Topdressing
Topdressing is the practice of adding a fine layer of compost and grass seed to your lawn in spring or in autumn after you have thatched. By topdressing you are adding nutrients back into the soil while improving overall soil health and increasing the water retention capabilities. The grass seed provides an over seeding application. Lawns with poor soil can be improved by adding these organic nutrients. MCS Inc. can help you prepare a yearly lawn maintenance program without the need for chemical fertilizers.
Benefits of Topdressing/Lawn Renovation:
• Increases organic matter content of soil.
• Improves soil percolation rate.
• Increases water holding capacity of soil.
• Reduces soil compaction.
• Improves turf rooting and durability.
• Reduces thatch.
• Supplies plant nutrients.
• Can biologically control certain turf diseases
Why Topdress instead of fertilize?
When a lawn is introduced to chemical fertilizers it becomes dependent on them for nutrients. These nutrients are introduced at the soil surface and do not percolate very deep into the subsoil, as a result up to 80% of the fertilizer can be washed away through regular lawn watering or rain events. Because the fertilizer never reaches deep into the subsoil the roots of the grass have no reason to grow any deeper. This shallow rooting structure makes grass more susceptible to draught and disease pressure and creates a thin lawn.
Creating a sustainable lawn.
By using topdressing as a fertilizer replacement you will be creating a lawn that is able to sustain itself year after year with minimal maintenance. The layer of compost applied to your lawn will help to increase the organic matter and water retention capabilities of your soil. By increasing organic matter you will be making your soil naturally healthy. Beneficial bacteria, fungi and bugs will thrive; worms will aerate the soil and excrete highly nutritious casings further increasing the organic matter and health of your soil. The grass roots will grow deeper to access the held water and nutrients that are now present throughout the soil profile not just at the surface as with chemical fertilizers.
Keeping weeds down naturally.
Weed prevention and elimination is an important aspect of lawn maintenance no matter what method you chose to use. MCS Inc. can help control weeds in your lawn without using synthetic herbicides. By creating a thick lawn you are already taking the first step to creating a weed free lawn. A lush lawn can keep weed seeds from contacting the soil or out compete the weed for resources. Not allowing a weed to become established is a sure way to keep it from taking over your lawn. There are organic weed killers and preventors on the market and they are always a better alternative to synthetic chemical herbicides. The bottom line is a healthy lawn will stay fairly weed free on its own.
Keeping pollutants out of waterways.
Nutrient pollution in the United States has led to the degradation of waterways for more than a decade. Excess phosphorous and nitrogen runoff from farms and lawns is one of the major contributing factors to these high levels of pollution. By eliminating the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers we can help reduce the pollutant load in our waterways and make them safer for people and animal alike.
