Everyone has that one yard on the block that is thick with luscious, green grass that we all wish we could be as fortunate to have.
But how do they maintain their yard? The best method is overseeding, which will enhance and add grass to your lawn without having to turn over your existing soil.
Anytime you overseed, you will also have to apply a top dressing to bed the new seed into the soil. Many novice lawn care enthusiasts will be thinking, “can I use compost for overseeding”?
When overseeding, always use compost. Compost has lots of nutrients available and plenty of organic materials to feed soil microbes, which will send nutrients to the existing grass seed and soil below the new grass seed over time as the compost breaks down.
Compost also retains water well, keeps your seed moist, and works great for projects where you are overseeding an existing yard.
Topsoil vs Compost – Which Is Better?
When overseeding, your grass needs proper balance and nutrition, in conjunction with a healthy dose of moisture to germinate your new seed.
In the past, many homeowners may have purchased the largest bag of topsoil they could find as it was most common, but compost is much more beneficial when overseeding for numerous reasons.
Let’s look at the pros and cons of using compost vs topsoil, along with some great tips for overseeding!
Pros of Using Compost
- Compost slowly releases nutrients to promote quick growth for new grass seeds.
- Compost supports soil microbes, allowing them to create food that will initiate grass and seed growth.
- Compost allows for water retention, keeping your seeds moist for a longer time.
- Compost releases its nutrients to the seed and soil below.
Cons of Using Topsoil
- Topsoil is frequently applied in a thin layer and ultimately dries so quickly.
- Topsoil has very little organic matter so it does not release nutrients into the seed or soil.
- Dry topsoil can actually kill seed as the dry soil draws moisture from the seed.
- When topsoil dries, it will tend to blow away in the wind.
Using compost while overseeding is obviously a better option. It will give way to healthy new seed that is thicker, greener grass in your yard!
Let’s figure it out: With so many available composts, what is the best compost that you can use when overseeding?
What Type of Compost Is Best for Overseeding?
Compost is defined simply as decomposing organic materials that can be prepared at home, bought in small bags, or purchased in bulk from your local landscaping supply store or garden center.
It is the foundation of life because it is full of microorganisms and nutrients both your grass and soil need to prosper.
When overseeding, it is good to use compost with higher nitrogen content under 1/4″ particle size.
Use screened compost or compost with a particle size of 3/8″ or smaller.
This will help guarantee that the compost stays on the top level and will not smother the grass below.
Compost Thickness When Top Dressing
When putting down the compost as a top dressing, spread the compost evenly around ¼ to ½ of an inch in depth onto the existing lawn.
This equally layered depth of compost as a top dressing will provide plenty of nutrients, hold moisture, and help to feed lawn microbes which will help develop a thicker and more lush lawn.
Order Compost in Bulk When Overseeding
As a general guideline, apply 1 cubic yard of compost for every 1,000 square feet of yard.
That would be spreading it about ¼ to ⅓ of an inch thick. Purchase the compost in bulk, if your lawn will be overseeded.
Most large local landscape supply yards and garden centers will have bulk compost material that is superior for your lawn compared to much smaller bagged composts that might be found at smaller stores.
Larger bulk compost suppliers will have dozens of tests done to verify that when you order compost there are no residual pesticides or herbicides mixed into the compost.
Think Again: With small bagged compost, it’s all guesswork and much less likely to have been tested to even know if it has pesticides or herbicides in it.
Can You Make Your Own Compost?
Yeah, compost really is easy to make at home on any small-scale. Just realize that it will take a few months to several years, so be patient!
Compost can be made in your backyard, and you can use pretty much any organic matter, such as:
- food scraps
- leaves
- grass clippings
- hay
- straw
- or even tree bark
Then, it’s simply a matter of letting the write mixture of organic materials slowly decompress with enough aeration, until in the end, you have nothing but a rich, musty material that, when done right, has a consistency similar to dense fibrous potting soil.
Making your own and right compost for your lawn will take a fair amount of time and effort, not to mention a fair amount of space to make a bulk of compost.
You will have to be selective of what type of organic matter you choose to decompose for your compost. Grass and overseeding require compost that is high in nitrogen.
If you do decide to make your own, be sure to stay away from any fruit or vegetables that seed easily, otherwise, you may end up seeding more than just grass.
For The Persistent: You’ll also want to take the time to screen your homemade compost, which, even with a set up, is not impossible though it can still be difficult.
Timing Compost and Overseeding
The optimal timing for overseeding your lawn and applying a top dressing of compost is determined geographically. Most procedures with compost and overseeding occur in the spring or fall.
- For cooler areas, spread a light coat of compost in the spring and add a heavy coat in the fall.
- If you are in warmer climates like the south, topdress grasses in early spring.
How to Compost When Overseeding (Step-by-step)
There are 6 simple steps to applying compost when overseeding your yard.
1. Mow Your Lawn
The first order of business is to mow your lawn evenly.
You’ll want to give the lawn a nicer cut, and mow it just a bit shorter than you’re used to. About 1.5-2 inches is a nice height, you should be able to see just a little outside soil between the blades of grass.
Please don’t skip this step because after a fine mow, the next steps that follow will be much easier.
2. Aerate, Aerate, Aerate
If you’ve spent time at a golf course you know the significance of aeration and getting that thick, lush greenery.
Aerate your entire lawn with a core aeration machine.
Aerating your lawn allows compost to get down into the intangible dirt faster, enabling it to feed the grass roots and create a healthy level of growth.
3. Top Dress Your Lawn with Compost
Based on 1 cubic yard of compost for 1,000 square feet of yard, we can calculate your amount of compost.
This will ensure that you distribute the compost evenly to a depth of about ¼ to ⅓ of an inch.
Be careful not to add your compost too thick, as this will smother the grass underneath.
4. Overseed Your Lawn
There are many who suggest you spread your seed before you top dress, but the best green thumbs of the world will all agree; you will reap better results if you top dress then overseed.
Disregard when you spread your seed based on your seed supplier recommended instructions or per bag rates.
Utilizing one type of broadcast spreader tool is the best method for getting excellent coverage of seed over your entire lawn.
5. Rake and Roll to Cover the Seed
Utilize a garden rake to slowly, and gently cover the seed with your compost.
The seed should be roughly ¼ of an inch beneath the surface, but if some of the seed is still visible on the top of the soil after it has been raked, that’s perfectly fine!
To finish, you will want to use a garden roller to flatten the raked seed and compost combination on the surface.
6. Water and Fertilize
This will pack the seed and compost together and push compost and seed into the aeration holes.
With all of those steps completed, you are prepared to start watering and fertilizing your yard.
Your new seed should germinate and take off in a couple weeks, so patience is key, don’t overwater it too much.
The compost should be watered for 15-20 minutes, twice a day.
Don’t Forget: Do not water at the hottest time of the day.
Conclusion
You now have sufficient knowledge to promote a successful yard that is lush with healthy dark green grass that will make your neighbors jealous.
Always use compost in place of topsoil for overseeding as it is more effective.
Use a nitrogen-rich compost and purchase your materials from a bulk landscape supply store or garden center.