Top dressing is done to correct the lack of soil underneath or poor preparation. It fills in the low spots and corrects the uneven areas in the lawn. This is usually done using special sand for top dressing, usually available when you buy sands Australia.
Top dressing will bring many benefits to a lawn that is looking somewhat lacklustre. This includes helping to reduce the accumulation of dead grass clippings and stems, known as thatch. Top dressing helps increase nutrient retention, improves drainage, and increases resistance to pests and diseases.
When is the right time for top dressing?
Never do top dressing during the colder months of fall and winter. Late spring to early summer is best. This is usually the best first growing season and the best time to mow your lawn.
How to top dress your lawn
On new lawns, top dressing is not yet required. Only do top dressing on new lawns for any obvious gaps or holes to be filled. You can leave a new lawn for a few months, carefully observing the lawn. After this settling period of a few months, some areas of the new lawn may need a slight correction to desired levels. To ensure maximum growth, use river sand or a top dressing soil mix. Ask your local landscape supplies to help you choose the best sand. (In the Brisbane and Gold Coast areas, you can call Labrador Landscape Supplies) Sometimes, depending on your soil, they might use sandy soil with a high proportion of organic materials.
How to top dress an old lawn
Old or established lawns may need top dressing to make the lawn look good as new. Before top dressing, mow low with a rotary mower equipped with a catcher. Core up or aerate the lawn by spreading the top dressing mix over the desired area, broom, level lawn, then rake into the lawn profile. Never top dress more than 1cm. in a single application and make sure the grass tips are still exposed.
Contrary to popular belief, do not top dress on an annual basis. This will only accelerate the build-up of thatch. Avoid top dressing if there is a prediction of rain as the wet weather will make the top dressing difficult and make levelling troublesome.
Labrador Landscape Supplies
If you need to buy sands Australia, you can depend on Labrador Landscape Supplies. We have always been the bulk sand suppliers on the Gold Coast and Brisbane areas. All our sand is of high quality and can be delivered quickly to your doorstep. Let us know what type of sand you need for your top dressing and we’ll happily offer our expert advice. Call us on 07 5537 2841. You can also visit https://landscape-supply.com.au/.