Topsoil and Sand for Building and Nourishing Lawns

Our topsoils have been used locally by homeowners, gardeners, and landscape supply companies.

Mounding and Building Yards

• If you need a basic fill for your yard, our fill dirt is the way to go. It contains sandy loam and various sizes of round rock. It may also contain organic materials such as decomposed wood.
• Our Two Way Topsoil is an inexpensive way to mound and build up areas. It is a screened sandy loam. Our topsoil has been used to grow new lawns by commercial developers.

• TOP DRESSING (2 way soil OR Oly Fish Compost)
  • Topdressing materials are evenly applied in a thin layer, typically ¼ inch (6.35 mm) or less, for a variety of purposes.
  • Or mix together fish compost and 2-way soil
  • Mid-Fall to top dress or spring
  • We recommend 2-way because most of the soil in the Seattle area has clay so you need to add sand.
  • Aerate
    • If your lawn has more than ½ inch of thatch, dethatch or core aerate your lawn first. Dethatching will leave a lot of debris on the surface, so you will need to remove it before mowing or top dressing. That can be done in the next step.
  • Mow the lawn as low as possible without stressing the grass too much.
    • Bag or remove all of the grass clippings and dethatching debris, if you haven't already done so.
  • TOP-Dress: Working a few square feet at a time, shovel out a small mound (maybe 2-3 shovelfuls) of mixture onto your lawn. Spread the soil using something flat, like the back side of a heavy garden rake, working it into aeration holes and covering low spots. Make sure the top-dressing is no more than 1” deep (preferably ½” or less) over the existing grass.
  • Water and Adjust At this point you’re technically finished, but in my experience a good top-dressing mixture does some settling. I would recommend watering the area well (or top-dressing before a nice rain), letting the mixture settle for a day or two, then go back with your rake and smooth out any little hollows or bumps that may develop
  • Plant Grass if Needed Now you can replant grass in any bare spots. Existing grass should be able to grow through as much as an inch of top-dressing.
  • How Often to Top-Dress Trouble spots may need repeat applications, but regular, uniform top-dressing does not need to be an annual tradition. Keep in mind that you’re adding soil, which over time will raise your grade and affect thatch breakdown and soil ecology, so don’t go overboard. Plan several light applications for troublesome yards, rather than one deep one. For overall organic soil amendment, a very light application of top-dressing brushed into aeration holes can improve the soil without raising the grade.
  • Reasons to Top Dress your lawn
    • Top dressing adds organic matter to soils.
    • Top dressing can build up the soil flora.
    • Top dressing combined with core aeration can place organic material deeper into the soil.
    • Organic top dressing can change soil structure.
    • Compost top dressing with the right biological components can help reduce lawn diseases.
    • Adding compost helps reduce traffic stress.
    • Compost incorporated into heavy soils helps relieve compaction problems.
    • Compost incorporated into sandy soils helps with water retention.
    • Top dressing with the right materials can help reduce the need for fertilizer.
    • Top dressing can help reduce thatch.