Products, Services and Support for Ecological Landcare
Top Dressing With Compost
 
Compostwerks, LLC. • 487 E. Main Street, Suite 160, Mt. Kisco, NY 10549 • 914 837 2364 • All materials © Compostwerks, LLC 2012


Top dressing involves the direct application of a layer of compost and/or other organic matter to turf grass. The thickness of this layer varies according to your needs but generally, we recommend a thickness of around 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch. Top dressing using compost offers several specific advantages over traditional methods of chemical fertilization and turf grass management. We have outlined six specific benefits of top dressing with compost.
I. Turf Nutrition
With respect to turf nutrition, the application of only one layer of compost fulfills between 50 and 100 percent of the annual nutritional requirements of your turf. Compost is the only slow release soil amendment containing all of the essential elements to maintain balanced levels of both macro and micro elements.

•Macro-elements: nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, and sulfur.

•Micro-elements: iron, boron, chlorine, manganese, zinc,  
II. Soil Structure
Without proper soil structure, any plant will have a very difficult time performing its most basic functions, particularly in turf systems where soil compaction is a common problem. Pore spaces between soil particles allow for gas exchange between the atmosphere and the plant's roots. These pores are also essential for water retention, root expansion and the mobility of predatory soil organisms. These predators are essential for maintaining the populations of soil born pests.

The organic matter component of soil is largely responsible for good soil structure. It is here that the soil microbes are most active; bacteria attach to particles of minerals and decaying organic matter forming small aggregates. Fungi grow through these aggregates and are bound together forming micro pores. It is widely accepted that good soils contain a minimum of three to five percent organic matter.

III. Microbial Activity
The application of quality compost stimulates the microbial activity in the soil. Soil microbes are critically important for the health of the turf plants, because without them, natural nutrient cycling and mineralization cannot occur. Even if the highest quality compost is not available, this material will be colonized by the indigenous soil microbes and eventually broken down into plant available nutrients.



IV. Thatch Decomposition
The accumulation of dead, undecomposed grass plants indicates an inbalance and lack of active mico organisms in the soil. The saprophytic micro-organisms present in compost will transform this dead material into plant available nutrients without mechanical removal.

V. Buffer the pH
All plants 'exude' enzymes, proteins, sugars or carbohydrates through their root systems. These exudates allow the plant to select the soil microbes which are specific to it's habitat and survival.

Fungi will feed on proteins and complex carbohydrates, while bacteria favor simple carbohydrates and sugars.

In the case of turf, the root exudates produce mostly sugars which attract and nourish bacteria. The bodies of bacterial are covered in a slimy, alkaline coating which can naturally buffer pH to around 6.8 The key is to keep the organic matter percent at 5% to keep the microbial activity at a high level.

VI. Seed Germination
Compost top dressing and overseeding is the best way to assure rapid and complete germination of grass seed. The seed to soil contact will be greatly increased which improves germination. Your irrigation inputs will decrease because of the water holding capacity of the compost. The seed can be mixed with the compost before loading into the Eco-Lawn Applicator to save labor costs and assure even seed distribution.

Conclusion
It's plain to see that compost top dressing can become the core of  your natural lawn care program. This one application can address a number of important fuctions and save labor, money and decrease dependance on expensive inorganic products which can pollute our environment.

The Eco-Lawn Applicator is the best top dresser on the market.