aside mulch, pull any weeds, and add a 1-2-inch layer of finished compost. Lightly cover the beds with the old mulch to help suppress weeds and protect the soil without insulating the beds. Many diseases and pests are killed when the soil freezes in winter.
For example, topsoil will be a better choice if you are filling a large land area. This is because it is relatively cheaper and will offer better coverage than lawn soil. In a smaller land area, lawn soil may be better because it is specifically designed to provide necessary nutrients to plants.
You certainly can use topsoil for potted plants, but that doesn't mean you should. If you do, your plant probably won't get the nutrients it needs, won't grow at the rate you expect and will be likely to die sooner. The best topsoil for vegetable gardens may not be topsoil at all.
Gardening Basics: Is Garden Soil the Same as Topsoil? While they have their similarities, garden soil is not the same as topsoil. Topsoil, as the name implies, is the very top layer of soil. Topsoil is dense with minerals and organic matter, which gives it a much darker color than other gardening soils.
Fill dirt is a combination of natural materials, like rock, sand, and shale, used to—you guessed it—fill in a hole or change property elevation. Topsoil, on the other hand, is dirt fortified with nutrients usually used for gardens and grass.
Many think that putting topsoil over the seeds would protect it, but in fact, that will actually suffocate the seedlings rather than doing any good. We suggest that straw, hay, or any other type of mulching material be used.
Lawns are best top-dressed during periods of grass growth, so in the UK, that's anytime between April and October. Traditionally topdressing is carried out either in late spring or early autumn. This is done to correspond with the mainspring renovation or the autumn renovation programs.