I see all kinds of recommendations for topdressing a lawn when
aerating/seeding a lawn, but I haven't seen anyone explain the best way to
do it. It would be nice if a broadcast spreader would do the job, but I
just don't think that would work. How do you go about (a shovel and
wheelbarrow?) and how much/how deep do you apply it? Thanks.

On Fri, 15 Aug 2003 00:40:38 GMT, "Berob" wrote:

I see all kinds of recommendations for topdressing a lawn when
aerating/seeding a lawn, but I haven't seen anyone explain the best way to
do it. It would be nice if a broadcast spreader would do the job, but I
just don't think that would work. How do you go about (a shovel and
wheelbarrow?) and how much/how deep do you apply it? Thanks.


I do it with a light weight shovel by moving side to side in a swath motion. It
looks the same as if I were using a sythe.

It only needs to be 1/4 inch of compost as a top dress. Do that every year and
your soil will greatly improve over time

Berob wrote:

I see all kinds of recommendations for topdressing a lawn when
aerating/seeding a lawn, but I haven't seen anyone explain the best way to
do it. It would be nice if a broadcast spreader would do the job, but I
just don't think that would work. How do you go about (a shovel and
wheelbarrow?) and how much/how deep do you apply it? Thanks.

If you have fine, dry compost a spreader will work well. But,
'most everybody I know just takes a cartload to a spot on the
lawn, dumps it, and rakes it out. Any amount at all will have
some benefit; don't apply it over an inch deep, though, or you'll
start smothering the grass.

Chris Owens


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"Berob" wrote in message . com...
I see all kinds of recommendations for topdressing a lawn when
aerating/seeding a lawn, but I haven't seen anyone explain the best way to
do it. It would be nice if a broadcast spreader would do the job, but I
just don't think that would work. How do you go about (a shovel and
wheelbarrow?) and how much/how deep do you apply it? Thanks.

I saw a TV show called "Ask This Old House" a while ago about showing
people how to spread compost onto a lawn right after aerating it.
Basically it is like this:
- Put compost on a wheel cart.
- Use a deep shovel that is deep rather than wide.
- Put compost onto the shovel.
- If you are right handed, put the handle bar of the shovel into
your left arm pit, and hold the shovel this way, and use your right
hand to spread/boardcast the compost onto the lawn.
- At the end, use a rake to break down all the large pieces.

This works for me. But this can be time consuming and tiring though.

Jay Chan