How to [TOP DRESS YOUR LAWN] // LAWN LEVELING with SAND for a GOLF COURSE LAWN
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- Опубликовано: 15 сен 2024
- Top dressing your lawn is one of the best investments in lawn care you can make. It allows Bermuda grass as well as other types to really thrive in less than ideal conditions. In this video I explain the top dressing equipment you'll need, the ideal mixture for clay soil and show in detail how to apply and work it into the lawn.
Top dressing a lawn is quite a workout so I recommend getting a friend or two to help out. My neighbor and good friend Alex gave up his Saturday morning to help me top dress my golf course lawn. When it comes to top dressing there are several ways to apply the mixture to your lawn. I cover the 2 most common ways for people that are top dressing their lawns manually.
I also share one of my best tips for getting a better result while also speeding up how quickly the lawn recovers from the stress of being top dressed.
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Not sure if my question went through.
I ordered two big bags of leveling mix and two big bags of hummus from super sod.How should I apply them to my Bermuda grass
Your lawn is amazing! Giving Doc a run for his money!!
Thanks mcnell. I put a lot of work into it. Glad you think it looks good. 🌿😎
I agree with mcnell311
... definitely... most definitely!!
👍😎👍
I’ll need to survey my backyard ( not that big) to build up low spots and build up areas to prevent erosion. The Broom is a great idea . I appreciate your showing me.❤
Thanks for watching.
Your broom tip was brilliant! That will really help the top dressing to settle in place.
Thanks Mark! I'm glad you found it useful. Using a broom really makes a big difference in how long it takes the turf to recover. Helps the sand to really settle down. 😎👍
Hey Ron, thank you for the Video. What do you think of using the Brush with the Swardman to soft broom the Sand in? or do think its a to hard method?
Lots of work. Just did this to my lawn. Lawn is looking great.
You'll definitely feel it the next day. The way the lawn looks makes it worthwhile though. How big of an area did you top dress?
hehe i knew the wheelbarrow had to do with top dressing. Just did it on my lawn a few weeks back. Great video!
You called it! :-) Glad that you liked the video. Apologies for it being a bit on the long side. I cut it down as much as I possibly could.
That beat at the 18 min mark sounds so good lol. Oh yeah thanks for the topdressing video I’m thinking about doing it myself
Glad that you like it! I spent a while picking out the music. I wasn't sure if anyone would like it. The clip at the very end was fun to shoot. I put it after I closed out so people weren't forced to watch it unless they wanted to. I finally got a gimbal to stead my shots a bit better so learning how to use it. 😎
Ron Henry keep up the good work man! Getting better and better
Thanks sir. I really appreciate it.
Beautiful home Ron
Many congrats
The whole surrounding looks great
I’m over in the UK and very envious about the size of the plots
Don't be too envious shazia. It's a lot to take care of. :-) Thanks for watching. Always like hearing from people overseas. 🙏😎
Ron you have convinced me to try this technique on my Bermuda lawn. It looks pretty bad so I need to do something. Great video.
You can do it! It's a bit of a workout but the results are so worth it. Let me know if you decide to go ahead with it or if there's anything I can answer or help with. Appreciate the comment.😎
I actually Top Dressed a fairly large portion of my yard last Wednesday. I was having second thoughts after completing the work because the yard looked pretty rough. She has managed to rebound fairly well. With a little rain this week the lawn should fill in nicely.
That's not uncommon Demetrius. Most people have a "What did I just do" feeling right after top dressing. The lawn comes back quickly though. You'll be happy that you did it once you see how nice it looks afterwards.
Hey man I’m from ga to, where did you get 70/30 mix from
Hi Josh. I got it from Landscape Plus in Gainesville, GA - (404) 787-4129
Thanks for your content! love it.
Glad you enjoy it!
It’s great you were able to find a place that gave you a premix of sand/OM. I had to mix that shyt myself and it was fun (NoT!). Haha. Lawn coming long nicely Ron.
Thanks Frankie. Yeah the place where I got the top dressing will mix it in pretty much any ratio you want. The typical mix is 70/30 since that's a good balance of leveling while still feeding the lawn. There are some people that do 100% sand though. I can't imagine mixing it manually. That would be rough. :-). Did you rent a cement mixer or did you do it by hand?
Ron Henry I did myself with a shovel. Not sure I would do that again. After that frustrating experience , my wife mentioned I would have been better off trying. Cement mixer. I don’t know the cost but I’d pay it! Haha. I also like the 70/30 route for what I was doing (first time leveling or doing deeper sections...for maintenance, the 100 is maybe a smarter way to do it since OM typically breaks down over time and you’re ‘building-in a replacing factor´.
You make a good point about it breaking down over time. But then that just means I get to top dress it again! :-) I mean if the lawn were perfect then there'd be nothing to do. That's no fun.
Ron Henry #truth
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Great job, Amazing lawn!
Thanks sir! I really appreciate it. Apologies for it being so long. Even with not getting the front lawn footage, it still turned out to be longer than I expected. Are you considering top dressing this year?
Great tip for the mix percentage of sand to soil. Thanks!
No problem at all Will. it's a small detail that can really make a difference in the results of your process. Thanks for watching the content.
@@RonHenry It is. I have called around to nurseries for a topdressing 'bag' but everyone just offers soil, or sand. Not a blend. Looks like I have to mix myself. Do you see a huge issue with using 100% sand? Thanks again!
Hi Will. You can use 100% sand. If I were faced with your options, I would go with 100% sand before I did 100% soil. It’s better for leveling.
@@RonHenry Perfect Ron. Thanks so much for your help and advice!
@@paulaward2894 you got it. Glad to help out.
Dude enjoying your videos as I’m just starting on over-seeding my front lawn with Jubilee Bermuda. But you need some shrubs in that lawn! Plant something for privacy and create some beds! It will make that golf course lawn look even better!
