top-dress

[top-dres]

verb (used with object)

top-dressed, top-drest, top-dressing. 

1. to manure (land) on the surface.

top-dress

verb

1. (tr) to spread manure or fertilizer on the surface of (land) without working it into the soil

Word History and Origins

Origin of top-dress¹

First recorded in 1725–35; top ¹ + dress

Example Sentences

Return anything too chunky to the bin, and top-dress your plants indoors or out with the good stuff.

Read more on Seattle Times

Eradicate your fungus gnat infestation for good with the following method: Put up a bunch of sticky traps, top-dress the soil with sand and do nematode soaks every 10 to 14 days until the problem is resolved.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“I’ll top-dress my vegetable plants, my dahlias and other flowers, spreading an inch thick around the root zone of each.”

Read more on New York Times

When the season’s end is finally in sight, Larson and his staff will fertilize, aerify, cut and top-dress to make sure Rutland’s greens and turf come out of the winter in great shape.

Read more on Washington Times

Others are not convinced that this is needed, though everyone agrees that the way to foster the soil food web is to top-dress growing beds and lawns with organic matter such as shredded leaves or finished compost.

Read more on Washington Post

Related Words

• compost 
• enrich 
• germinate 
• impregnate 
• inseminate 
• mulch 
• pollinate 
• propagate