Early spring (April–May) or early fall (September) — topdress when the grass is actively growing so it can push up through the layer. Keep it thin: a quarter to a half inch, ideally paired with overseeding and a good raking-in so the compost settles down to the soil instead of smothering the blades. Late March is the moment to get the order booked, not spread.
The math is friendly. A quarter inch over 1,000 sq ft is about 0.8 cubic yards, so the 1-yard minimum covers a typical front lawn with some left over for beds. Compost also runs lighter than loam at roughly 1,100 lbs per yard, which makes it the easiest bulk soil product to move by wheelbarrow.
Order bulk compost ahead of the window — April delivery slots go quickly once the forsythia blooms.