Hi Ryan. I actually removed the shrubs that were there! 🤣 They’re a lot of work to maintain and I really prefer the open look. Very happy that you’re enjoying the content. 😎👍
I bought a compost spreader and use spread my top dressing. The entire lawn (4000 ft of zoysia) needs to be dressed so I use the wheelbarrow to load the drum in place on the lawn and then push it to distribute the dressing. Easiest way I've found.
that sounds like a pretty awesome method sepins r. How many refills does it take for you top dress 4000 square feet? Do you have to filter the top dressing mix to get all the bark and other hard organic material our before spreading?
@@RonHenry It takes quite a number of them but no more than I would if spreading other ways. The time savings is on the backend. The roller is 18in high by 24in. I have a shallow wheelbarrow so I can get everything into the roller and then roll it out. The roller also keeps larger debris inside. The roller is putting down just enough so I don't have to go back and do much hand spreading to get it down into the lawn..
I gotcha Sepins. It does sound like a better way to apply top dressing. With the integrated roller, I can definitely see how it would save you time in the leveling phase.
that push broom at the end looks key. i'll have to remember that. fantastic channel man, there are some crazy overpopular bermuda grass "expert" channels whose lawns look like a damn joke compared to yours
Definitely helps the sand settle faster. If you liked this video, here's a newer one that shows the process in even more detail. ruclips.net/video/AdB2HEUOEJg/видео.html
Good thing for you alex has a smaller lawn (when you have to return the favor next spring)
More like in July. If all goes to plan, we'll be top dressing his lawn next month in July.
@@RonHenry nice!
It's going to be a fun project!
Thanks for sharing, looking forward to seeing updates.
Very welcome. How often would you guys like to see updates on how the lawn's are growing in?
@@RonHenry thanks, just your updates on your top dressing grass growth.
Gotcha. Will do.
Great work! I need to do this badly in the backyard
Go for it! It's a lot of work but totally worth to the investment of how it can transform your lawn. Once you do it, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner. Is top dressing material easy to come by in your area?
@@RonHenry I'm working with a new house and my back yard is rocky and sloped. Half sod half field grass and very bumpy. Back is about half an acre so I'm currently just getting the lawn up to par pushing it hard. The field grass was half weeds so killed it off and filling in. Thinking top dressing next year. Good thing is the front is already the best on the block.
Very cool Zman. You'll have to let me know how it turns out once you top dress. You won't regret it! :-)
Fantastic job
Thank you very much Steven! Glad that you found it useful. Are you planning to top dress your lawn in the near future?
@@RonHenry right now I'm trying to find a seed that can withstand heat. My front yard bakes in the sun allday and drys out badly. I'm in Massachusetts
What kind of grass do you have now Steven?
@@RonHenry i had the lawn redone about 5 yrs ago. They planted RI seed. Supposed to be made for our region here in Massachusetts. We are near the coast.
I'm guessing the seed they put down has really high water requirements or is more of a cool season grass? 😎
Constant work! It never ends. Nice Job! About tp do the same on my lawn, but I am going to do my own mix with compost. More work, but I think I will like the mix a little better, considering what they call "top soil" around here.
Very cool Lawn Shark. I imagine you'll be able to get a much nicer mix by blending it yourself. Should be able to keep twigs and other unfavorable stuff off the lawn. How big of a top dressing job are you doing?
@@RonHenry I am going to keep it between 1,000 and 1,500 SF at a time. Easier to control than the whole 6,500 SF I did with sand leveling a month and a half ago.
Nice. That makes sense. You’ll be able to really focus and get the best possible result. Sounds like a fun time. 👍😎
@@RonHenry Ha! Fun is relative... 😉
Ok Funn then. :-)
Great video. Thanks’
Thanks for watching Danny. If you enjoyed that one, you’ll probably like this one even more. ruclips.net/video/TlGVwvxcuWo/видео.html We use some heavy equipment. 👍😎
Hey 👋 Ron...
🤔Question: does the slope in your yard cause [wash out] problems after you put down your TopDressing?
I have a slope in my front yard, similar to yours, and I'm afraid of rain washing away any TopDressing that I put down.
As always thanks for any/ all advice & feedback that you provide. Also, keep up the awesome work.
👍😎👍
Heya jr1000jr. It used to but not anymore. I had an issue where water that drained from the roof was running right through the front lawn causing some washout issues. I've since eliminated that problem. On a slope just be sure to go light on the top dressing. That will also help prevent a lot of sand loss when it rains. Thanks for watching man. Let me know if this helps.
@@RonHenry Thanks buddy...
I'm gonna let my Landscaping Supply Wholesaler know that this 70/30 mix will be my order for my front yard.
I'll be sure to follow your instructions.
🤝
@@jr1001jr Sounds great man. I just finished doing a light top dress on my front (had extra sand). You guys will definitely see the updates.
I gotta hit this guy up. DOPE
The company that delivers the sand Bandana?
I use 100% County road sand. No mixes just straight road sand. Which is what my yard is damn near comprised of. For obvious reasons my yard has more organic material. Once my irrigation system is fixed I will be using lake water to irrigate so I doubt I will have to fertilize nearly as much as I do now.
Very cool Chasing The Fish. It sounds like you've got your top dressing mix worked out which is a huge part of the battle. Let me how your top dressing project works out. I've not heard of country road sand being used before. As long as it's a match for your soil type, that's what really counts.
@@RonHenry it works well I got hit by hurricane micheal and have been filling ruts that range from 6 to 12 inches with it the past couple years. I will say i can't use a ton of it because I use what drains into my driveway.
Thanks for the vid, helped me a lot
Glad it helped Ryan. Super happy that you found it useful. Please let me know if I can help with anything else.
What "organic material" was used in your topdressing mix? Also, when you hired out your first topdressing, what kind of tools did they use to work the material into the canopy? Thanks!
Heya LG. It was just top soil. The first time it was top dressing, they used a golf cart and drag mat to work the mix into the canopy. They aerated, fertilized, top dressed and then dragged it in.
@@RonHenry Thank you for the speedy response. Were you happy with the drag mat results? I've heard some guys avoid drag mats because they follow the undulations in the soil as opposed to filling them in. I've never tried a drag mat before, but thought about trying it once.
