Instructions for Top Dressing

The following are instructions on how to go about doing top dressing on you own. Over seeding & top dressing your lawn is really easy. All you have to do is go to your local garden store and purchase some high quality grass seed and triple mix soil.  Here are the key points you need to know:

• We recommend using a seed variety that is at least 50% Kentucky Blue Grass and the other portion a mix of perennial ryegrasses and fescues.  It will say what type of seed it is on the bag.
  
  
• You get what you pay for.  Purchase the most expensive seed.
  
  
• Purchase a triple mix soil. Make sure you get enough to spread a 1/2" layer over your entire lawn.  Straight manures will burn the fragile germinating seedlings.
  
  
• We recommend putting down 5lbs per 1000 square feet of grass. (For an average lawn of 2500 square feet, I would recommend 12.5-15 lbs).  If you are only doing small spots, one or two handfuls per square foot should suffice.
  
  
• Scarify (rough up) the top inch or two of soil in the bare areas.
  
  
• Spread out the topsoil over the lawn making sure there is a half inch layer.  A wheel barrow is a useful tool to aid you in spreading out the topsoil.
  
  
• Spread the seed out over the soil, focusing on areas that appear to be thin or bare.   Do not cover the seed with soil. Lightly tamp down the seed into the soil to make sure the seed is in firm contact with the soil.
  
  
• Keep the seed moist for 2-3 weeks.  This may require watering 2-3 times a day.  If you do not keep the seed moist it will not germinate.   Bluegrass takes longer than ryegrass to germinate, so be sure to continue watering until the grass appears to be thickening.
  
  
• Limit traffic on these areas as the new seedlings are fragile.

Call or email your LawnSavers Plant Health Specialists if you have any questions.