• slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide

The What, Why and When of Topdressing

Improve your lawn and gardens’ vitality, productivity and beauty with topdressing.

Topdressing is the practice of spreading compost, fertilizer or other material over the soil surface of lawns and gardens. By topdressing with compost you’ll increase the organic matter and nutrient availability in the soil. This means you need to water and fertilize less often.

Spread a 1- to 2-inch layer of compost over the soil surface of perennial gardens and planting beds every two to three years. Cover with an organic mulch to help suppress weeds, conserve moisture and further improve the soil. You can topdress gardens anytime the ground isn’t frozen, but it’s easiest to do right after cutting back your perennials.

Topdress your lawn with compost right after dethatching or core aerating. The compost helps reduce soil compaction and thatch build up.

A bit more information: Increase the benefits to struggling perennials gardens. Once you topdress the garden with compost, use an auger bit to aerate the soil and mix some of the compost into the top 4 to 6” of soil.

Upcoming Live Events
& Webinars


April 3, 2024
Garden Trends 

Franklin Public Library, Franklin, WI

April 10, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

Container Gardening Throughout the Year
Register now

April 11, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

7 Steps to Managing Water Where it Falls in Your Yard
Register now

April 17, 2024
Landscaping for Birds: 
A Gardener’s Perspective

Glendale, WI 

April 18, 2024
Be a Waterwise Gardener
Golden Rondelle Theater, Racine, WI
Register now

April 20, 2024
Pruning Hydrangeas and Other Shrubs 
Pasquesi Home & Gardens, Lake Bluff, IL

April 27, 2024
Ridges & Rivers Book Festival
Viroqua, WI

April 28, 2024
Flowering Trees and Shrubs
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI

May 1, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

Ornamental Fruits and Vegetables
Register now

May 9, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

How to Plant Your Rain Garden
Register now

WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS

Learn More

Book an Appearance

Learn More

Enter to Win The Birds & Blooms' Ultimate Gardening Guide !

ENTER NOW