Top Dressing Tip
Top Dressing with ProLawnsAu
Top dressing is the process of spreading a thin layer of soil, sand, or a mix across your lawn to fix uneven spots, improve soil quality, and help your grass grow stronger. Over time, lawns can develop dips or bumps due to soil settling, wear and tear, or poor preparation before turfing. These low areas not only make your lawn look rough, they can also cause mowing issues like scalping and uneven growth. In some cases, uneven lawns can even create trip hazards.
The goal of top dressing is to create a smooth, even surface that supports healthy root development and makes mowing easier. It also helps improve soil structure, drainage, and water retention, depending on the material you use.
Timing
Top dressing should only be done when your lawn is actively growing, as this allows the grass to recover and push new shoots through the fresh layer of soil. For warm season grasses in Australia, this usually means spring, summer, and early autumn.
New Lawns
It is not unusual for freshly installed turf to settle and create slight dips in the first few months. If this happens, let the lawn establish for a few weeks and then lightly top dress to even things out.
Materials
The best material for top dressing depends on your lawn’s needs:
- Washed river sand is often used for smoothing out the surface
- A sandy loam or soil mix can improve nutrient levels and water retention
- For major depressions, a turf underlay mix is best, combined with gradual layering to avoid smothering the grass
Method
Start by mowing your lawn shorter than usual so the top dressing material can reach the soil. You may need to gradually bring the height down over a couple of mows to avoid stressing the lawn.
Spread the mix evenly across the lawn using a shovel, barrow, or bucket. For small areas, hand spreading works fine. For larger areas, use a lawn leveller, rake, or even a spreader to get an even finish. Aim for a layer of around 10 mm (1 cm), but never cover the leaf completely. Always leave some green tips showing through so the grass can photosynthesise and keep growing.
In cases where your lawn has deeper dips, you may need to repeat the process a few times across the growing season rather than trying to fix everything in one go.
Aftercare
Once the material is spread, water the lawn well to help it settle. Apply a fertiliser such as Turf Tukka or Wakey Wakey to encourage new growth and help the lawn recover faster. Even if you are using a nutrient-rich top dressing soil, a light feed will give your grass a boost.