Adding a thin layer of compost, sand, or both to the top of a lawn is called grass top dressing. Top dressing improves soil structure, enhances nutrient levels, and promotes a healthier turf. Fertilizers and biostimulants can also be added to the top dressing mix. It levels bumpy areas, fills in patches, and encourages grass seed germination. Top dressing with aeration improves drainage, reduces thatch buildup, and creates resilient green grass. To top dress a lawn, you need tools like a wheelbarrow, shovel, broadcast spreader, and leveling rake.
Before you start the top dressing process, you’ll need to clean up your lawn with a light scalp. Removing excess debris and old grass with your lawnmower is like getting a new haircut. Lawn scalping will encourage new turf growth for greener, healthier grass.
To learn more about how to scalp your lawn and why it’s important for keeping the turf healthy, read our blog post on the subject.
The best way to get that smooth, perfect putting green look you’ve been going for is to top dress your lawn. All grass accumulates organic matter and excess thatch after a while, which introduces new problems. Excess thatch creates a breeding ground for pests, a haven for lawn diseases, and can suffocate your grass.
We’ll talk about the science behind top dressing your lawn and the best way to use the material you choose in this article.
Top dressing is hard work. If you want to top dress your lawn yourself, it’s a good idea to get help from family or friends.
If you want to improve the health and appearance of your lawn, top dressing with sand is a technique used by professionals Top dressing involves spreading a thin layer of sand across the grass to level uneven areas, improve drainage, and enhance the soil.
While sand has benefits, it also has some downsides You need to use the right type of sand and proper technique to avoid potential issues. Here is a complete guide to top dressing lawns with sand the proper way.
What is Top Dressing?
Top dressing is the process of adding a thin layer of material like sand, compost, or a mix of both across the entire surface of your lawn. It is routinely done on golf courses, sports fields, and high-end lawns to:
- Level bumps and dips for an evenly flat surface
- Improve drainage and reduce water runoff
- Increase air circulation to roots
- Discourage thatch buildup
- Introduce nutrients to fertilize the grass
- Help new grass seeds better establish
The ideal time to top dress lawns is spring, as growth accelerates, or fall, when grass is replenishing roots. It is best done after aerating, which opens up the soil and allows the top dressing to better integrate.
Why Use Sand for Top Dressing?
Sand is an ideal top dressing for lawns because:
- It easily fills in low spots to create a flatter surface.
- The coarse texture maintains air pockets that prevent soil compaction.
- It does not break down like organic matter so effects last longer.
- Sand particles are heavy enough to press down and smooth the underlying lawn.
Compost is also beneficial for topping lawns since it adds organic matter and nutrients that sand lacks. Many experts recommend using a combined mix of sand and compost.
Selecting the Right Sand
Not all sands are created equal when it comes to top dressing lawns. The sand particles should be somewhat coarse but not overly large. Look for sand labeled as masonry sand or coarse builders sand. Avoid fine sands like play sand as they can compact down.
The ideal particle size for top dressing sand ranges from 0.5 to 2.0 mm in diameter. This allows you to create a thin, smooth layer over the grass without suffocating it.
Washed concrete sand or sharp river sand with angular grains tends to work better than round beach sand. Pick a sand similar in color to your soil.
Top Dressing Process Step-By-Step
Follow these steps for top dressing your lawn properly:
1. Mow Grass Very Short
First, cut your grass shorter than usual, down to about 1 inch in height. This allows you to see the contour of the lawn and where leveling is needed. It also prevents burying the grass blades under too much sand.
2. Remove Debris
Thoroughly rake up leaves, sticks and other debris that could prevent the sand from reaching the soil. Aeration plugs should also be removed.
3. Water Lawn
Moisten the lawn thoroughly a day or two before top dressing. This allows the sand to better adhere to the grass blades and mix into the soil.
4. Spread Top Dressing Mix
Use a shovel, scoop or drop spreader to apply a thin layer of sand across the entire lawn, about 1/8 to 1/4 inches deep. Break up any clumps and piles as you work.
5. Work Sand into Grass
Use a drag mat, weighted lawn roller or the back of a rake to gently press the sand down into the grass. Go in different directions to smooth and fill low spots.
6. Top Dress Low Spots Again
Add a second, heavier layer of sand just to recessed areas that still need leveling with the rest of the lawn. Compact with your feet.
7. Irrigate Sand
Lightly water to settle the sand into the grass and soil profile. This also prevents it blowing away. Avoid heavy watering that could wash sand off sloped lawns.