@@LG-cz4hb mmmm it's hard to say for sure. The first time the drag mat was used was the first time it was top dressed. It came out ok but looked better after second time and even better after the 3rd. Granted I used more sand than the service did which probably has a lot ot do with the final result. I'm a fan of the level lawn. It's really easy to see what the high and low spots in flat areas of your lawn. I think it produces a smoother result. Granted it's a lot more work.
@@RonHenry I had a 7ft x 4ft level lawn created for me by a local welder. It's a monster and weighs nearly 100lbs. The goal was to tow it behind my riding mower during topdressing applications. I've had it for two years and haven't used it once. I'm hoping it gets to see some action this spring. Too bad you don't live closer because I need someone to split an EcoLawn topdresser purchase with me. 😁
@@LG-cz4hb hahaha. Dude you're going hardcore. Your lawn is going look amazing. Having your own top dressing equipment is going to have you doing it more often.
Do you top dress soon before you aerate and overseed? Ive found that getting that good soil deeper in the ground by top dressing before aeration has been super beneficial. But again i dont work in an area that warm season grasses are generally desired. Thats why im asking if that is something you would advise for warm season grasses.
Hi Tyler. No. I aerate, amend the soil, top dress, and then seed if that's on the table. You can see the process I used last year in this video. ruclips.net/video/AdB2HEUOEJg/видео.html
Ron,I'm looking to top dress my lawm because I have alot of low spots, and my grass is dormant right now. Should I fertilizer before I top dress or fertiltzer after I top dress?
You can ferilizer as part of your top dressing project. Fertilize before top dressing.
So primary you can top dress the lawn any time the grass is activity growing? I’m northeast was planning top dressing this fall/ late summer early fall. Fall I want to top dress and seed
If you have cool season grass, the ideal time to top dress is in the spring and fall. Check out Princess Cut Lawn care’s content on seeding cool season grass.
Job well done Ron!!! Can't wait to see the results!👍🏽👌🏽💯 If you don't mind, what's the name of the place you purchased your soil/sand from? I'm here in ATL and wouldn't mind trying them. Keep up the awesome content!!!!
Sure thing Bermuda Phil The place is called Landscape Plus in Gainesville - 770.967.3343. Be sure to tell them I sent you! :-). Good luck with your top dressing project. Let me know if I can help with anything.
Good stuff bro!
Thanks man. I really appreciate it. 👍😎
Just found your channel, and I love it. How soon can you seed after ground dressing? I both liked and subscribed to your channel.
Hi Gaylord. You can do it once you're done with top dressing. The same or next day if you want. Figure that you've just put down fresh organic material so seed to soil contact will be really good. Thanks so much for subscribing. Appreciate the support and you watching the content. Let me know if I can help with anything. 👍😎
Hey Ron, I am new to your RUclips channel and from all the videos I have been watching so far they have all been very helpful. I am new to the Bermuda grass family and have a new construction lawn, we moved in about 7 months ago so this is really my first chance to really work on getting my lawn to the point where I would like it. Absolutely Loves this video on top dressing, mine has a lot of low spots and needs to be dressed badly. I noticed you had some big areas that you did, when you low do you mow as normal or do you mow around the areas that you too dressed? And is now a good time to do what I need to do or is it to late? Thanks for the great info I know it will help me improve the look of my lawn.
Hi Chris. Now is still the perfect time to top dress your lawn. It's not so hot that you'll spend a lot of time watering. Bermuda is really coming into its own with these temperatures so it will recover quickly should decide to move forward with top dressing. It is work upfront but the benefits last for a really long time. It's one of the best things you can do for your turf. Thanks for watching my content. I really appreciate it. Let me know if I can answer any other questions. Let me know how your project progresses. 😎👍
Two question:
1. What is the coverage Cubic yards to Square Foot?
2. What is the max raise/level/top dressing you should do in one session?
Generally it's 1 cubic yard for every 1000 square feet. That will get you pretty close. As far as the max raise goes, you don't want to completely cover up the grass so in most cases no more than 1 inch at a time. If you're dealing with a slope you'll probably have to go lighter to prevent run off when it rains heavily.
It's definitely a multi-step process to get the best result. How many times you do it per season is based on how quickly your lawn recovers. I mowed my lawn the next day and it looks far, far better. You'll see when I post the update video.
How long it takes to recover is based on what you're starting with. Typically the healthier and flatter the lawn, the shorter the time to recover which means you can top dress again sooner.
Beautiful home and lawn. Loved the video, just found you and great job on the levelling. That is hard work, but worth it for sure! Cheers from Toronto, 🇨🇦 How’s things going out there in Atlanta?
Hi JP. Top dressing is a ton of work but the pay off makes it totally worth it. Things in Atlanta are ok. Weather is starting to get hot finally and we're getting rain weekly. That's a great combination for growing grass. 😎Thanks for the kind words. Let me know if I can help with anything. 👍
Looking forward to seeing how it turns out. How long do you think it will be before it fills in? 3 weeks? Temps are on the rise.
It should be much sooner than 3 weeks. I mowed the day after with the basket to catch the clippings and small twigs. I was seriously impressed with how quickly it's recovering. The better the lawn is to start, the faster it recovers assuming weather and moisture cooperate.
Hey what’s on the grass that’s crossing footprints… is it morning dew?
Yep! It’s morning dew. You can see why I’m mowing when there’s dew on the lawn in this video: ruclips.net/video/4ea-I0nZKnM/видео.html Appreciate you watching.
Hi Ron, I’m in Canada near Toronto. I bought my house 3 year ago and have done nothing much to my lawn since except mowing it and spread some seed (not knowing what was right). Anyway, my lawn if very uneven, (bumps and little dips). I know you can use a roller but does top dressing also level ground? Also, I have never aerated the lawn. I called a company and they said it’s best to do in May. But other lawns are growing like crazy around here and I’m just wondering how early you think one can do it? Also is that the time you do overseeding? That’s what they said. Lastly, the top dressing alone (material and service) is supposed to cost $200 CDn for a relatively small lawn. Do you think I should add top dressing to give it the best chance?
