Lawn Top Dressing with Compost
Lawn top dressing is the practice of spreading a thin layer of compost over an existing lawn -- typically 1/4 to 1/2 inch. It improves soil structure, adds nutrients, reduces thatch, and creates ideal conditions for overseeding. It's the professional lawn care technique most homeowners don't know about, and it's remarkably effective.
The key is thin application -- you want the grass blades to poke through the compost, not be buried by it. Use finely screened compost (1/4-inch screen) and spread with a compost spreader or by shoveling small piles and raking them out. A 2,000 sq ft lawn at 1/4 inch needs about 1.5 cubic yards; at 1/2 inch, about 3 cubic yards.
The best time to top-dress is fall, before overseeding. The compost protects the seed, retains moisture, and provides nutrients as the new grass establishes. Spring top-dressing works too but can encourage weed germination along with the grass.