Do You Overseed Before or After Top Dressing?
A common question often asked is whether you should overseed before or after top dressing? The short answer is that you can do it either way around; however, it is generally advised that the best way is to top-dress before overseeding.
The debate comes about because overseeding can be carried out when the soil is moist and soft enough for the seeds to get a foothold, so top dressing isn’t a necessary part of the process. However, there are advantages to top dressing, which means that if you are going to top-dress as well, you do this first.
If you chose or then decide to top-dress after overseeding, you will have to wait until the grass has grown and established before doing so.
Do I Need to Top-dress When Overseeding?
You don’t necessarily have to top-dress when overseeding. Overseeding can be done on any soil that is not too compacted and where there are no large rocks or other obstacles in the path of the seed.
However, if you do decide to overseed, then you should consider doing so at least two weeks prior to the first frost date. This will allow time for the seeds to germinate and establish themselves in the ground. You may also want to wait until after the grass gets established. By this point, the seedlings will be well established and less likely to be disturbed by the workmen who will be overseeding.
There are, though, considerable advantages for overseeding after top dressing, which include:
- Improved soil structure
- Increased organic matter content
- Reduced compaction
- Better water penetration
- More nutrients available
How Do I Overseed My Lawn?
Overseeding is very easy to do. All you need is some seed, fertilizer, and a tiller. The most common method of overseeding is called broadcast seeding. In this process, the seeds are spread out evenly across the surface of the lawn using a hand rake. The seeds are usually sown between 1/8″ – 3/4″ deep depending on what type of grass you would like to grow. It’s important to use a fine grade of seed. Use a seed rate of about 30,000 per square foot.
If you’re using a broadcast seeder, you’ll probably want to start with a small area first. Then, once you’ve got the hang of it, you can move on to larger areas.
If you’d prefer to use a roller, then you can roll the seed into place instead of spreading it out. Rollers come in different sizes and shapes. Some are made specifically for overseeding while others are designed for general purpose purposes. Roller seeding requires more skill than broadcasting but is much faster.
After you’ve seeded, you’ll want to let it dry for a few days. This allows the seed to settle into the soil and get established. Once the seed has dried, you can apply fertilizer to promote growth.
What Is the Difference Between Overseeding and Top Dressing?
Overseeding and top dressing are both ways of improving the health of your lawn. Both techniques involve spreading fertilizer and/or compost over the area being seeded. The difference between these two techniques is how much material is spread out. With top dressing, you apply more than enough material to cover the entire area being treated. In contrast, with overseeding, you apply just enough to ensure that all of the seeds get covered.
So you overseed before or after top dressing?
There are two main types of top dressing: pre-emergence and post-emergence. Pre-emergence top dressings are applied before seeds germinate. Post-emergence topdressings are applied after seedlings emerge from the ground.
Top dressing is a light application of soil or sand to a lawn. It is generally done in the spring, fall, and sometimes in midsummer. The purpose of top dressing is mainly used to fill low spots, to improve drainage, and to improve thatch and soil fertility.
The most common practice is for top dressing to be applied before seeding. The idea is to provide nutrients to the seedlings during their early growth stages. It also helps to prevent weeds from germinating.
How do You Top Dress and Overseed your Lawn?
You can either top dress your lawn with compost yourself or hire someone else to do it for you. There are several benefits to hiring a professional. First off, they know exactly which products to use and how much to apply. They also know when to apply them. Finally, they can control where the fertilizer goes so there won’t be any waste.
You can also use a power tiller to prepare the area for planting. Power tillers are used to break up existing sod and create a smooth, even surface. After the tilling, you can add fertilizer and then overseed.
A power tiller is ideal for large areas because it doesn’t require you to walk around the area. Instead, you can sit back and watch the machine work its magic.
When should I top dress and overseed my lawn?
The best time of year to top dress and overseed your lawn is spring. While fall is a popular choice for overseeding, it’s not necessarily the best time of year. Springtime weather conditions, typically warm and sunny, are perfect for planting seeds. The warmth encourages the grass to grow quickly and grasses are at their peak in spring, making it easier to see where you’ve planted seeds.[1]
It’s important to bear in mind that the weather conditions you experience during winter can affect how well your lawn grows in the spring. Cold temperatures slow down plant growth and cause plants to go dormant. This means that you may need to wait until warmer weather arrives before you can start preparing your lawn for planting.
Summary
You can apply top dressing either before or after planting. The choice depends on the type of plants you want to plant.
It’s best to apply top dressing before you plant your grass. That way, the fertilizer gets absorbed by the roots before they start growing. However, you can still apply top dressing after you plant your grass. The key is to wait until the plants have grown an inch or so .
On the other hand, if you plan to plant trees, shrubs, or flowers, then you should top dress after planting.
Notes:
[1]UMass Extension: Lawn Renovation & Overseeding