(9AM CST/7AM PST), THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022 AT 3:00PM EST The sheer volume needed to top-dress a lawn makes compost a less viable option. Good compostone that is finished, might go through a wide open setting on a household fertilizer spreader. Rake until the point that the grass blades are almost fully visible through the compost. Maybe a softer blue grey? Youll want to avoid doing so in the hotter summer months as the organic material in the compost could burn your grass, weakening or killing it completely. Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Its important not to apply a heavy amount of water over a short period of time because that should cause the compost to run off instead of staying where the lawn needs it. Right before you add your topdressing, aerate your lawn by using a manual or powered aerator, depending on the size of your lawn. According to Savvy Gardening, you can also use a compost spreader or rolling peat moss spreader, which may require less effort. In northern regions, where cool-season grasses dominate, apply Milorganite once or twice between Labor Day and Thanksgiving, waiting 10 weeks between applications. Earth and Turfs push spreadermight look a lot like a drop spreader, but its been specifically designed to deal with more compacted materials like compost. Sprinkle the grass seed evenly on top with a spreader, covering the lawn once one way and then make a second pass going the other way. If you have a really big lawn and not much compost, then compost tea is the perfect solution. You should see and touch the compost yourself before placing an order. You dont want to put in all this effort to damage your lawn further by topdressing at the wrong time of year. You can either purchase an aerator, or you may be able to rent one from your local home and garden depot. A thick layer of leaves will take quite a few passes with the lawnmower before the leaves are reduced to a size that disappears into the lawn, but if you mow frequently, falling leaves will be easier to manage. dchall, I never heard about that. Reseed your lawn after aerating, and before topdressing. Are you considering top-dressing vegetable gardens with compost? Sign up to receive gardening resources, eBooks, and email updates on the joegardener podcast and more. The only slight niggle we have with them is that the more affordable options tend to have small capacities, so youll find yourself filling them up quite often. If there are clumps, use a rake to spread the compost out some more. An alternative is to make your own compost with kitchen scraps and lawn waste. Aerating your lawn is important for topdressing since it will allow the nutrients of the compost to seep down deeper into the soil. But no matter the bag size, when you find you need more than 10 bags of compost for a project, it generally makes more sense to buy bulk compost. So its not a good idea to use a drop spreader to topdress your lawn with compost, but there are plenty of other options. You may already be mulching your grass into the lawn, but did you know that you can also use a mulching mower on leaves? Then again, I wasn't too concerned at covering every square inch evenly; I figured the manure would breakdown and spread it's nutrients. What are the benefits of adding compost to lawns? The whole thing is made of steel, so its very durable, and the handles are covered in soft plastic grips, meaning its comfortable to use. Am I making myself crazy, how can I approach my yard issues better. Topdressing a lawn with compost will also help the soil retain moisture over the summer months, reducing how often you need to water. However, we receive no additional compensation from the sales or promotion of their product through this guide. They use blowers to spread a topdressing of your choice, including compost, over your lawn. I certainly wouldn't advocate for a new one at $1,000+ just to spread compost (unless you like shiny new), but at $375 usedin comparison how much would it cost to pay someone to spread by hand?? These tools have openings at the bottom, but damp compost may clog them. I'd like to keep up with the compost improvements, but we can't go through that much agony again. Ready to have more of your lawn and garden questions answered? There is little you could do better for your lawn than switching to organic fertilizers. To create the border, remove the lawn grass and add topsoil and organic compost. Then get a rake or a broom and spread the compost out evenly, so it covers the entire lawn.Landscape rakes are best for spreading compost. With 4 acres, you should have no problem recycling all the yard waste into your own compost. Avoid tossing in diseased weeds, perennial weeds and any weeds or plants that have been treated with chemicals, however. ft. - and pay $1144 (not including the 20 yards) for that convenience! Can anyone recommend a less labor-intensive method of getting compost spread around? I never treat them with a chemical, and I dont have to provide supplemental water. After applying compost, be sure to water in with a sprinkler. I suggest you create a flower border in front of the shrubs and grow a selection of sun-loving, low-growing perennial plants that will give you color from spring through fall. Water your grass the day before you topdress your lawn. Fill a wheelbarrow with bags or loose compost, and dot the lawn with small piles of compost, evenly distributed. There are a few different types to pick from, depending on your needs. Since compost nurtures the soil and provides excellent germinating conditions, this is a good opportunity for seeds to sprout. 