Eight Tips for a Lush, Thick, Healthy Lawn
June 16th, 2010
If you love your lawn, top dressing with compost will make your lawn love you back.
New England turf lawns actively grow in the spring and in the fall; in summer they are dormant, so now is the time is for “Black Gold” to do its magic. It takes patience to adopt this organic approach, but with top dressing, your lawn will be green earlier and stronger throughout the summer.
Here’s how it works.
Cut your lawn extremely low; use the lowest setting on your mower as possible.
Aerate the lawn. Aeration is the process of using a mechanical or manual lawn aerator to make holes in the surface of your lawn. Making holes in the surface of your lawn allows deeper root growth and reduces soil compaction. When you aerate your lawn, you allow air, water, and nutrients direct access to the root system.
Spread (also called “broadcasting”) using a shovel, ¼ “layer of compost on the lawn.
Comb the compost into the lawn with a level rake.
Spread fertilizer, lime and seed.
Drag rake across the lawn to till in these items.
Sprinkle a bit more compost, adding peat moss to cover and retain moisture.
Water in and keep seed moist for 3 weeks; try to water twice a day.
This approach is very beneficial to your lawn, and when coupled with proper cultural process, i.e. mowing high in the summer heat, and watering deeply and infrequently, (watering in short intervals does not create a sustainable lawn) your lawn will love you!
If you have any questions, or want to learn more about top dressing, stop by the nursery at 270 Hillside Street Milton MA or give us a call at 617-698-2005.
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