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Top Dressing
with Compost

Improve soil quality, strengthen roots, and encourage thicker, healthier turf with professional compost top dressing.

Top dressing is ideal for lawns that are generally healthy but need a boost.  It improve soil conditions so grass can grow thicker and reduce future weed pressure.

What Top Dressing Does

Top dressing adds a thin layer of compost to the lawn surface to improve growing conditions at the root level.

  • Improve soil structure and moisture retention

  • Encourage deeper root growth and thicker turf

  • Improve surface smoothness and fill minor imperfections

Why Compost and not Just Fertilizer

Top dressing improves soil and turf health over time. Unlike synthetic fertilizers or quick-feed lawn treatments that wash away, our compost becomes part of the soil — improving structure, moisture retention, and long-term turf performance well beyond a single season when paired with proper watering and mowing.

How Top Dressing Helps with Weeds

Top dressing does not kill or remove weeds.

However, healthier soil and stronger grass create better growing conditions for turf, making it harder for weeds to take over once weed pressure is under control. For best results, top dressing is often combined with weed control or used as part of a longer-term lawn care plan. 

Applying compost over a lawn with moderate to heavy weed pressure can allow existing weeds to continue growing alongside new grass. If your lawn has moderate weed pressure, we recommend reducing weed pressure through our lawn care program before top dressing. Lawns with heavy weed infestation are better suited for a full Lawn Transformation.

Our Process

  • Lawn evaluation and preparation

  • Compost applied evenly using professional spreading equipment

  • Worked lightly into the lawn to reach the roots

Each lawn is treated based on size, access, and site conditions.

What Top Dressing Looks Like

Real results from Edmonton lawns (2025).

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Results on an established lawn with minimal weeds — improved color, density, and soil performance within 4 weeks with proper homeowner care.

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Example shown on an already healthy lawn. Compost top dressing helped maintain turf density and color during peak summer heat — demonstrating how proper care and improved soil conditions support resilience during stress periods.

Pricing

1 cubic yard: Starting at $350

2 cubic yards: $575

3 cubic yard: $790

4+ cubic yards: Custom Quote

Coverage guideline:

I cubic yard generally covers approximatively 1000-2000 sq ft, depending on application, depth and lawn condition

What Affect Pricing

Lawn size, access, and site conditions

 

Large lawns & acreage

We're equipped for large scale top dressing projects. Acreages and oversized lawns near Edmonton are quoted based on logistics and access

When Top Dressing Works Best

Top dressing is most effective for lawns that:

  • Are mostly grass, but thin, tired, or compacted

  • Are already under control or maintenance

  • Need soil improvement without full transformation

When Top Dressing Is Not the Right Solution

Top dressing does not:

  • Kill or remove existing weeds

  • Fix severe lawn damage, pest infestations, or bare soil

  • Replace proper weed control or full lawn transformation when needed

Lawns with heavy weed pressure, insect damage, or severe thinning often require weed control, treatments or a full lawn transformation for best results. 

What to Expect

We use high-quality, locally sourced compost. As with all municipal compost products, a small amount of incidental debris may occasionally be present. We perform a visual inspection and removal during application. Additional screening options are available upon request. 

Ready to Improve Your Lawn?

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