Buying guide
Top dressing vs turf underlay
Top dressing goes onto an existing lawn. Turf underlay is the soil base prepared before new turf is laid. Start with the stage of your lawn project, then choose a blend that suits your grass and existing soil.
| Your project | Top dressing | Turf underlay |
|---|---|---|
| When it is used | On an established lawn. | Before laying new turf. |
| What it does | Helps correct minor unevenness or add organic matter, depending on the blend. | Forms the prepared growing base beneath the turf. |
| Before ordering | Check the grass type, lawn condition and purpose of the treatment. | Confirm the soil blend, preparation and depth with your turf supplier or installer. |
Choosing top dressing for an existing lawn
Decide whether you want to improve the surface levels or add organic matter. A sand-based blend and a compost-rich blend serve different priorities. Top dress while the grass is actively growing, apply a light layer and keep the grass tips exposed. A healthy, level lawn may not need top dressing.
80/20 Top Dressing
Approximately 80% sand and 20% soil, for levelling and top dressing existing lawns. Tell our team if you use a cylinder mower before choosing this blend.
Premium Organic Top Dressing
Fine compost and screened sand, with a higher organic content than 80/20 Top Dressing. Discuss your lawn condition and whether adding organic matter is the priority.
Using a cylinder mower? Our 80/20 Top Dressing can contain tiny quartz pieces that screening cannot remove. Let our team know so we can discuss a fine-sand option before you order.
Choosing underlay before laying new turf
Choose the growing base before the turf arrives. Your existing soil, turf variety, drainage and finished levels matter. Confirm the preparation and required depth with your turf supplier or installer, then measure the area you need to cover.
Premium 50/50 Turf Underlay
Screened sand, soil and composted organic matter for preparing a base beneath new turf. Compare it with the sandier 80/20 blend for your project.
80/20 Turf Underlay
80% sand and 20% organic matter for lawn projects that call for a sandier blend. Confirm the soil requirements for your turf variety before ordering.
For bulking and site preparation, you can also compare Commercial Underlay, a separate low-organic recycled soil. Confirm its suitability and ask for current certification documents when your project requires them.
Are the two 80/20 products the same?
No. 80/20 Top Dressing contains approximately 80% sand and 20% soil. 80/20 Turf Underlay contains 80% sand and 20% organic matter. Use the full product name when asking for a quote so we can match the right material.
How much material will you need?
Measure the lawn area in square metres and confirm the application or preparation depth first. Volume in cubic metres is:
Area (m²) × depth (mm) ÷ 1,000 = volume (m³)
Confirm the order quantity and selling unit with our team. Volume and weight are different measurements; a cubic-metre estimate does not automatically tell you how many tonnes to order.
Get help choosing your lawn blend
Tell us whether you are treating an existing lawn or laying new turf, your grass type if known, the area and confirmed depth, and your delivery suburb. Mention access restrictions when requesting delivery.
Visit our Springwood yard or enquire about delivery across the Penrith area, the Blue Mountains up to Mount Victoria, Windsor, Richmond and Yarramundi.
Browse our soil and lawn blends or read our delivery information.
For general lawn-care guidance, see Lawn Solutions Australia’s top-dressing advice and soil guidance for turf. Follow your turf supplier’s advice for your grass and site.