OT: Top dressing my lawn

[NTDawg]

My yard is in need of some TLC and I have been reading about the benefits of top dressing (along with other steps) with a filtered compost however when I call local lawn and garden places no one seems to know what I'm talking about. Most folks want to sell me top soil which I'm sure is mostly sand. I have read not top dress with sand in clay soils. Maybe I'm using the wrong terminology. BTW I'm in the Jackson MS area. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Digging dog]

Would need more info on the condition to make a comment.
I would only top dress with sand it you are trying to level out dips in your yard.
Aerating never hurts in the Jackson area based on clay based soil.

 

[NTDawg]

Plan is to dethatch, aerated, re-seed in bare spots and top dress the entire yard. Front yard isnt bad but it could be healthier and thicker but the back yard is a mess.

 

[xxxWalkTheDawg]

I've heard of it being done. Basically it's using a fine high quality topsoil or compost to layer the lawn and smooth out dips. You basically have a big pile delivered. Take a wheelbarrow and shovel and make the big pile into several piles distributed around the yard evenly. Then rake it smooth using a metal rake basically flipped upside down. The topsoil is beneficial for grass growth and you smooth out the yard at the same time.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

Eye talian. Then Dale's.**

 

[Digging dog]

^ this is sufficient. Again compacted soil is usually the underlying problem with a poor lawn. If you were starting from scratch I'd recommend tilling in a planting mix across the whole lawn prior to sodding. Since you already have a lawn, aerating is about your only option to loosen the soil.

 

[NTDawg]

Yes but where do I find the compost which should be filtered to reduce the amount of weed seed in it

 

[civildawg88]

I topped dressed my lawn last year. Are you willing to do it yourself?

 

[civildawg88]

If you get masonry sand there shouldn't be any weed seed in it

 

[NTDawg]

Yes I plan on doing it myself because I like too and I'm too cheap to pay someone for something I can do myself, supposedly

 

[jethreauxdawg]

I just bought cotton bur or leaf compost

Aerate your yard first. Then spread the compost. You may have some weeds, but I'm guessing you already treat your yard, so they should be gone before long. Biggest problem I had was trash or rocks in the compost. Whatever, take the good with the bad.

 

[civildawg88]

Sent you a pm

 

[NTDawg]

Where do you get the compost? That's what I am having trouble with.

 

[NTDawg]

Thanks and I appreciate your help but I'm trying to find compost instead of sand.

 

[RocketDawg]

Plan is to dethatch, aerated, re-seed in bare spots and top dress the entire yard. Front yard isnt bad but it could be healthier and thicker but the back yard is a mess.

What kind of grass do you have?

 

[NTDawg]

Bermuda

 

[deanbar]

jackson landfill has compost--free if you load--$10 if they use a front end loader to fill your pickup (or trailer)-- out I55 at wynndale RD--then get on frontage road and come back toward town (google directions are incorrect)-- have to pull out a bit of scrap but the price is right---greened my lawn right up...call first---1st time i went out they didn't have any

 

[deanbar]

Hours of Operation

Monday through Saturday
7:00 am - 4:00 pm

601-960-1193 Jackson Office
601-373-5863 Landfill Office



Landfill Charges

Description of Vehicle and Load	Cubic Yard	Cost
Pick-up, residents/noncommercial per load	4-5	$10
Loading Mulch per vehicle	8	$10
Vehicle unloading fee		$10
Single Axle trailer residents/noncommercial per load	5	$10
Double Axle trailer per load	8	$30
Single Axle dump truck	7	$30
Tandem Dump truck	15	$50
Dump truck trailer (18 wheeler)	20-30	$120

<tbody>
</tbody>

 

[deanbar]

Compost and mulch are both useful in gardening, and can be used to solve a number of landscaping issues. Many people think compost and mulch are basically the same thing, but there are a few differences worth noting. Here are some things you need to know that will help you choose the right product for the job.
Mulch is material that is spread over the soil in order to conserve water, control weeds and protect plants from extreme temperature changes. On the other hand, compost is typically added to the soil to help enrich it and provide essential nutrients.
Compost is derived from organic items such as vegetable peelings, egg shells or shredded leaves. Mulch can be made from organic materials such as wood chips or straw, or inorganic materials like shredded rubber or plastic. Some of the same materials used for mulching can also be used to make compost, with the primary difference being that particles are normally shredded very finely when added to compost, and remain much larger when used as mulch.
Compost can be used in place of mulch; however, because it contains smaller particles, it will decompose faster and need to be replaced more often. It is also less effective at keeping weeds at bay than mulch is. Plants are unable to absorb many of the nutrients from compost when it is placed on top of the soil rather than being added to it, which means your garden won’t benefit as much from using it in this manner.
Successful gardeners recommend using compost in the soil and mulch on top so that plants can reap the benefits of both materials

 

[skip dog]

Thanks and I appreciate your help but I'm trying to find compost instead of sand.

I think Lakeland yard and garden will be your best bet as they carry a lot of bulk organics.

"Grit" mix is very composted, and its components are small. you will find some bark in it, but it's consistency may be more parallel to a potting soil (or very close to it)

Also, they carry a fine topsoil that has a very good sand component, and it is "double sifted," insuring no large clods. It is vey nice stuff.

I would offer that you rake out any and all thatch that you have, aerate now, and plan on doing that again in October......but starting with the organic composted material, and possibly next spring (early spring) topdressing with the topsoil.

 

[civildawg88]

Bermuda loves sand. I top dressed my lawn with sand for my Bermuda yard and had great results. you have to fertilize Bermuda about 4 times a year for it to really look good