Top Dressing Your Lawn
Dear Great Island Resident,
I am writing to you in regards to fall/spring seeding. After the summer we have endured,
unfortunately there has been a significant amount of turf loss throughout New England. Some turf
went into dormancy as early as June. As a result, there will be some areas that will not come back
healthy next spring without some additional seeding. Both the Fall and Spring are the right times for
any seeding. In some cases, it will require seeding in both Fall and Spring.
There are many ways to seed dormant areas. Knowing the sandy soils at Great Island, I am
recommending that additional loam be used with any seeding. All seeding should follow these steps:
1. - “Scratch” the surface of the dead areas aggressively with a steel rake.
2. - Rake up debris with a leaf rake so that you are left with an area ready for seeding.
3. - Add 1 to 3 inches of loam to the area. In most cases that I have seen personally, the areas
are patchy with clumps of healthy turf within. The concept of adding the loam is to fill the
voids in the lawn, but not burying healthy turf. The best way to spread the loam is by adding
the amount you think you need in an area and then flip the steel rake over and use the flat side
of the rake for grading. This allows the loam to be pushed into the lower lying dead areas and
the healthy turf will not be buried.
4. When the area is to final grade, seed is ready to be added. In most cases, sprinkling the seed
by hand will be fine. In bigger areas, a spreader should be used to make sure the seed is
applied evenly.
5. Once the seed is applied, lightly rake the area with a leaf rake to mix the seed with the soil.
The best germination occurs when there is good seed to soil contact.
6. The final step is to add some starter fertilizer. This can be added the same way as the seed.
Sprinkle the fertilizer by hand. Be careful to read the bag so that the fertilizer is not over
applied.
Please contact me with any questions or concerns.
Thank You,
AJ Dart
Fairway Landscaping
508.510.2288
ajdart@fairwaylandscaping.com
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