How Is Top Dressing With Compost Becoming More Popular

Believe it or not, the rising fuel prices in America and around the world are drastically affecting the popularity of topdressing with compost. It’s incredible to watch and something you wouldn’t naturally mark as related to each other, but it’s true nonetheless. Rising fuel prices are indeed increasing the popularity of organic compost top dressing. Here are the reasons why.

The popularity of top-dressing turf areas with compost has grown dramatically over the past few years. More and more people are seeing the benefits of using natural top-dressing products to improve their soil instead of heavily using chemical fertilizers. The big question is how top-dressing with compost is becoming more popular.

Chemical Fertilizers Are Made From Petroleum

Many chemical fertilizers are made from petroleum-based products. This means that their cost is influenced by the global fuel market. When petroleum product costs go up, so do chemical fertilizer costs because petroleum products are needed to produce them. 

Why wouldn’t you prefer to use natural, organic top dressing or compost materials to fertilize your garden, yard, golf course, school grounds, or sports field? It’s better for the environment, your soil, and whatever is planted in that soil. 

Organic Compost Is More Cost-Effective Than Chemical Fertilizers

Right now, with the growing costs of fuel around the world, yes, organic compost is much more cost-effective than chemical fertilizers. Landscape contractors are reporting an increase of 40-60% in the cost of chemical fertilizers. Guess how much organic compost costs are rising? Not anywhere near that dramatic spike we’re seeing in the petrochemical field.

Drastic Rise In Chemical Fertilizer Prices Makes Top Dressing With Compost More Popular

The alarmingly dramatic increase in prices for chemical fertilizers is affecting more than the landscaping professionals’ bottom line. It’s increasing the cost of their services because their product is so much more expensive. This means that the cost of fertilizing services with your classic chemical fertilizers is growing for the market consumer. 

The rise in chemical fertilizers and increased cost to the average homeowner are making top dressing with compost and other naturally occurring top dressing materials much more popular. It’s more affordable, more eco-friendly to your property and the environment, and there’s really no downside to this alternative method.

Does Organic Compost Reduce Pollution?

Yes, organic compost spreading reduces pollution. Not only does it reduce pollution, but it also helps our country and the world deal with the ever-increasing issue of waste management. Being good stewards of the earth is very important, and top dressing with organic compost is a step in that direction that many of us can take. Simultaneously, this practice of organic top dressing improves the soil in a completely eco-friendly way, which allows all the plants to grow in the best conditions possible. 

Top Dressing With Compost Saves The End User Money

As we stated above, not only is it more cost-effective for landscaping contractors to switch to organic top dressing with compost and other mixtures, but it also saves the homeowner or customer money. As chemical fertilizing services increase in price, top dressing with compost is suddenly becoming more affordable and a better all-around option.

Rising petroleum prices are changing the world’s landscape (no pun intended) of top dressing, spreading, and fertilizing. 

Organic Compost Top Dressing Is Better For Children And Pets

A lot has changed in the last 10 years regarding health and wellness. People are starting to care more about their health and make better decisions. One thing that is coming into the light more and more is that chemicals are often harmful to our bodies and the environment. Of course, there are exceptions to this, but as a general rule, people realize that different types of chemicals harm them. 

Especially parents with children or people with pets realize that fertilizing their lawn every spring and fall with chemicals is not the best option. After using chemical fertilizers, their lawn parents and pet parents must wait several days before the kids and animals can again enjoy playing in the yard. People in these circumstances are turning to organic top dressing with compost because it is a more kid-safe and pet-friendly option than traditional fertilizers.

What Types Of Spreaders Are Best For Top Dressing With Compost?

When it comes to top dressing, there are a few different types of machines to consider. The great thing is that we have top dressing spreaders available. 50 or 100 years ago, a lot of the best top dressing with compost was done by spreading it manually and then raking it into the grass and thatch. Now, we can utilize machines that are specifically designed to spread different types of top dressing in different ways. 

Push Type Spreaders For Top Dressing With Compost

Push-type top dressers are one option for top dressing with compost. These machines are great if you don’t have too much ground to cover (no pun intended). They are great for spreading top dressing materials like peat moss or other compost mixtures that are on the drier side. However, these machines often don’t handle wet top dressing materials very well. 

Tow Behind Spreaders For Top Dressing With Compost 

Tow-behind spreaders are great if you have something to tow them with, like an ATV, UTV, or tractor. They are great for top dressing larger areas like sports fields, big yards, commercial properties, you get the idea. You have to be careful and make sure that your compost mixtures are dry if you’re going to use tow-behind spreaders because they are usually drop spreaders or belt-fed drop spreaders. 

Self-Propelled Spreaders For Top Dressing With Compost

These are probably the most versatile top dressers for spreading compost mixtures. They propel themselves, which saves you time and energy, and they spread in really impressive patterns. Some models can even move forward and reverse, which can make your job so much easier. They are often spread in a broadcast style, but can also be found in a belt-fed drop spreading style.

If you have specific questions about top dressing machines or niche practices like vineyard spreaders or market gardening, feel free to contact us. We’re here to help.