Hi SingleMom Love. May is better for top dressing / leveling since most lawns will recover faster once there's a bit more heat. If your lawn is actively growing you can level it but if you goal is to also overseed, I would probably wait until the end of this month. Top dressing certainly can't hurt with your seeding project. In most cases services use a mixture of soil and sand which is helpful when you're planting new seed. $200 CDn doesn't sound too bad at all. Around here it would cost much more than that. If you'd like to see what's involved in the process, check out this recent video that I did. I show how to level a slope without doing aerating. All you'll need is the leveling material and a leveling rake: ruclips.net/video/lOiblKMgqzM/видео.html Let me know if I can help with anything else. Thanks for watching the content. 👍😎
Hey Ron! Fellow neighbor here! Does the top dressing from Landscape plus have debris in it? It almost looks like chunks of mulch. Ive used the Green brothers mixture in the past but my reel mover hated the peanut shells mixed in with it.
Heya John. There is occasionally small debris in it. If you want the absolute cleanest material that's a 70 / 30 mix between quartz sand and humus compost, go with Soil3: ron-henry.com/topdressing It's what I'm going with this year.
@@RonHenry I saw that in a neighborhood post, very pricey though
It is definitely not cheap. This is hopefully the last time I top dress for a while so wanted to go with the best stuff I could get my hands on.
Hi Ron I’m née to the channel and learning a lot from your videos. I am located in Illinois. I own a yard waste recycling center and provide screened compost and also sell a lot of top soil.
I have always want to cater more to the professionals as far as mixing soil and organic compost. With that being said I have never tried any type of sand mix because all that is available to me in my area is a washed river sand. I was curious if it would be ok to start blending that with my top soil or would it be too course. I run all my products through a trimmer screen which makes a very manageable product for the homeowner and professional. Thanks in advance for any advice you could throw my way and keep up the great videos.
I’ve decided to get real involved in all your videos and knowledge and look forward to be more hands on myself instead of just a supplier!
Hi JJ. I think offering washed rivers sand mixed with compost would be a great idea. One of the challenges people have is finding a blend that’s already done. If it’s not a or of trouble for you to blend them, I think it would give you a leg up on the competition. Appreciate you watching the content. 😎
Hi Ron , nice videos. Have been helpful. Questions,
1. Does core aerating before top dressing helps ? Or is it a no no ?
2. In NC , is it too late to topdress in end of June ?
3. Any idea how much of sand mix will be required for each 1000 sq.ft ?
Thanks in advance brother!
Hi Duraisingam. Yep. Core aerating before top dressing helps a lot. The top dressing mix integrates better with the existing soil and helps prevent washout. It's not too late to top dress. Now is the perfect time of year. You'll want to get 1 cubic yard of top dressing mix per 1000 square feet. Here is a video that shows the entire process in detail: ruclips.net/video/AdB2HEUOEJg/видео.html Thanks for watching.
@@RonHenry Thank you Ron . Will give it a try and let you know how it goes.
Hi Ron. Got a question about lowering cut height. I normally cut my grass at 2 inches every three days. Haven’t cut my Bermuda grass in a week because of work. What’s the best way to get my grass down to 1 1/2 inches without browning. Thanks again.
Heya Teen Sonic. I would cut it at 3 inches the next time you mow, and then a couple days later mow again at your normal height. You'll want to work you way down to lower heights if you want to keep the grass green between mowings and also not stress the turf. If your goal is 1.5 inches, I would do that over 3 mowings or so. Keep in mind that the lower you go, the more frequently you'll need to mow. 1.5 isn't super low but it will still require mowings a couple times per week to keep the lawn looking nice. It's probably good to start considering PGR since that will give you a bit of flexibility should you miss a day or 2. It also helps the lawn look that much better as a side benefit. Deeper color, less seed heads, etc. If you're interested in learning more about T-Nex, check out this vid: ruclips.net/video/cbFqXziTcVo/видео.html 😎👍
Hey Ron. Love the content I’ve seen so far. I’m in Marietta, so nice to see our climate on RUclips. I noticed that you have quite a slope on your front lawn. My side yard has quite a similar slope. When it rained, the sand/soil mixture that I put down washed out a bit. I even aerated before hand. Do you have any other tips for leveling on a slope to avoid washout?
Heya Jordan. When it comes to top dressing a slope, I’ve found the best way is to build it up slowly. It’s not really possible to top dress a slope like you do flat turf. I’d also mow a touch taller in the slope areas since that will help the lawn hold onto the top dressing better. You’ll probably have to lightly top dress the slope area monthly just to slowly level and build up
the surface. That’s the strategy that I’ve found works best. Let me know if I can help with anything else. 👍😎
Ron Henry Thanks for the quick response. That’s a good idea. I will see if I can grow it up a bit more before I try again. I’m trying to revive my side yard where the skid steer went back and forth to remove some trees in my back yard. With this GA clay, it has been slow to spread into those nearly compacted bare areas. I’ll be sure to update once I try it out. Thanks again!
Sounds great Jordan. Let me know how it works out. 😎👍
Man I just pounded that button 💪🏽 great job! I’m totally motivated to use the sand mix , I have some deep 3-4 in. Ruts from erosion from this horrible winter we had here in Tennessee! Would a 50-50 mix work better as a base or all top soil?
Mrlove, I'd still opt for a mix with some sand in it. Going all top soil will feed the lawn very well but in a few months/years you'll end up with ruts again as the material breaks down. Adding some sand allows you to level the turf while also adding some organic material to boost soil health. I'd go with a mix. 👍🌿
Just found your channel. Excellent video Ron with some great tips. i have the large lawn level rake like that which you showed and it is great. Look forward to seeing more.
Thanks so much Joe. I really appreciate it. I recently picked up a lawn leveling rake.I'll be releasing a video on it here soon. Thanks for watching the content. Let me know if I can help with anything.
Nice intro, Ron.
Glad you like it! Hopefully not too corny! 🤣I wanted to have fun with it. Figure you guys might like something different.
