How deep should top dressing be?

Apply 5-10 mm at a time. For severely uneven lawns, repeat every 4-6 weeks during the growing season. Never bury the grass completely.

What is the best top dressing mix?

A standard mix is 70% sharp sand, 20% loam, and 10% peat-free compost. Match the mix to your soil type — sandy soils need more loam.

Top dress in autumn (September-October) or spring (April-May) when grass is actively growing. Avoid summer heat and winter dormancy.

Yes. Scarify first to remove thatch, then overseed if needed, then apply top dressing. This is the ideal autumn lawn renovation sequence.

September to October is ideal in the UK. The soil is warm, rain helps settle the dressing, and grass is actively growing to recover quickly.

Calculate how much top dressing mix to level and improve your lawn.

Lawn Area

Application Depth

Mix Type

Include 10% wastage

Volume = Area × Depth (converted to metres). Depth is usually expressed in mm for top dressing.

The mix ratios are: Standard (70% sand, 20% loam, 10% compost), Sandy (80/10/10), Rich (50/30/20).

Results are given in litres and 25L bags for easy purchasing.

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates based on standard gardening guidelines. Results may vary with soil conditions, climate, and plant varieties.