Should You Sand Your Lawn To Fix Bare Spots? An Expert Weighs In
By Rebecca Jones Published on September 11, 2025
In This Article
Why Sand
What Type Of Sand
When To DIY
When To Avoid Sanding
When To Call A Professional
After pruning a bunch of lawn, gardeners apply silica white sand.
Credit: Getty Images
Recently, my husband had our yard topdressed with sand by a professional landscaper. To be honest, I panicked a little when I saw the finished yard, which was typically very green, but now covered and dusted with heaps of yellow sand. Then a few messages from neighbor friends started pouring in: “What has happened to your yard?” and “Oh my, please tell me there is a reason for all the sand.” In full transparency, I had my own misgivings that my green-thumb husband had made a huge mistake by turning his yard into a sandy beach. He and the landscaper reassured me, however, that the mounds would eventually settle into the grass and ultimately prove worth it.


Why Sand

There are benefits to topdressing an entire yard with sand. "For residential turf, the greatest benefit is helping alleviate small ruts and depressions that come from natural settling of the soil, the frequent use of the same path while mowing, or regular foot traffic," explains Andrew Bice, Director of Maintenance at Millhouse Howell Landscape Company, located in Birmingham, Alabama. That made sense. Due to lawn mower paths, yard football routes my sons had run, and a few rotten tree roots, dips and low spots had developed over time in our yard.


What Type Of Sand

There are specific types of sand that professionals recommend. “Typically, we use masonry sand or play sand,” says Bice. Additionally, he explains that one of the most important factors is that the sand needs to be as dry as possible. “Wet sand doesn't spread well and can make even application difficult,” he says.


When To DIY

Although my husband and I could have easily filled in a spot or two in our yard if there were only a few—and we’ve done this from time to time—spreading sand in the entire yard was a job we weren’t willing to DIY. We also felt a professional would best be able to determine the areas that needed more and less sand, as well as more easily apply a large amount in our front yard and back. So if you have a spot or two that could use a bag or two of sand, DIYing might be your best bet to save time and money. Still, if the entire yard has dips and holes, paths worn down by a lawn mower or traffic, it’s worth consulting a professional for their opinion as to whether or not your yard could benefit from the sanding process.

When To Avoid Sanding

If bare spots or brown patches begin to appear, there could actually be another issue with the lawn or parts of it. “It is not uncommon to have people ask about a topdressing application to address thinning turf only to find out that the real issue is something like lack of direct sunlight or poor drainage,” says Bice. So it’s essential to understand when sanding is a good idea. “A correct diagnosis of the underlying issue can save someone a great deal of frustration and expense, while also getting them closer to the desired result quicker,” he explains.


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When To Call A Professional

When a small job of filling in a hole that a pet has dug or where a root has rotted, homeowners can easily handle this type of job themselves. It’s when an entire yard requires topdressing that the more work becomes a factor. “When it involves moving and placing multiple cubic yards of material to complete the project, it can rapidly become a daunting task for anyone, especially for someone with limited time,” Bice explains. If you’re trying to achieve more levelness throughout the yard, calling a professional might be a better option. “I would also say that when the area to be topdressed gets to be significant, it is likely going to be easier and more cost-effective to have it applied professionally,” Bice says.