Ron, I am doing a complete reseed in the spring with Yukon and granite from Hancock seeds. I am trying to take advantage of getting as much prep done during the nice days , would leveling /overdressed now be a issue? And seeding with a drop spreader do you still add sand to the seed?
Hi Mike. I wouldn't level your lawn until late Spring. May works well in most areas. You don't have to add sand, but I like to do it since it adds a bit more body.
@@RonHenry thanks love the channel.
Appreciate you watching. 🙏
Nice yard Ron - looking tight. How we’ll screened was that top dressing you purchased? I’m in ATL too and have had bad experience with lots of mulch. Any recommendations on a vendor?
Mine was decently screened. I had some small wood chips in mine but that's been the case every time my lawn has been top dressed. The place where I got the top dressing used in this video is Landscape Plus in Gainesville, GA - 770.967.3343. If you go with them, be sure to tell them Ron sent you! Let me know if I can help with anything else. 😎👍
Hi Ron. I ordered two bags of leveling mix and two big bags of humus from super sod.Should I put down leveling mix first ,water it in then back on top with the hummus or what do you suggest
Hi GMoney Drain. I would do the leveling mix first followed by the humus after. You can see the process I recommend along with how heavy to put it down here: ruclips.net/video/AdB2HEUOEJg/видео.html Thanks for watching. 🙏😎
Hey Ron, will this work with tall fescue? I want that turfy look but afraid of killing the grass. Thanks in advance big guy 🤙🏻
Heya Lammdawg. You can do this with tall fescue but you're going to go fairly light just like you do with Bermuda. In other words, you wouldn't apply more than 1/2" of top dressing material. What you'll get from doing it is a more even cut since your mower won't bounce in and out of ruts. You would still mow your fescue at 4 - 5 inches though. Fescue does better with higher heights of cut.
@@RonHenry Thanks!
Anytime sir. Thanks for watching.
@@RonHenry for sure 👍
What type of sand is in the 70/30 mix, is it just regular bank sand or something different?
Coarse grain sand. River or masonry sand usually.
New reel user here. Any concern with the small clumps of topsoil left on top when you are done hurting your reel?
Hi Eric. For any of the small wood chips, you can pick up as much of those possible. You want to avoid hitting stones with the mower since that can damage the reel or bed knife. My mower is due to go out for reel sharpening so that my plan is to defer that until after a few more mowings.
If you run over the clumps with your mower you're just more likely to dull it the reel. There shouldn't be any permanent damage. A good sharpening/backlap will get you back up to snuff.😎
Hey Ron, I have laid new sod this year. (Early summer) I plan on top dressing this upcoming spring when the grow season begins. I am also in Ga. Buford area. Can you tell me where you are acquiring your 70/30 mix of top dress material? Any help is much appreciated. BTW, love the videos, very informative.
Thanks,
TJ
Hi Tj. There are a few options. You can get a 70/30 mix from Landscape Plus in Gainesville, GA. Another option for a more premium mix is to go with Super Sod's level mix. It's what I used this year to top dress my lawn. Can get it here: ron-henry.com/topdressing
@@RonHenry Thank you Ron!!
@@tjkemp2959 Anytime!
Hi Ron, how much sand mix did you order for this top dressing project? I also had a tree removed from my front lawn but I'm not sure what's the minimum I can order. I dont want to be stuck with too much sand in my driveway.
Hi William. I ordered 3 cubic yards and as you probably saw, it wasn't quite enough for everything I was trying to do. It's really not that expensive. I think it was something like $110 for 3 cubic yards delivered. If you can pick it up yourself, it's far less. I think the minimum is one cubic yard. You'll always be able to find areas that could benefit from a little top dressing. 1 cubic yard isn't very much. Let me know if I can help with anything else. 😎
Hey Ron. Where did you get the sod dressing from? Do you recommend going with 100% for the first leveling job?
Hi Eric. I would do a mixture of sand and organic material (compost or topsoil) for your first time top dressing. I got mine from Landscape Plus in Gainesville, GA. Let me know if I can help with anything else.
Hey Ron! Found your channel by chance and it’s great! I’m building a putting green and need to smooth / level it out. Some areas have a 2” difference .What would you recommend for this? I have bentgrass planted and need it to look like your yard,lol!
Take a look at this video Mike: ruclips.net/video/VXy1B7B5rMI/видео.html It shows the top dressing process shown in this video in even greater detail. The video also shows how I seed after top dressing. Appreciate you reaching out and watching the content.
Thanks a lot Ron! Glad I subscribed to your channel, great stuff man!
Thanks for the supprt
Ron a crazy question is it certain type of soil you get to top dress? I am in northern Florida but have sandy soil
You want to use soil that’s compatible. Sand and topsoil mix will be fine for you sandy soil
Ron Henry one more question for today🤣🤣. When is a good time to top dress? Fall? Winter? Or spring?
Hi Charlene. Whenever the grass is actively growing. So really as long as you have 4 weeks of active growth after top dressing, you're good to go. For warm season grasses, I'd do me best to get it done before mid August.
Ron where did you order your top dress from? I would like to get some also. Thank you!
Hi John. I got it Landscape Plus in Gainesville, GA - 404) 787-4129 Ask for Mike. Let me know if I can help with anything else. 👍😎
@@RonHenry thanks Ron!
@@johnd9357 very welcome sir!
Ron, what company did you order your soil mixture from? Thanks for the information.
I got it from Landscape Plus in Gainesville, GA. Ask for Mike. He can take care of getting top dressing mix out to you. Let him know I sent you! 🌿😎
How soon can I top dress my lawn after seeding? I am asking because while I put new soil on top before I seeded, it's still a bit bumpy and has a few ruts from driving a lawn mower too early I guess when it was soggy still. Now the new grass is in and about a month old with a couple cuts in, is it ok to top dress now?
Hi Robert. Ideally you want the new grass to be somewhat established before top dressing. If you're not aerating it's less of an issue. I'd probably stay away from aeration unless the new grass is fully grown in and doing well. If you're just top dressing with no aeration should be ok.
