top dressing
- noun
- /tɑp ˈdrɛsɪŋ/
- Specialized
- "Top-dressing has produced the best results, increasing germination rates."
- top dressing of compost
And that is top dressing fertilizer in tiny cells like these.
- And that is top dressing fertilizer in tiny cells like these.
Examples
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And then layer up as much top dress as you can.
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Find a top dressing mulch local to your area to keep the moisture in and slowly break down.
Blog text (20) -
And that is top dressing fertilizer in tiny cells like these.
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Last November, a quarter-inch of Crown III top dressing was spread on the field.
Academic text (2001) -
I spread that on and it has also a top dressing of guy green, glacial rock dust and azamite.
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He recommends a "total package" that includes top-dressing of a quarter-inch of compost, followed by aeration and seeding.
Academic text (1996) -
For horticultural use as a top dressing for lawns or potting mixtures, the soluble salt concentration should be less than 6 mmhos/cm.
Academic text (1996) -
It also markets ground tree limbs and other yard trimmings from 10 northern California locations for applications such as top dressings on highway construction and renovation roadsides.
Academic text (1998) -
To improve your lawn's health, apply a top dressing of compost in the spring.
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A good top dressing can significantly enhance the soil's nutrient content.
Synonyms
A thin layer of material like compost or sand spread on soil to help plants grow
A light layer of fertilizer or compost spread on soil
Antonyms
- Specialized
A layer of soil under the topsoil and above the rock that has less plant material and more minerals
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a layer of fertilizer applied to the surface' is directly derivable from combining 'top' (upper surface) with 'dressing' (an application of manure or fertilizer). This is a regular, compositional noun-noun compound used in a literal agricultural sense, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents should be able to infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Top dressing comes from the simple image of putting a thin cover on the soil surface. The word top means the surface and dressing means a cover, so a top dressing is a thin layer of 'fertilizer' or 'manure' left on top of the soil, not mixed in, to help plants grow.