Having a beautiful, lush, green lawn is the dream for many homeowners A thick, healthy lawn not only looks great, but it also adds value to your home. However, achieving a golf-course quality lawn takes some work One of the most important things you need is high quality top soil. Top soil is the uppermost layer of your lawn that contains most of the nutrients needed for grass to grow. Choosing the right type of top soil can make a big difference in the health and appearance of your lawn. In this article, we’ll look at why top soil is so important for lawns and help you understand how to pick the best top soil for optimal grass growth.
Why Top Soil Matters
Your lawn depends on the top soil to provide three key things – nutrients, drainage, and the ability to hold moisture Without high quality top soil, your grass will struggle to grow thick and green
Nutrients – Top soil contains organic matter that provides nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium which are essential for lush grass growth. Things like decaying leaves, roots and worms enrich top soil with these nutrients that get absorbed by the grass roots.
Drainage – For grass to flourish, the top soil needs to drain well so that the roots don’t get waterlogged. Sandy loam soil with a mix of particle sizes drains better than heavy clay soils.
Moisture retention – The top soil also needs to retain enough moisture in between waterings. A soil with some organic matter will hold moisture better than plain sand.
In addition to these basic functions, a healthy top soil also contains beneficial microbes that help break down organic matter and make nutrients available to plants. So you can see why the type and quality of top soil you use is vital for a thriving lawn.
Choosing the Right Top Soil
When selecting top soil for your lawn, you want to match the texture and composition of your existing soil as closely as possible. Drastically changing the soil type can negatively impact the grass. Here are some top soil types to consider:
Compost – Compost made from decomposed organic matter is an excellent choice for top dressing lawns. It contains a diverse range of macronutrients and micronutrients that grass needs. You can use compost alone or mix it with existing soil.
Loam – A balanced loam soil with a mix of sand, silt and clay is ideal for most lawns. The loam holds moisture but still allows drainage. It may contain some organic matter.
Sand – For lawns with drainage issues, adding a sandy soil on top can improve drainage. But use a mix to avoid making the soil too light and dry.
Peat moss – Peat moss absorbs and retains a lot of moisture which is helpful for drier soils. Don’t use alone as it breaks down over time.
Manure blends – Top soils blended with composted manures add nutrients. But ensure manure is aged at least 6 months to avoid burning grass.
Always inspect top soil for contaminants like glass, metals, trash or weeds before applying it. Also have the pH tested to ensure it’s in the optimal range of 6.5-7.0 for grass growth.
When to Apply Top Soil
Timing is important when applying top soil to an existing lawn. It’s best done when grass is actively growing in spring and fall so it can regenerate quickly. For cool season grasses, spring and fall feedings are ideal. Warm season grasses do better with spring applications.
You can also top dress problem spots anytime the grass needs a boost. Signs your lawn needs fresh topsoil include:
- Thin, patchy areas
- Lackluster color
- Poor drainage
- Moss growth
- Excess thatch buildup
Top dressing too often can build up the lawn profile leading to issues. For established lawns, every 2-3 years is sufficient unless you are overseeding or correcting problems.
How to Apply Top Soil
Improving your lawn with a light top dressing is simple to do yourself. Here are some tips:
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Mow the grass short and remove clippings and debris to expose the soil.
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For best results, core aerate before top dressing. This allows it to penetrate deeper.
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Use a shovel to apply a 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 inch layer evenly across bare spots or the entire lawn.
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Gently rake out any piles to level. Water thoroughly to settle it in.
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Let grass recover for 10-14 days before mowing again.
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Follow up by overseeding to fill in bare patches for a thick lawn.
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Fertilize 4-6 weeks later to provide roots with balanced nutrition.
Top Soil vs. Screened Top Soil
When buying top soil, you’ll see some labeled as screened top soil. What’s the difference? Screened top soil simply means the soil has been filtered to remove sticks, rocks and other debris larger than 1⁄4 inches. Screening helps achieve a more uniform soil texture.
Unscreened topsoil is more variable in texture and hasn’t been filtered. It may still have some coarser particles. Unscreened top soil is cheaper, but screened is recommended for lawn use since you don’t want debris left behind on your lawn.