8. Refrain from Mowing
Let grass recover for about a week before mowing again. When you do mow, set blades higher at first until the lawn adjusts.
Mixing Sand and Compost for Top Dressing
While sand alone has benefits for top dressing, even better results come from combining it with compost or quality topsoil. The optimal mix is about 70 percent sand and 30 percent organic matter.
The compost supplies nutrients, retains some moisture and avoids the potential drainage issues from using only heavy sand. This blended top dressing improves the overall soil structure.
Pros of Using Sand for Top Dressing Lawns
Top dressing with the right sand offers a range of benefits:
- Smoothes and levels bumpy lawn areas
- Loosens and aerates compacted soils
- Improves nutrient delivery and fertilizer uptake
- Increases drainage, reducing puddles
- Reduces water runoff down slopes
- Discourages thatch buildup in warm weather
- Provides firm footing for mowing low
- Helps new grass seeds germinate
- Allows cutting grass shorter than usual
- Can minimize weed growth when done yearly
Potential Problems with Sand Top Dressing
Though sand has many advantages for lawns, there are also some potential downsides if using the wrong materials or techniques:
- Applying sand too thickly can smother grass and roots
- Pure sand does not retain moisture well; requires more frequent watering
- Fine sands can become compacted and not provide aeration
- Weeds may germinate in bare spots if grass is buried too deep
- Pure sand lacks nutrients and organic matter for healthy soil
- Can make muddy conditions worse in clay soils by not draining
- May need yearly reapplication as sand gradually sinks down
- Can accumulate on sloped lawns, requiring repair
To avoid issues, use the recommended sand size for top dressing and keep the layer thin, about 1/4 inch maximum. Mixing with compost is ideal to provide nutrients as well as avoid compaction.
Improving Your Lawn with Proper Top Dressing
Overall, top dressing with sand is most beneficial when done properly and for lawns growing in sandy or loamy soils. Use a top dressing mixture, test in small areas first and adjust your lawn care to accommodate the sand. With some extra care, your lawn will reap the rewards of a flat, lush, green carpet of healthy grass all season long.
The Basics: What Does Top Dressing Your Lawn Mean?
It is possible to make the surface of your lawn smoother, better drain, and better for your plants by adding a thin layer of soil or sand. This is called “top dressing.” If you scalp your grass in the spring and then find bumpy or uneven spots, that’s even more reason to dress your lawn.
Why Is Top Dressing Your Lawn Important?
As we already said, top dressing your lawn makes the surface flat and adds organic matter to feed your grass. But there are two other main reasons to top dress your lawn:
- Since the surface of your lawn is now more level, you can mow the grass much shorter without cutting it off. You can cut less than an inch with a reel mower without hurting the grass.
- If you mix sand and soil in your top dressing mix, the soil will be healthier. If your soil is healthy, your grass will grow back faster in the spring and stay dormant longer in the fall. This means you can enjoy your golf course grass for longer while it’s still growing.
How to Topdress & Level Your Lawn Using Sand or TopSoil? Beginners DIY Guide
FAQ
Can you use sand to top dress a lawn?
Can I put sand on top of lawn?
Is it good to put sand on your lawn?
Should I level my lawn with sand or topsoil?
What is the best sand for topdressing a lawn?
Sand: Used extensively on golf courses, primarily on man-made greens. It can also be used with heavy clay soils to improve drainage. Avoid using fine topdressing sand over coarse-textured soil. The best sand for topdressing your lawn is not lawn sand on its own, but a mix of 70% sand and 30% topdressing soil.
How do you top dress a lawn?
To top dress your lawn you’ll be spreading a thin layer of material – usually compost, loam, or sand – over your lawn. The layer spread is generally about ¼ of an inch in depth, and is used to amend and improve your lawn’s soil and improve moisture retention without interfering with the growth of existing grass.
Should I Topdress my lawn with sand or compost?
Golf green, for example, are most often topdressed with sand. However, top dressing lawns is better performed using compost. The goal is to build better soil structure and a better environment for macro and microorganisms. Choosing the right compost material is important, since most composts are not equal in nutrient levels.
Is top dressing sand a good choice?
Top dressing sand is a good choice when there are drainage problems because it resists compaction. For this reason, it’s often used in combination with heavy clay soil. Its texture can add smoothness to a lawn and reduce thatch, which is why golf courses often use sand.