How much top soil do I need for overseeding?

We recommend putting down 2lbs per 1000 square feet of grass. (For an average lawn of 2500 square feet, we recommend 5 lbs). If you are only doing small spots, one or two handfuls per square foot should suffice. Scarify (rough up) the top layer of soil in the bare areas if you are not topdressing.

Do you need topsoil when overseeding?

Topsoil doesn't bring as many benefits for overseeding. When choosing between the two, use compost as your top dressing. When overseeding, use compost, not topsoil. Compost provides more nutrients and moisture than topsoil.

How much top dressing do I need for overseeding?

Quantity of Top Dressing Soil

If this is being done purely to smooth the lawn then you can apply at 3 to 4 kilos per square metre which will give about ¼” or just over half a centimetre in depth. Obviously the dips will get more but you must not smother the grass. The rule is 75% of the leaf must be exposed.

How much topsoil do I need for new grass?

If you intend to add topsoil to your lawn, you will need approximately 4-6 inches of topsoil to give you the healthy lawn you desire.

How do you overseed a lawn with topsoil?

Overseeding an existing lawn uk and topdressing with soil | before and after

Does grass grow in 2 inches of soil?

(Grass and weeds will grow through soil 2 or 3 inches thick quite easily.) Once you add more than 3 or 4 inches of soil, the amount of weeds and grass that will grow through starts to drop off dramatically.

Can I put top soil on top of grass?

You can add topsoil to an existing lawn -- and in some cases, you should. Adding a layer of topsoil to your lawn is called "topdressing," and it's a technique you can use to improve the look of your grass. It's important you prepare correctly and choose the right type of soil for a great-looking lawn.

How thick should topsoil be for grass seed?

Whether you start a lawn from seeds or use a vegetative planting method such as sod or plugs, the soil conditions largely determine how well the grass grows. Seeds, sod and plugs all require at least 4 to 6 inches of good topsoil for optimal health and growth.

Should I compact topsoil before seeding?

Quality topsoil & drainage

We recommend using topsoil which has up to 75% sand content by volume. If your existing soil does not drain well you may wish to amend it with sand and roto-till it in. The sub soil below the topsoil should not be excessively compact as this can create drainage issues.

Do I need to top dress when overseeding?

Aerating and top-dressing a lawn can be great preparation for overseeding, but it's not necessary. You can also prepare a lawn for overseeding by mowing it at the lowest setting and bagging the clippings. After mowing, lightly rake the yard to expose and loosen the soil so the grass seed can make contact and take root.

How thick should a Topdress be?

As a general rule, you can apply top dressing to a thickness that is equivalent to one third the height of the lawn. If your lawn is three inches tall, spread top dressing at a thickness of one inch.

Should I top dress my lawn before overseeding?

Top dressing is a good idea, especially if you have areas that have eroded or sunken over the last year. A good way to incorporate new seed into an existing lawn is to first core aerate the lawn. This will help to relieve any compaction issues, and it will also provide a good site for the seed to germinate.

How much topsoil do I need?

Length in feet x Width in feet x Depth in feet (inches divided by 12). Take the total and divide by 27 (the amount of cubic feet in a yard). The final figure will be the estimated amount of cubic yards required.

Can you mix grass seed with topsoil?

Unlink other types of seeds, grass seeds are not able to push their way through topsoil or earthy materials. They are very tiny and quite actually really sensitive in the germination stage. Even though they can not be covered with topsoil or earthy materials they can not be let exposed either.

How do you prepare soil for overseeding?

Before overseeding your thin lawn, cut your grass shorter than normal and bag the clippings. After mowing, rake the lawn to help loosen the top layer of soil and remove any dead grass and debris. This will give the grass seed easy access to the soil so it can root more easily after germinating.

What happens if you don't compact soil?

Roots must work harder to grow into soil, which means that there will be less roots, which means that the plant takes up fewer nutrients and water. All this translates to poor plant growth. Beyond this, when soil is too compact, it can make it difficult for water to percolate through the ground.

Will grass seed grow on compacted soil?

Grass grows much better in loose soil than compacted soil (even if the compacted soil is relatively well-drained).

Should top soil be compacted?

Topsoil needs to be relatively loose for plants to grow and therefore doesn't require rigorous compaction. Too compact and roots may not be able to grow.

Do you put grass seed down before top soil?

If you're applying pure seed to the ground, a layer of topsoil should always be put down first rather than after. Some plant seeds like to be covered to germinate, but grass seeds need to be at surface level to sprout and grow.

What do you use to cover grass seed when overseeding?

Generally when overseeding lawns, the existing grass provides cover and shade. In poor lawns with lots of exposed dirt, the soil will need to be raked to cover the seed with a thin layer of dirt. If you plan to spread compost, apply the compost first and then seed. This is to make sure you don't bury the seed too deep.

What is the minimum depth of soil for grass to grow?

Turf ideally needs around four inches of top soil to root in. Not everyone will need to add four inches however, you may just need to add an inch or two depending on the quality and depth of the existing soil.

What is the average depth of topsoil?

Topsoil is typically between 5 - 20 cm (2 - 8 inches) deep. It can also be measured as the depth from the surface level to the subsoil, i.e. the distance to the first densely-packed layer of soil.

How deep should grass seed be planted?

Most species should be planted at a shallow depth of ¼ to ½ inch. Larger seeds can be planted up to 1 inch deep. Most seedings are too deep if you cannot see a few seeds on the soil surface.