Top Dressing is a service we provide.

Top dressing adds micronutrients and increases biological activity in the soil. It increases soil porosity, which increases water utilization. But, it often brings in insects and weeds, if done improperly. In 2014 we saw sedges, yellow and purple nut sedge. This year, we are seeing Dallisgrass. Often applied too thick, which suffocates the lawn, depriving it of sunlight. It brings in disease and insects. It seems everybody is jumping on the top dressing bandwagon. In Cedar Park and Round Rock there are a couple of companies selling the application of a Dillo Dirt top dressing. My problem with these companies are; what they are selling and what you get aren't always the the same. They are selling 1/4" to 1/2" of product, applied over the lawn. What they are delivering is 1/16" to 1/8" of a 30% chocolate loam mix. Organic compost mix is preferred for Austin and Dillo Dirt isn't readily available because of the facility that makes it had a fire in 2013. Also, the machine they're using for spreading isn't capable of that volume in one pass.

Why do people top dress? People are confused between top dressing, composting and lawn leveling. Golf courses level the putting greens and fairways with sand, not compost. Gardens and beds are favorite areas for compost and I recommend this.
 
Compost that you make on your property is a great thing for your gardens and beds. Unfortunately, most of the commercial compost blends aren't turned properly or allowed to get hot enough. It's just yard waste taken to the landfill. Top dressing with top soil is another issue. Top dressing with top soil or sandy loam adds no nutrients or microbial activity to the soil and is a bad choice for leveling. I know of no way this would benefit turf. Soil applied on top of grass won't work its way under the sod enough to make difference.

If you need to level your lawn, use sand. Sand increases the porosity of the soil. Austin soil has a very high clay content, and sand helps keep soil loose. Never spread more than 1/8 of an inch at a time. Use play-sand found at Home Depot.

If you want to increase the micronutrient levels in your soil and increase microbial activity, use Milorganite, Houactinite and/or a compost tea. All can be applied by way of a hose end sprayer. These won't bring in any insects, disease or weed issues. I highly recommend them and I use them as part of our lawn care program.

If you want to increase the efficiency of water applied to you lawn and landscape there are many products available to do this, ranging from Surfactants, Humic Acid and Hydrogels. Aqualizer is the only product that is a combination of all three.

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