What is the easiest way to level a lawn?

If you have an uneven lawn, it can be due to many reasons such as soil erosion, damaged pipelines, or holes created by pets or other animals. Fortunately, Eden explains how to level your lawn using three different techniques: topdressing, raising the turf, and filling in large spots. By following these tips, you’ll be on your way to how to level a lawn!

How to Level a Lawn with Top dressings Technique

The topdressing technique for leveling a lawn involves applying a thin layer of soil, sand, and organic matter to the surface of the lawn.

1. Mow the lawn: Mow your lawn short before you begin topdressing so that the new topdressing material comes in proper contact with the ground below.
2. Apply the topdressing material: Apply the topdressing material evenly over the surface of the lawn using a shovel or rake.
3. Water the lawn: Water the area thoroughly to help settle the topdressing material into place.
4. Repeat steps 2-3 as necessary: Repeat steps 2-3 as necessary until you achieve the desired level of your lawn.

Dethatching your lawn: If the thatch layer in your lawn has built up to more than ½ inch, then you need to remove it or dethatch your lawn before topdressing. This will prevent the thatch layer from becoming a barrier between the new soil and the soil below. Use a dethatching rake for this purpose.

Mixing topsoil, sand, and compost: Take a wheelbarrow and mix the correct composition of topsoil, sand and compost (two parts topsoil, two parts sand and one part compost). Make sure you thoroughly mix the three materials until there are no interfaces remaining between them. Use a scoop shovel to spread a thin layer of topdressing material on the low spots. Make sure the thickness of the topdressing layer is no more than half an inch to prevent smothering the grass underneath.

Rake the topdressing mix over the entire spot to level it using a garden rake.

Brush the grass back and forth with a broom to evenly distribute the topdressing material.

Water the leveled area: Water the leveled area lightly to allow the topdressing material to settle well, nutrients from the compost in the mix to trickle down, and remove any air pockets between the leveling mix and the ground below. Do not overwater as this will cause applied topdressing mix to wash away due to runoff.

Monitor and reapply as required: Monitor the leveled area for a few more watering cycles and check for puddles or runoff.

Leveling a lawn by lifting the turf, also called sweeping the dirt under the carpet, is a method of filling low spots in the lawn to level the area. This technique is suitable for small areas of the lawn with minor leveling issues.

To level a lawn by lifting turf, follow these steps:

Before leveling the ground, lightly water the area an hour or two in advance. This will make it easier to cut the sod and reduce root damage when you lay down the new turf. To cut the sod, use a sod cutter, flat spade, or lawn edger along the edges of the existing turf. If you’re working with a large area, cut the sod into smaller pieces for removal and replacement. Make sure your cuts are vertical, clean, and sharp to avoid damaging the turf.