New in the Lawn & Turf Game -Top Dressing

Want to have the ultimate street cred on your block this summer? Well now we can help - by greening your lawn while saving on watering. We just purchased the #1 compost top dresser for lawns and turf and are ready to apply compost for you.

OPB stated that a low snowfall year is creating a bleak outlook for water this summer. The good news is compost significantly increases soil’s water retention - thereby reducing the watering demands. Compost also improves the overall soil structure, stimulates microbial activity, breaks down thatch, and neutralizes the soil’s pH. It is simply the best, natural, slow-releasing soil amendment, containing everything turf needs to thrive.

With this new tool we can apply our Organic Compost, plus seed. Call today to get a quote on compost application for your lawn, sports field, campus, golf course, small farm, or field. See the Q&A below and watch the video to learn more.

Q: What is Top Dressing?

A: Top dressing is an application of compost or a blend of soil/compost/sand onto existing turf. For best results, a top dressing blend should have a higher content of compost than any other material.

Q: What Material Should I use for Top Dressing?

A: Quality screened compost is best! The compost must have a crumbly structure and a homogenous texture. It must be well- screened and have a high content of stable organic matter. Finally, but not least of all, it must be weed-seed free. For efficient and easy application, the compost moisture should be maintained at around 50%.

Q: Why Is Top Dressing with Compost So Effective?

A: Compost significantly increases soil’s water retention, improves the overall soil structure, stimulates microbial activity, breaks down thatch, and neutralizes the soil’s pH. It is simply the best, natural, slow-releasing soil amendment, containing everything turf needs to thrive.

Q: What Are the Steps Involved in Compost Top Dressing?

A: After you have mowed the lawn (2 inches, or 4.5 centimeters, is an ideal height for top dressing) and, when needed, have performed core aeration and over seeding, fill up the Ecolawn hopper with compost or a compost blend. Propel the spreader to the farthest section of the lawn and spread the material in a consistent pattern. Repeat this process until the entire lawn is amended. For quick activation, water the lawn for the next two days.

Q: When Should I Top Dress and How Frequently?

A: You can top dress at any time during the year. Usually, top dressing is recommended during the growing season, but not during extreme heat waves. As a general rule, we recommend top dressing with compost at least once a year. However, there are two factors that determine the frequency of top dressing:

• The amount of usage that a lawn gets;
• The health of the soil in which it is growing. Heavily used lawns and unhealthy soils may benefit from more frequent applications.