@@RonHenry yeah no aeriating, just want to level better, get rid of bumps for my Greens master per your video 😉
@@RobertTheFriscoSchmid nice. In that case, you should be good to go. Let me know how the project works out and if I can help answer anything else.
@@RonHenry Material is here, more like 50 organic material and 50 sand, and started spreading, hopefully done tomorrow. Saw your video where you cut the lawn the next day with your reel mower ... You recommend I put my Toro Greensmaster on it also a day later? My lawn for sure is NOT as smooth as yours so worried a little. THANKS for your thoughts.
Hi Robert. If your lawn isn’t smooth, I wouldn’t put the greensmaster on an uneven lawn the next day. Give it a week or so depending on how the grass is growing before cutting. If you do it too early, you’ll end up having to take the greensmaster in for reel sharpening. Over the course of the week be sure to get all the large
pieces of bark and organic material off the turf before mowing. 👍😎
Any points of difference for top dressing with top soil rather than sand?
Reid, straight sand is great for leveling because it doesn't break down nearly as quickly as top soil does. So if only leveling uneven areas is your goal then straight sane is the ticket. By adding a bit of top soil, you're adding some organic material so that's helping to improve the health of the soil which is better for your turf. I wouldn't do straight soil for top dressing. A 70/30 or up to a 50/50 blend for top dressing. It's a good compromise. If you're looking to fill in a deep rut, you could start with straight sand and then use a top dressing blend on top of it. Hope this helps. 😎👍
I’m in Georgia, what’s the name of the company you purchasedthe leveling mix from?
Hi Chris. Landscape Plus in Gainesville GA
What kind of mower your neighbor have and also you have
Keejay we both have Tru Cuts. I have a C25 and Alex has a C27. ruclips.net/video/rY2d4SJFscE/видео.html
Hey Ron, I've been researching top dressing in GA for next season and SuperSod seems to have a pretty good organic compost and a level mix. Have you ever used their Soil3?
Hi Stevan. I've not used Soil3 before. That said, I've looked into the product and it appears to primarily be a compost (i.e. 100% organic). It'd would be ok to mix it with river sand to create your top dressing mix. I wouldn't use it alone though. Being 100% organic means that it will break down much faster than sand will which means you'll have to level your lawn again. As a means of adding nutrients and organic material to the soil it's great. I just wouldn't top dress only with it. Hope this helps.
@@RonHenry For sure 👍 thanks for the prompt reply. They also have the level 70/30 level mix which is what I was strongly considering. Trying to get my yard to your "level" Ron😁
@@stevanvelazquez2043 a 70/30 mix should work fine Stevan.
Love ur. channel ! Had a question , do u ever topdress with peatmoss, after reseeding? Property is too big to do with sand.
Hi Vincent. No I've never top dressed with peatmoss. I can see using peat moss as a means of adding organic material to the soil but not so much for leveling. It will break down fairly quickly and you'll end up right back where you started. Sand is a better choice even if you have to do it in sections. Thanks so much for watching the channel. I really appreciate the support.
@@RonHenry thx Ron was busy just now watching ur other videos!! Ur lawn is beautiful. Like the way u explain things , clear and concise, now back to watching more of ur videos , thx again
Thanks Vincent. Let me know if I can answer anything. 👍😎
@@RonHenry 👍👍will do
🙏😎
What burmuda seed to you overseed with? What is a good reel mower you'd recommend?
Heya Charles. I overseeded with Arden 15. As far as reel mowers, I think the Tru-Cut represents good value for money. You can pick them up pretty inexpensively and they are pretty much bulletproof with decent maintenance. Are you considering going to a reel mower?
Ron Henry yea possibly. Not likely this year, unless I come across one at the right price. Thanks for your videos. You are clear and concise. I used Tnex on a test portion last week. Awesome results so far. Biggest challenge at the moment is getting my burmuda to spread and thicken up under my maple trees. I have then trimmed high and the lawn gets full sum from 6am-12 then partial sun until 4pm. I have to get my yard top dressed and leveled good before I go to a real mower. 3/4in is low as I can go and it looks bad that low because of the lumps. 1 1/4 looks good.
Thanks for the kind words Charles. Glad that you're having good results with T-Nex. Getting Bermuda to grow in shaded areas is going to be a real challenge. It really needs direct sunlight to do well which a maple tree is going to hurt. Hopefully your tree trimming work is enough to do the trick. Let me know how it works out. Once you get a reel mower, you'll be really happy you did. Your approach off getting the lawn in a good spot ahead of time though is a good plan. Let me know how it works out. 👍😎
I want to add grass seed to my present lawn and then top dress what do you suggest?
Hi Charlene. With you having centipede and Bahia, i'm not sure that adding an additional type would yield a good results. If you now which type of Bahia grass you have, you could overseed with more of it. amzn.to/3eFtrTh It would be good to know what your goals are for the lawn so that we can create a good plan to help you meet them. I'd want to make sure that soil is healthy and that the lawn is reasonably level (if that's what you want) before we start introducing additional seed. I would top dress and then seed once the top dressing mix is applied. You'll have fresh organic material applied to the lawn which will help the new seed to do better.
Ron Henry. It was in a bag called Pent?? Really not sure. I looked up princess 77 and I do not think it that. It is beautiful and thick but when it need cutting I call it has “rabbit ears” (ole term used). Now that I think about it that is the seeding stage. 😚
Ron Henry I just ordered soil test. I will stick to plan of working with grass closer and around the house is about 1.5 acres. I bought the 2soil kit pack with soil probe.
Awesome Charlene. The soil test results will let you know what the soil needs to do a better job growing grass. They're really easy to understand. Let me know if you need any help.
Ron Henry Thank you Ron! I binge watch your videos. I mailed soil test June 29th. Should I sign online to see results?
A golf leveling rake would have done a better job than the landscaping rake but looking good
Thanks Elder. The leveling rakes are pretty nice but they can also be pretty expensive from what I've seen. Anywhere from $150 - $250 vs. < $70 for the landscaping rake. Great point though.
Whic part of the US this is? we call houses like this a mansion in the UK! The lawn looks so fab!