Buying Top Soil in Bulk
If you have a large lawn, the most affordable way to buy top soil is in bulk by the cubic yard. One yard of top soil covers about 300 sq ft with a 1″ layer. Bulk soil is often sold by landscape supply stores or directly from soil producers. They can load bulk quantities into a pickup truck or deliver and spread it for you.
When purchasing in bulk:
- Ask about the soil contents and request a nutrient analysis
- Inspect it before accepting delivery. Reject any loads with too many rocks or debris.
- Spread it soon after delivery and water it in well before grass seeding.
Proper top soil is one of the best investments you can make for a healthy, lush lawn. Take the time to choose the right soil components and texture for your particular grass species and current soil. With the proper nutrients in place, you’ll be on your way to a lawn that makes your neighbors green with envy!
What Is Lawn Soil? Understanding the Different Types of Soil
There are four main types of soil that you might find in your yard: sandy soil, clay soil, silty soil, and loam soil.
Sandy soil is a good option for grass since it’s porous and drains water quickly, providing easy access to moisture for the roots. Sandy soil is among the best topsoil for lawns. You can use it in your topdressing applications to make your lawn smooth and improve drainage.
On the other hand, clay-like soil also has its benefits, since it is firm and holds moisture, making it easier for grass roots to absorb. Clay soil is common in the United States. But, soil that contains too much clay can cause soil compaction problems — limiting air and soil circulation.
Silty soil is another type of fast-draining soil, like sandy soil, but it has smaller particles which can make the water drain faster. Finally, loam soil is the perfect mixture of sandy, clay, and silty soils in the right proportions and is one of the best kinds of soil for your lawn.
The Best Lawn Soil Quality
The best soil for your lawn depends on your grass type and area. There’s no universal soil type that suits all conditions and environments. Testing the soil in your lawn is crucial to understanding the conditions beneath the surface. To achieve a lush and healthy lawn, you need to know what nutrients your grass might lack because poor soil quality can limit grass growth. A soil test kit is a simple tool that can give you results in as little as a week, ensuring you only spend money on the fertilizers and biostimulants your lawn really needs.
To find out which grass type is most suited to your area, read our helpful blog post.
For your grass to thrive, it requires several essential nutrients in large amounts (macronutrients). These three nutrients are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
- Nitrogen: An essential component of chlorophyll, which gives grass its green color. If your grass looks yellow and brittle, its likely lacking nitrogen, making it more susceptible to disease.
- Phosphorus: This is important for strengthening the root system.
- Potassium: Promotes healthy grass growth and increases grass stress resistance.
Most fertilizers abbreviate these nutrients as “NPK,” with a number substituting each letter indicating how much of each macronutrient is supplied by the lawn fertilizer. Once you receive your soil test results, you can determine which specific nutrients your soil lacks, including any micronutrient deficiencies that your lawn might have (nutrients your lawn needs in lesser amounts).
You can correct these deficiencies with a product like Golf Course Lawn Micronutrient Blend. The soil test kit will also tell you your grasss pH level, which should be neutral between 6 and 7 for optimal growth. You can use a pH adjustment product to lower or raise your soil pH level. Remember that healthy grass thrives in soil with a good pH balance and loose, biologically active soil.
Best Soil Mix For Lawn Leveling I’VE Ever Used
FAQ
Which top soil is good for grass?
For grass and most other plants, a medium loam, with proportions (by weight) of 40% sand, 40% silt, and 20% clay is the ideal growing material. That mix holds nutrients and moisture but lets excess water run through.
What is the best soil to topdress a lawn?
A new lawn, hey, what an exciting time! Lawns can grow in soil, sand and sandy loam. You’ll find most topdressings (which can be used as an underlay as well) are a sandy loam, which consists of around 80% sand and 20% loam. It is widely accepted that a sandy loam or premixed topdressing is the best choice.
What is the best soil to put on top of grass seed?
Combining grass seed and topsoil together needs to be carefully considered as grass seedlings need a moist and well-aerated environment to grow. The best topsoil to mix grass seed with needs to be rich in organic material, high levels of nutrients and minerals, moisture-retaining and peat-free.
What kind of soil do you put on top of grass?
A top dressing lawn mix is made up of three parts sharp sand (not builder’s sand), six parts good sandy/loam weed-free topsoil, and one part peat-free compost …Sep 26, 2023