The Overlooked Solution For Better Looking Grass Is So Simple

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Creating a lush lawn usually takes a fair bit of time and effort, so it's understandable that you'll want to keep it that way. That said, you don't want looking after it to take up every spare minute. So it's useful to know any rules that make mowing your lawn easier. There's also a surprisingly straightforward and simple solution to better-looking grass that's often overlooked. It's called topdressing, and it can provide a host of benefits, including helping combat a number of common lawn diseases. The beauty of topdressing is that after preparing the lawn, all you usually do is spread the topdressing over the surface, brush or rake it in a little, then leave it. Occasionally, you might want to water it in, depending on the topdressing you're using, but often, you can just leave it to the weather and natural processes.

How you apply your topdressings will depend on the size of your lawn. Towable spreaders are available for many ride-on mowers and lawn tractors, while at the other end of the scale, something like Scotts Turf Builder Broadcast Spreader is available from Amazon for under $100. If you fancy a bit of exercise, or you're only dealing with a small space, you could always just fill a wheelbarrow and throw it around with a shovel.

Topdressing is usually done after the end of the summer. First, you'll want to scarify the lawn to remove thatch build-up and then aerate it. These are typical habits of people who keep their lawns lush and well-manicured, so there's not really any additional work involved. After mowing the lawn, you are ready for topdressing.

If you have clay soil and a lawn that suffers from waterlogging, topdressing with sand can help it drain better. If you live in a hot, dry area, adding a loam-based topdressing can improve moisture retention so your lawn doesn't get so parched. You can topdress with soil to fill in uneven patches before reseeding, and some gardeners swear by spreading composted cow manure to promote healthy growth. You might prefer a commercial fertilizer like Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food.

Once you've finished applying your chosen topdressing, it should be brushed or raked over, and then it's best left alone for 10 days to a fortnight. Don't use it or mow it during that time. If you aerated before starting, whatever you topdressed with will work its way into the holes with no more effort on your part. If you reseeded some areas, then they'll need to be watered, but that's all. You'll struggle to find a simpler solution to better-looking grass.