This is in Georgia. I can assure you that in Georgia, this house is in no way considered a mansion. Not even close. 😎I appreciate the kind words about the lawn. What kind of grass are you working with in the UK?
I don’t know exactly but it is a Kentucky blue grass verity growing on very clay soil, it is definitely crying out for topdressing. This video really helpful for a first time DIYer, thanks for this :)
Awesome Kovi! If you decide to top dress this season, be sure to let me know how it works out for you. KBG is a really nice grass type. 👍
Who did you purchase your topdressing from? How much did it cost?
Hi Andrew. I got it from Landscape Plus in Gainesville, GA. It was just over $100 for 2 yards. A lot of that cost was getting it delivered. That gives you an idea. The price will vary depending on how far away you are and how much you're getting.
Ron Henry thanks so much. I’ve used a local place to me but they want $74 a yard for it. Plus a $25 delivery. I’ve used some other stuff locally but it wasn’t considered topdressing, it didn’t have any sand plus I had to screen it to get the bigger wood waste out of the product.
No problem at all Andrew. Landscape Plus has lots of options. From 100% sand to a blend. Let me know how it works out for you once you get your delivery. 👍😎
When is the best time to top dress in South Carolina?
Hi Taraze79. You want to top dress when the grass is actively growing so that it will recover faster. In South Carolina that means the months of May and June. That’s warm enough that the turf should bounce back quickly while also being able to benefit from free water from spring showers. It’s one of the best things you can do for a Bermuda or Zoysia lawn. Let me know if I can help with anything else. Thanks for watching the content. Appreciate the support. 👍😎
Can you top dress over a 3 inch cut?
You certainly can Sean. It’s just easier to level the underlying turf with the grass a bit shorter. The leveling rake works better at lower heights of cut.
What’s there rasp of sand and what
Sand and compost
Can you mix Kentucky and burmuda?
Hi Jay Jay. You technically can, but I really wouldn't. One is a warm season grass and one is cool season. I don't know that you'd ever be able to get the lawn looking consistent. Depending one where you are in the country, I'd just pick one and stick with it. I'm sure others will chime in though. 😎👍
What time of the year is best time to top dress??
Hi Eddie. For warm season grass, now is great. Pretty much whenever the turf is actively growing so that it will recover faster. If you're considering it and you have a warm season grass like Bermuda, I would go for it now.
@@RonHenry
Ron,
I'm trying to get my strategy planned for next year.
I'm in central TX and the heat is coming on..
But I guess it would be wise in early spring to aerate, throw down Fert and then top dress??
By the way I just found your channel and I really enjoy it.
You keep it original!!!
Like BYD does...
Eddie. That does sound good. It's not too late to top dress this year if you still wanted to do it. The grass is actively growing so top dressing is still a go if you wanted to do it. Thanks so much for watching the content. I really appreciate it.
I live in GA as well. Where did you order your top dressing from?
Sure Juan. I got my top dressing from Landscape Plus in Gainesville - 770.967.3343. Be sure to let them know I sent you!😎 Let me know if I can help with anything else.
Hi Juan. I ordered it from Landscape Plus in Gainesville, GA. If you go with them, tell em Ron sent you! 😎👊
I did 5 tons on Saturday, how are you feeling today?! It's a good workout for sure
Duuuuude. My lower right back is soooooooore. :-) That's quite the workout especially if you're doing the casting method with a shovel. It's totally worth it though. How did you put your top dressing down?
@@RonHenry I used a 7 cu ft gorilla cart and cast it and dumped it. Then I spread it out with a leveling rake and broom. I did have a helper (we did it all in like 5 hours). The video is up on my channel if you want to check it out, it's short and sweet. Your lawn is looking good man, save me some ibuprofen haha!
Just watched your video man. Very concise and to the point. I'm obviously way too long-winded. Ha🤣 Great video. Keep it up.
@@RonHenry thanks for checking it out man, yeah I usually keep them pretty short since I'm not great on camera haha. I think I am pretty close if ya ever want to borrow the leveling rake just lmk!
Bermuda Boss you’re in Georgia? Whereabouts?
What organic material are you using.
Hi Wayne. Just clean top soil. Top soil mixed with sand is a great top dressing mix.
That’s insane when you put your finger down on the turf. Less than half a inch. That’s doesn’t register up north yonder here. We cut ours 3-4inches high in the dry spells of the summer so it doesn’t burn the grass. Especially if you don’t have a irritation system.
Thanks Kiddro22. Yeah it's very different here. Keep in mind that what you're seeing on Alex and my lawn isn't typical for most warm season lawns. Most people my their lawns at 2 - 3 inches. Bermuda really thrives at lower mowing heights though. It acts like natural weed control because most weeds won't tolerate being cut at those low cutting heights. It's also a pretty serious mowing commitment. Looks awesome though once you get the lawn to this level. Thanks for watching sir. I appreciate the support.
@@RonHenry You bet!💯
🙏😎
How soon will you mow those areas that were top dressed?
I mowed the entire lawn the following day. I'll provide an update later this week to show you guys the results. I shot video following the lawn being mowed. How often would you guys like to see top dressing updates? Weekly?
Ron Henry biweekly
Sounds good Khairul. Hopefully you just caught my 1 month top dressing update here: ruclips.net/video/0J1ckfYhXhw/видео.html
Do it work for Florida at
At.augustine grass?
Yes Randol. It will work for St. Augustine grass too.
I have one other problem my lawn has brown spots on tips of grass? What can I use?
Hi Randol. It depends on what the brown spots are from. It could be from fungus, grub worms, or possibly some foreign material under the lawn. Has the grass ever grown well in that area or are the brown spots a new thing?
Ron Henry , I tried putting down a fungicide on it . I’ll see if it goes away the grass seems ok but the top blades has brown look on leaves on the tips.
I ordered the soil kit to find out why lawn not growing healthy
Where do you get your top dressing from?
Hi Bruce. I got it from Landscape Plus in Gainesville GA. They sell both a soil sand mix as well as 100% river sand. Just depends on what you want.
