Is now a good time to spread compost on lawn?

17 years ago

My newly established lawn (last September) is just starting to show signs of distress due to heat, at least I think it's heat related. It sits in full sun and is getting a slight salt & pepper look to it as one of the cultivars in the mix is turning a little brownish. It's otherwise in great shape. The soil is teaming with worms, and its by far the nicest, greenest lawn on the block.

That all being said, I have a nice pile of finished compost sitting around doing nothing. With the summer about to heat up, would this be a good time to spread around a 1/4 or so of the compost on the lawn? Does it help the lawn in anyway with dealing with the heat?

It's 3 types TTTF and one KBG variety. I mow it at 3.5". So far all I've done it applied Ringers once in the spring. Mother nature's been supplying a good inch of rain every 10 days or so. I'm fairly new to the organic lawn care program and don't want to botch this all up out of ignorance.

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Comments (7)

dchall_san_antonio
17 years ago
Compost works best on lawns NOT on an organic program. If you've already been using organic fertilizer, there is no need for compost. But to specifically answer your question, any day of the year is an okay day to apply compost.
swanz
17 years ago
It's normal for some of the grasses in the mix to go a bit brown
and dormant when the heat gets extreme.The compost is a great
slow constant feeder and will also help in moisture retention.
It's also great in helping plants/including grass resist disease.
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Kimmsr
17 years ago
If your lawn is beginning to look stressed Ma Nature is not supplying sufficient moisture and it needs supplemental moisture, however adding compost, if you have it to spare, now would be good as long as the lawn does get sufficient moisture.
kingleo1_aol_com
17 years ago
I've been researching this question, and have found conflicting answers. PLANTANSWERS.COM, and the Virginia COOP both say Don't put compost on Established lawns, as they feel it will create excess thatch. But this site and some others have said it's OK to lay a thin layer (1/4") of sifted compost as a top dressing.
I would think Fall is a good time to do this, while the grass is going dormant. This would allow the nutrients in the compost to get into the topsoil (after aeration) and help nourish the grass roots.
My yard has a few isolated areas which are perpetually drought stressed and prone to compaction. I'm planning to try this compost-as-topdressing on those areas this fall.
Opinions?
Kimmsr
17 years ago
Compost will not contribute to thatch and in fact compost, because it is introducing more bacteria, will help eliminate thatch already present, all other factors being equal. The most bestest time to feed a lawn is just before it goes into winter dormancy, mid October to mid Novemeber so the grass crowns have enough time to store the nutrients in that food in the crowns so they are ready in the spring to grow.
cobalt_blue
17 years ago
"Compost works best on lawns NOT on an organic program. If you've already been using organic fertilizer, there is no need for compost. But to specifically answer your question, any day of the year is an okay day to apply compost."

dchall, wouldn't a top dressing of compost be beneficial to a lawn that has been on an organic program only for a short time? Wouldn't this help things along as far as getting the soil into better shape? I've been under the impression that a top dressing of compost would over time help loosen up heavy clay soil.

I've been planning to do this fall once I've finished transplanting and pruning.

If this isn't going to be of much help I'll save my compost for beds and such.

What say you sir? :)
inlikeflint
12 years ago
I personally think that anytime of the year is great for compost applications too. You may want to rake your lawn before you add your compost. Compost lasts longer than chemical fertilizers. The sulfates and nitrates wash way and deeper into the soil with every rain so you get an quick result as opposed to compost that lasts for years.

**********************************************************

Fall fertilizing for lawns and shrubs begins in October...
You will need aprox 4lbs of screened compost per every 100 square feet of lawn. The amount can be increased or decreased depending on the condition of lawn. ~Rodale & Staff Pg. 285-287.

With compost, you should use it generously in your applications to yeaild the best results. ~Rodale & Staff Pg. 285-287.

J.I. Rodale & Staff, The Complete Book of Composting, 1971 (Pennsylvania: Rodale Books, Inc.), 8.

Here is a link that might be useful: Amazon.com

Is now a good time to spread compost on lawn?

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dchall_san_antonio

swanz

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