Why Do We Topdress Our Greens

The concept of topdressing is common for turfgrass managers and golfers these days. Management trends have changed from applying 60/40 or 80/20 dressing. This is now virtually unheard of and has evolved to pure sands. Creating a smooth the putting surface where you obtain a true roll and greater distance of ball roll is the most commonly known benefit.

By not applying organic matter in the dressing we can dilute the thatch layer above your root zone far quicker. Sand gives us the desired firmer putting surfaces, which in turn allows us to get closer heights of cut due to less thatch and puffiness.

We want to avoid heavy applications of sand early in the season which buries the thatch layer, and allows a new thatch layer to establish between topdressing again in the fall. These practices used to be common and would create a layering effect in the upper most portion of the rootzone. This is not desirable for the plants roots and leads to unhealthy turf and poor drainage.

Grass cultivars are also changing our management strategies of topdressing. The old style of infrequent and heavy applications just isn’t possible with the newer dense bentgrass cultivars with their aggressive growing habits. Light applications of finer sands are now being used with greater effectiveness. The reason for this is the sand has to be worked into the canopy for best results. By diluting the thatch this also helps to protect the plants crown and stand the grass up to obtain tighter cutting heights.

As mentioned, the best results occur when sand is worked into the canopy. Verticutting before an application drastically helps. Dry topdressing is best; either a broom or drag mat can work in a light application of around 1/16 inch quickly. Play can follow immediately after which wouldn’t be possible with a heavy application. These light dressings can be applied throughout the growing season as often as required to dilute present thatch or to help improve surface drainage (thatch can act as a barrier to water, slowing infiltration rates, by diluting it, this gives us our improved surface drainage) and when conditions allow.

Research at The Pennsylvania State University found that after applying both heavy and light topdressings, pace of the greens did reduce until the sand was incorporated into the canopy; after which the pace increased. Around 10 days has to be given to obtain the best results for speed increase. Therefore topdressing should not be done too close to a competition.


The topdressing you use has to be compatibility with your rootzone so as you don’t create further problems. It can be an expensive undertaking for a golf course to topdress frequently and lightly. Golfers gain the benefits with more consistent and better conditions through the season with this adapted management practice.