@@RonHenry thanks appreciate it. Keep up the good work on the videos. I really enjoy the content
@@brucex88 thanks so much Bruce. I really appreciate it. Thanks for watching.
Hey , I am in Florida will that work for st.augustine lawn?
Yes it will Randol. You can still level a St. Augustine lawn. Obviously because St. Aug is typically mowed higher doesn't mean you can apply several inches of top dressing. You still want to lightly top dress the turf and level the uneven spots like what you saw in the video. You should still get a great result. Let me know if I can help with anything else. 😎👍
Is it too late to top dress yard? August
Unless you're doing it this weekend Frank it is getting a bit late for warm season grass.
@@RonHenry thanks, I’ll just wait till next season. But would it be ok to aerate? Reason I’m late is it seemed my yard took a while to wake up. I have Bermuda in front but zoysia in back. Both look good but I have quite a few leveling issues. PS I’m throughly enjoying your channel👍🏾
@@Fkwallace2 Sure Frank. Aeration should be ok. If you went LIGHT on the leveling work, you'll be ok. It just would have been better to do in July vs now. Hope this helps. Appreciate you watching.
Can I grow tall fescue in port saint lucie florida?
Should be able to Joey. The weather and temps should work well. Do you have irrigation?
@@RonHenry yes sir i do
@@RonHenry Even though its a cool season grass? or do i have to water 2x a day?
Should be good to go then Joey just want to make sure you have a way to keep the turf hydrated I’m summer months
@@kevindaniels4302 in summer heat, you'll definitely watering a lot. While not as pretty St. Aug is a better fit based on where you are. Tall Fescue is arguably prettier than St. Aug but it's going to take a lot more water to keep it happy.
When is the best time to put this stuff down?
Hi Ken. Whenever the lawn is actively growing is best. Anytime between May - August will work for warm season grass. I tend to do it earlier in the season but any time the grass is actively growing is ok. Let me know if I can help with anything else. 👍😎
Those beds tho. 🤪😂
See.. See... The pressure washing wasn't enough eh? 😂👍
Ron Henry crazy thing is Ron, you already know... you can appreciate all the work you put in and see everything coming together but it’s hard if not impossible to see all the little flaws. So many folks will say how good it looks and in your mind you’ve got 50 things bothering you. Keep it up, all my comments about anything critical are taken in good humor. I really appreciate you, and congrats on your consistent channel growth.
@@Jknudsen0523 The thing is if I fix the beds, I'm not sure what you guys would come back with next. I'm almost afraid to find out. 🤣 It might be good to keep them as the distraction right? Thanks for keeping me honest man. I'm really enjoying the channel. It's fun making content and interacting with everyone.
Ron Henry probably some obscure personal criticism that has nothing to do with the lawn. Hahahahah
You’re not wrong. They’d come back with asking me to purposely plant weeds or something crazy. 🤓
What town are you in?
Hi MatthewinGA. Gainesville area. You?
Ron Henry: same, Oakwood side, Mundy Mill & Atl Hwy.
@@matthewinga9546 Very cool man. Small world!
I just threw some sand down. You always need more sand than you think!
You're not wrong Scott. I learned for next time. I should have gotten 3 yards.
ALWAYS!!
This is true. More sand is better than less sand. 😎
When is the best time to level your Bermuda grass
Hi Alejandro. When the lawn is actively growing with 4 weeks of growth left after top dressing. Late spring is usually when most people do it. May and June is when most people do it. That said, I top dressed my lawn the middle of last month without issue.
Tired me out just watching! Guess I'll have a slug of Bourbon to relax! LOL. Just think, if you do this 2X per year for 20 years, you will have a pool table flat lawn!
Wow. Just wow. Now before you hit send on the comment, did you ask yourself if that was nice Richard? 😂The bad part is now I really want to do the rest of it. It could probably benefit from being top dressed. What do you think?
@@RonHenry Top dressing can do wonders. Unfortunately, it's a rather labor intensive task. Luckily, you are young, strong and full of P & V. LOL. My mind says yes I can... my body says no way Jose. LOL
I totally here you there. I might as well enjoy it while I can. Do you think I could benefit from a nematode treatment even with not signs of damage? Any recommendations?
@@RonHenry I spent over 40 years messing with this turf in Florida. Nematodes were a serious problem there. There were several species (lance, lesion, sting, root knot, etc.) that damaged turf. The problem arises when treatments were warrantied. Golf turf had different products labeled and legal, compared to homeowner turf. The only way to tell for sure is to have a nematode assay done to determine species and populations. If levels are high (and potentially damaging), then a course of action could be implemented.
@@RonHenry Lest you think I am full of BS and a RUclips warrior, send me a personal message and I will describe my education and experience in the field. BTDT.
Isaiah?
Not sure who that is Big Red.
Dude, you have too much square footage to be levelling your lawn like this. Constructing a leveller from wood (plenty DIY videos on RUclips) would speed up your levelling process unless you are doing it this way for exercise. But, good video.
Great points Lloyd. I was only doing small areas of the lawn in this video. I've since purchased a leveling rake that will make an appearance in an upcoming video. It definitely makes life much easier! Produces a smoother result too. Thanks for commenting. 👍😎
It's too bad all of you U-tuber turf guys can't pick up a top dressing machine for everybody to use on a rotational basis. That hand shoveling will turn your back into mush... when you get old like me!
Hahahha. You’re right about that Richard. My lower back is still sore. I can’t imagine what a top dressing machine goes for. It’s definitely make life easier! 😎
@@RonHenry I reckon they can be had for $6-7K. The ones I have used have a conveyor type belt to move the product and a spinning brush to throw it down into the turf. A very nifty machine.
BTW, I meant to ask you if you have ever had any nematode issues on your bermuda?
6 - 7k? Ouchie. I bet it does a really nice job covering the lawn though. It sounds slick.
Haven't had issues with nematodes that I can tell. I put down Caravan. G at the start of the season though which is an insecticide. I don't think it treats for nematodes though. Do you think I should apply something like Divanem as a preventative measure?