Any Experience with Top Dressing a Lawn

[spierceisu]

I know the City of Ankeny will reimburse for 50% of the cost of top dressing a yard as part of a Soil Quality Restoration program. This is from newer construction where the soils are not good because the top soil is stripped off as part of the building/grading process. My house was built in 2016 so it would qualify and I have been working really hard to get the yard looking good. Has anyone had experience topdressing the soil with compost? Was it worth the money? I got a quote and if they reimburse I am willing to do it, but don't want to throw my money away. The quote is for 1/2" of compost spread out and includes aeration and overseeding.

 

[Turn2]

My next door neighbor has done this twice over 3-4 years and the neighbor across the street did it last fall. It's too early to tell across the street, but the guy next door has improved his lawn quite a bit, even with a big dog. I'd say the biggest key is to do a core aeration when the soil is moist and immediately before topdressing. Not sure what it cost. (Build date about 2008.)

Good luck!

 

[CyCrazy]

Unnecessary, but it wont hurt anything either. I would not waste my time/money doing it, but if the price is right for you go for it.

 

[JM4CY]

I would do research on the quality of the compost. Not all compost is equal.

 

[Turn2]

I know the City of Ankeny will reimburse for 50% of the cost of top dressing a yard as part of a Soil Quality Restoration program. This is from newer construction where the soils are not good because the top soil is stripped off as part of the building/grading process. My house was built in 2016 so it would qualify and I have been working really hard to get the yard looking good. Has anyone had experience topdressing the soil with compost? Was it worth the money? I got a quote and if they reimburse I am willing to do it, but don't want to throw my money away. The quote is for 1/2" of compost spread out and includes aeration and overseeding.

You didn't specifically mention what you'd be topdressing with, though I assume it's some sort of compost. I believe my neighbor got some from the Polk County landfill.

Unnecessary, but it wont hurt anything either. I would not waste my time/money doing it, but if the price is right for you go for it.

Please explain how adding compost to compacted fill covered with a thin strip of sod is unnecessary, or not beneficial.

 

[cyfan92]

I'd rather spend the money on aerating, quality grass seed, fert and watering.

Grass will grow if you stay off it, give it water, fert and sun

 

[ScottyP]

I'd rather spend the money on aerating, quality grass seed, fert and watering.

Grass will grow if you stay off it, give it water, fert and sun

that sounds like better use of the money.

 

[CyCrazy]

You didn't specifically mention what you'd be topdressing with, though I assume it's some sort of compost. I believe my neighbor got some from the Polk County landfill.

Please explain how adding compost to compacted fill covered with a thin strip of sod is unnecessary, or not beneficial.

It wont fix the clay problem.

 

[spierceisu]

I aerated last fall and plan on aerating this spring. The topdressing includes "triple aeration" prior to spreading the compost so I would think that this would help the compost get down into the clay and increase the soil tilth.

 

[Turn2]

It wont fix the clay problem.

That's technically correct, but I'm curious to know what your solution is then. Clay loam > compacted clay, and you've gotta start somewhere unless you're going to excavate your entire yard.

 

[CYdTracked]

If you want some composted cattle manure I could probably hook you up with some real cheap as long as you have a truck to dump a few loader buckets full into.

In all honestly though I have put about 2 pickup beds full of that from parent's farm and put on top of my garden in town then tilled it in and it is some good black dirt to grow a garden! Pain in the butt to take out of the truck a shovel at a time but I would love to just spread a thin layer of it all over my yard if I could to help build up a thicker layer of good soil as you don't have to dig too deep to start hitting clay in most spots. I used to care more about my yard originally but with a 1/4 acre lot that takes me about 90 minutes to mow with a push mower I just don't have the time anymore to really get into improving the lawn as much as I would like to.

 

[cycloner29]

I am thinking of aeration, overseeding, and fertilizing. I still have roots from a tree in our front yard that are still rotting after 10 years and have a 10’ x 10’ that probably just needs tore up and more dirt added to help level it.

 

[Turn2]

This is the real answer.

 

[CoachHines3]

just top dressed my wife if u kno what i mean

 

[BigBake]

I'd rather spend the money on aerating, quality grass seed, fert and watering.

Grass will grow if you stay off it, give it water, fert and sun

All that savings and then more will go towards watering in late July/August/September.

 

[BillyClone]

That's technically correct, but I'm curious to know what your solution is then. Clay loam > compacted clay, and you've gotta start somewhere unless you're going to excavate your entire yard.

I have been very happy with the results of throwing down gypsum after spring aeration.

My house was built in 2018 and the lawn was basically sod on top of clay. I’ve aerated both in the spring and fall each year. In the spring, I throw down gypsum -around 5-10 lbs/1000 sq ft.

When the house being built across the street was having the site grading done, I talked with the guy doing the grading. He suggested the gypsum application each year. However, I’ve read some articles that say this is really more effective for agricultural soil that will be tilled up regularly.

So, I’m not sure if it is the aeration, the gypsum, or a combination of both, but my lawn looks better and better each year and I’m going to do it again this spring. If it ain’t broke…

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

Lawns should be banned to be honest.

 

[HardcoreClone]

I have been very happy with the results of throwing down gypsum after spring aeration.

My house was built in 2018 and the lawn was basically sod on top of clay. I’ve aerated both in the spring and fall each year. In the spring, I throw down gypsum -around 5-10 lbs/1000 sq ft.

When the house being built across the street was having the site grading done, I talked with the guy doing the grading. He suggested the gypsum application each year. However, I’ve read some articles that say this is really more effective for agricultural soil that will be tilled up regularly.

So, I’m not sure if it is the aeration, the gypsum, or a combination of both, but my lawn looks better and better each year and I’m going to do it again this spring. If it ain’t broke…

When do you aerate in the spring? And do you overseed with it? Or put down pre-emergent?

 

[BillyClone]

When do you aerate in the spring? And do you overseed with it? Or put down pre-emergent?

I try to get it done by the second or third week of April. Then I throw down the pre-emergent around the middle of May.

I seed after the fall aeration.

 

[AgronAlum]

I know the City of Ankeny will reimburse for 50% of the cost of top dressing a yard as part of a Soil Quality Restoration program. This is from newer construction where the soils are not good because the top soil is stripped off as part of the building/grading process. My house was built in 2016 so it would qualify and I have been working really hard to get the yard looking good. Has anyone had experience topdressing the soil with compost? Was it worth the money? I got a quote and if they reimburse I am willing to do it, but don't want to throw my money away. The quote is for 1/2" of compost spread out and includes aeration and overseeding.

Any direct links to specifics of this program? I’m sure my house is too old but have a family member in a newer house that would really benefit from this. They’ve got a large corner lot that is mostly clay and it drives them nuts.

I tried the city website and didn’t see anything.