This Is Why Your Lawn Isn’t Thick (And How to Fix It)
How to Get a Thick Lawn
Want a lawn that's thick, lush, and makes the neighbours jealous? You can absolutely have one, and it's easier than you might think.
These videos demonstrate practical techniques for growing a thicker lawn, levelling uneven areas, and improving poor soil without overcomplicating the process. From complete renovations to simple topdressing methods, you'll see real before-and-after results and learn which techniques work for different situations and budgets.
Proven Lawn Care Results (With Before & After)
People often ask to see real results, not just theory. This video delivers exactly that with dramatic before-and-after transformation shots.
You'll watch a complete renovation process, including aeration, scarification, and overseeding, followed by topdressing with screened seeding soil to create the perfect seedbed. The key to this transformation is the combination of mechanical renovation to remove thatch and create seed-to-soil contact, quality seed selection, and proper post-seeding care with seaweed biostimulant and spring fertiliser.
The results speak for themselves: a thick, healthy lawn achieved through proven techniques.
Post-renovation feeding makes all the difference. Our Pre-Seeder Fertiliser gives new grass the nutrients it needs to establish quickly, while Seaweed Lawn Booster strengthens root development during the critical establishment period.
Topdressing a New Build Lawn with Poor Clay Soil
New-build properties are notorious for poor-quality soil, often heavy clay mixed with builders' rubble that has been compacted by machinery. This video addresses a common scenario: a small front lawn struggling in clay soil that retains water in winter and dries out in summer.
You'll see how bagged screened topsoil can improve soil structure without the expense of bulk deliveries for smaller areas. The clever trick using a compost spreader makes the job faster and ensures even distribution, creating a level surface while improving the growing medium for grass roots.
This approach works particularly well for smaller lawns where hiring equipment or ordering bulk materials isn't practical.
Thickening Up a Lawn Without Fancy Tools
You don't need expensive equipment or specialised machinery to improve your lawn. This video proves it by transforming a small back lawn using nothing but bags of compost, a rake, and elbow grease.
Watch the manual topdressing technique that distributes compost evenly across the lawn, working it into the grass to fill low spots and create a smooth surface. The hand-spreading method gives you complete control over where material goes, making it ideal for working around edges, garden beds, and obstacles.
This is lawn improvement at its most accessible, no rollers, no machines, just an effective technique. Perfect for smaller lawns or anyone who wants results without the hassle of equipment.
Complete Lawn Transformation – Medium Garden Makeover
This is the big one, a complete transformation of a medium-sized back lawn that pulls together everything from the previous videos. You'll see the whole process from start to finish: topdressing to level the surface and improve soil, overseeding to increase grass density, and proper aftercare to ensure establishment.
The video demonstrates how to scale up techniques for larger areas whilst maintaining quality results. You'll understand the difference between light topdressing for maintenance versus heavy topdressing for levelling, see how seed rates change for renovation work, and learn the feeding schedule that supports new grass without encouraging excessive growth.
If you've watched the other videos in this series, this transformation brings all the techniques together.
For larger renovation projects like this, proper feeding is essential. Our Spring Starter Plus provides the balanced nutrition that new grass needs without pushing excessive top growth at the expense of root development.
Thick Lawn Questions
How long does it take to thicken up a thin lawn?
With overseeding and proper care, you'll see noticeable improvement within 6-8 weeks during the growing season. New grass seedlings emerge in 7-14 days depending on temperature and moisture, then take another 4-6 weeks to establish and start tillering (producing side shoots that create density). Full results typically take one complete growing season. Autumn overseeding shows dramatic improvement by the following spring, while spring overseeding fills in well by late summer.
What's the best time of year to overseed for thickness?
Early autumn (September in the UK) is ideal because the soil is still warm from summer, encouraging rapid germination, while cooler air temperatures reduce stress on seedlings and water requirements. There's also less competition from weeds. Spring (April-May) is the second-best window, though you'll need to manage watering more carefully as temperatures rise. Avoid overseeding in summer heat or winter cold when germination rates drop dramatically, and seedling survival becomes uncertain.
Should I use topdressing or just overseed?
For best results, combine both. Topdressing creates an ideal seedbed by providing fine soil particles that maintain moisture around seeds and protect them from birds. It also levels minor bumps and improves soil structure over time. However, if your lawn is reasonably level and you're just filling thin patches, overseeding alone can work well, provided you scarify first to create seed-to-soil contact. Topdressing without overseeding improves soil but won't increase grass density on its own.
How much topdressing do I need per square metre?
For maintenance topdressing (improving soil without major levelling), apply 2-3kg per square metre, roughly a 3-5mm layer. For levelling low spots, you can go heavier at 5-10kg per square metre, but never bury the grass completely in one application. If you need to raise levels significantly, do it in stages over multiple seasons, allowing grass to grow through each layer before adding more. A standard 25kg bag covers approximately 8-12 square metres for maintenance applications.
Why is my lawn thin even though I feed it regularly?
Feeding alone won't thicken a lawn if the underlying issues aren't addressed. Common causes of persistent thinness include compacted soil (roots can't spread), excessive thatch (seeds can't reach soil), shade (grass naturally thins under trees), wrong grass type for your conditions, mowing too short (weakens plants), or simply not enough grass plants present. Fertiliser helps existing grass grow stronger, but if plant numbers are low, you need to add more through overseeding. Address compaction with aeration and thatch with scarification before overseeding for the best results.
Can I thicken up a lawn without scarifying?
You can improve density without scarifying, but the results will be limited. Scarification removes the thatch layer that prevents seeds from reaching soil, creating the seed-to-soil contact essential for germination. Without it, much of your seed sits on top of thatch and fails to establish. If you can't scarify, rake the lawn vigorously with a spring-tine rake to create some openings, then overseed at a higher rate to compensate for lower germination. Topdressing helps by providing a growing medium on top of the thatch, but true thickness comes from addressing the underlying issues.
