Will existing grass grow through layer of topsoil?

Our lawn had some dips (3 inches at most) and our contractor reckoned that only topsoil was needed as the existing grass would work it's way through. That was about a month ago and it looks to me like he was wrong.

What do you folks reckon? Could the grass reappear either this year or next? If not, and new grass is needed, is there any way of getting a good 'match'?

Thanks for your time.

 

00000000000000000000000000001348Basically, dortmunder, no. After spreading the topsoil the contractor should have then lightly raked in fresh grass seed.

 

your contractor should have known that would fail. Grasses are green plants and they contain chlorophyll which is the material that gives the plant their green colour.
Chlorophyll allows green plants to undergo Photosynthesis which is the process plants form the food material they need.
Photo is light.
Synthesis means putting together.
In the case of the grass plant the covering of soil prevented light so the plant was unable to produce carbohydrates.
The only real way of matching it without trying to work out the types you have is using turf from areas where it can be lifted where not needed and plugged into the area and allowed to grow or before this work was carried out the grass in the dip was removed, area levelled and the old grass plugged in and allowed time to develop.

 

I think you may have been visited by one of these guys.

I think you will just have to overseed and hope for a good match.

 

Actually, he's also a friend who took advice from another gardener before starting. They must both be rubbish gardeners...

Thanks for the replies.