2022 Joe Gardener. It is free of rocks, glass and plastic. Though hard to find and troublesome to use effectively, a compost wheel or peat spreader can distribute compost across small yards though they can be difficult to push and need to be refilled often. The idea is to space the piles so that once the compost is spread out, the lawn has full coverage, with no gaps. Thats a good thing! Spread the compost right on top of the tilled soil and rake it evenly over the lawn. In some areas, youll be able to find a compost blowing service. Compost Balls: Why Is My Compost Clumping? The edging is a reused rubber, that I purchased on sale at home depot. And possibly a rail and spindles around the porch with benches to fill in the space between the door and the windows on the porch. For fall interest, how about blue fescue grass and low-growing asters. Best of luck with your garden plans! Composting lawns will bulk up sandy soil and help with moisture retention. Mow high and water deeply but infrequently. The idea is not to bury grass blades, smothering them and keeping them from sunlight. Choose compost that was produced through a hot composting process, in which the heat given off by the biological activity of microbes reached more than 140. This will ensure all the nutrients from the organic material can easily make their way into the soil. After three weekends of flinging heavy shovelfuls and raking my husband declared mutiny and swore vehemently we would never do that again. You can add water if it starts to dry out. The bonus? When you incorporate grass clippings into your compost heap, they will transform into a rich source of nutrients for your garden. Compost spreaders require a lot less manual work than the shovel and rake method. Aim to use between a quarter inch and a half inch layer of compost. The plant foliage would conceal the manhole cover, but still allow access when needed. Get a lush no-grass lawn with clover, moss and other easy-care plants, Save time and water with good-looking alternatives to turf grass, Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists, Get on a Composting Kick (Hello, Free Fertilizer! This lawn edging will create a nice, crisp edge. Applying compost and seeds at the same time will improve germination and moisture retention. While we havent tried this method ourselves, weve seen it recommended multiple times.Compost blowers are fast and low impact. And its a good way to treat the spots in your lawn that are thin, brown and unhealthy. I know from my experience it took fewer to cover 20,000 ft. with aged horse manure. The inclusion of any products mentioned within this post is entirely independent and exclusive of any relationship. (7PM CST/5PM PST). We store your first name and email to send you timely promotions on gardening resources, free podcasts, how-to videos, etc. This protects the plant stems, and it also helps to retain moisture and prevent weeds from growing. It will also stop lawn grass from growing into the flower bed which will save you a lot of time with garden maintenance. Does it have that earthy smell? I'm trying to stick with organic methods to improve the soil, like alfalfa meal for fertilizer and corn gluten meal for weed control. Its made with a mixture of loam, which is a fine soil that crumbles easily, sand, which makes the mixture spreadable, and heavily decomposed organic matter. No need for expensive tools and this stuff doesn't all have to be done at one time. It will work with compost, peat moss, and any other fine topdressing material. For the maximum depth, that is one cubic foot of compost for every 25 square feet of lawn. How To Create A Thriving Organic Vegetable Garden Webinar, Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 3:00PM EDT (2:00PM CDT / Noon PDT). In addition to the organic materials, you can add bread, young weeds, newspaper and even cooked pasta to your compost pile. Farmers have machines that readily spread fertilizer and compost. Topdressing a lawn with compost adds organic matter to the soil, which provides for proper drainage and better tilth. However, none of the prices of these resources have been increased to compensate us, and compensation is not an influencing factor on their inclusion here. You can also use the compost tea as a foliar spray on your vegetable gardens and plants so you can fertilize your whole yard in one go. Mow the lawn as short as possible before to give the top dressing the best chance of connecting with the soil. It is often mixed into soil and used as garden mulch, but can compost be used on lawns? You could add a 'marker' next to the manhole cover so you know where it is. We find that its best to only to fill it of the way full. It 7 feet out from the tree I used 3 yard of triple mix, and finished it off with a dark brown cedar mulch. Spreading compost on your lawn isnt as easy as pushing your old chemical fertilizer spreader around. Digital Trends Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Water in the compost with a sprinkler. Youll also save yourself a lot of work on raking! The pros and cons of ductless heating and cooling systems you need to know about, Helps lock in soils moisture on hot days, Promotes microbial activity to reduce thatch, Chemical-free treatment thats safe for people and pets. Compost spreader or rolling peat moss spreader. 2021 at 10:00AM EDT (9:00AM CDT/7:00AM PDT), Seeds Basics and Beyond Webinar Registration, SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 2022 AT 10:00AM EST It is done by the same equipment used to blow insulation into your walls or ceiling. You can feed your lawn naturally by topdressing it with compost. When you squeeze the compost in your hand, does it clump together well but also break apart easily? Plus, the clippings help the lawn retain moisture while shading out weed seeds, which keeps those seeds from germinating. These companies are either Brand Partners of joegardener.comand/or advertise on our website. But I think you need spreading soft landscape. Just to clarify for tas123, I purchased our Newer spreader used for $375. Provide your info for a link to the resource download and be opted into my email list. It is rich in nitrogen, cost effective and usually available at farm animal feed stores. (I do mulch mow the lawn clippings and some leaves into the lawn as a matter of course.) A layer of topdressing will provide the soil below with valuable nutrients to keep your lawn looking lush, green, and weed-free. That organic matter also hosts beneficial microorganisms that turn organic fertilizer and minerals in the soil into plant-available nutrients that can be taken up by roots.