In Your Turf: March 2001, The Synergistic Solution: Topdressing Turf

When it comes to topdressing turf after aeration (a practice we all know we should do more often), spreading a thin layer of compost over the surface of turf has been challenging to do effectively or efficiently.

There is no argument among turf professionals that aeration and topdressing should be done at least yearly on most turf, yet many companies ignore this part of their program even though it is a perfect way to add valuable organic matter to the soil profile once the turf is established.

APPLICATION EFFICIENCY ISSUES. Manual application of composts or compost blends does not make for an exciting day. It is hard work, and the results are as good as the quality control of the individual on the end of the rake.

But spreaders allow contractors to topdress more easily. In effect, the equipment makes the concept of selling topdressing real and gives contractors another service to offer. And instead of breaking even due to the high cost of manual application, contractors can now actually realize profit from compost work.

NUTRIENTS: LESS IS MORE. The nutrients delivered via topdressing are not to be ignored. Organic lawn care programs using compost and topdressing are starting to take root in many areas where nutrient compost is available. Until now, the barrier has been application of materials. Many of these programs are three-step programs that deliver less than the required 6 to 8 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, but they still deliver good results due to the physical and biological benefits received from compost.

For instance, a single application of compost used as topdressing can provide about 2 pounds of available nitrogen, released over the entire growing season, as the plant requires it. And one of the main benefits about the nutrients in compost is that they rarely burn because the majority of the nitrogen is contained in the organic form and must be converted to available nitrogen prior to being used by the plant. This conversion requires warm temperatures, moisture and microbes to do the work, so it won’t take place until the compost has been applied to the soil.

The micronutrients in compost also help and compost has long been known to help reduce thatch and a host of diseases associated with heavy thatch buildup.

SELLING THE PACKAGE. Scott Jacobsen, president, Quality Cuts, Arnold, Md., first purchased a spreader last summer after the third straight year of drought. He was having some success using compost for turf repair and establishment, so we wanted a better way to do this work. Jacobsen was successful enough to pay for the entire machine last year.

Jacobsen works with about 50 lawns a year, and he has found that topdressing actually helps him sell other parts of the program. "When customers’ lawns looks good, they seem to be more inclined to go with a shrub or perennial package or mulching," he said. "But when their lawn is dead from the drought, they are not interested in anything."

Quality Cuts’ renovation program includes: de-thatching; aeration; over-seeding; and topdressing with a biosolid compost because of its high nitrogen content.

Now that Jacobsen’s lawns have been compared to conventional programs for three years, he sees an edge. "There is no comparison during a drought," he explained. "Our lawns stay alive while the other lawns have a significant loss and need to be repaired. Using our program is easier and less expensive for the property owner instead of renovating their lawn each year after a drought. We sell a lot of programs with that comparison."