- Why Should You Level Your Yard?<\/a><\/li>
- How to Level Your Lawn<\/a><\/li>
- The Best Time to Level Your Lawn<\/a><\/li>
- What Causes an Uneven Yard<\/a><\/li>
- Cost to Level a Yard<\/a><\/li>
- How to Keep the Yard Level<\/a><\/li>
- FAQ: Tips for Leveling Your Yard<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
Why Should You Level Your Yard?<\/h2>
An uneven lawn can reduce the curb appeal of your home and is dangerous:<\/p>
- Injuries can occur due to trips and falls caused by uneven ground. <\/li>
- Drainage issues can develop, leading to pooling in your yard. <\/li>
- Damage to your home\u2019s foundation can happen due to hydrostatic pressure<\/a>.<\/li> <\/ul>
How to Level Your Lawn<\/h2>
![\"green](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/bumpy-field.jpg\")
Photo Credit: blightylad-infocus<\/a> \/ Canva Pro \/ License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> The severity of the ruts and higher spots in the turfgrass determine which method works best for getting back a level lawn area.<\/p>
What You Need To Level a Lawn<\/h3>
A few simple tools, materials, and time can solve your lumpy lawn problems. Here are the tools and materials needed: <\/p>
Tools:<\/strong><\/p>
- Lawn mower<\/li>
- Dethatching machine or a thatch rake<\/li>
- Shovel<\/li>
- Bow rake<\/a> (aka garden rake), push broom, or lawn leveling rake<\/li>
- Wheelbarrow<\/li>
- Piece of 8-foot lumber or a long level<\/li> <\/ul>
Materials:<\/strong><\/p>
- Sand<\/li>
- Topsoil<\/li>
- Compost<\/li> <\/ul>
How to Find Uneven Spots in Your Lawn<\/h3>
Use a level or a piece of 8-foot lumber with strings attached on each end to find the low and high spots in the lawn. (Just drag the lumber over the lawn and look for empty space underneath the level or whatever straight edge you\u2019re using.) <\/p>
Pro Tip:<\/strong> As you level the lawn, make sure that water always flows away from your foundation. A slope or \u201cgrade\u201d (here\u2019s how to measure grade<\/a>) of at least 1\/8\u2033 per foot away from your house is best.<\/p>
Prep Work Before Leveling Your Yard<\/h3>
![\"dethatching](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/garden-gardening-bed-earth-preview-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pikr<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> In a few simple steps, you can prepare your uneven lawn for leveling. Before you begin leveling:<\/p>
A few weeks before, if needed:<\/strong> <\/p>
- Dethatch your lawn<\/a>. With a thatch rake or dethatching machine, remove the excess thatch layer. Excess thatch keeps your grass from absorbing water and nutrients properly.<\/li>
- This is a good time to aerate your lawn<\/a> to improve any compacted areas. Aeration also allows you to fill any remaining low-lying areas with plugs.<\/li> <\/ul>
The day of:<\/strong> <\/p>
- Remove all the dead leaves, twigs, clippings, and other debris from the area. <\/li>
- Mow the lawn<\/a> because it may be a few weeks before you\u2019re able to cut the grass again. Also, you want to make it easy to remove turf<\/a> in the higher spots.<\/li> <\/ul>
Level a Slightly Uneven Lawn: Topdress<\/h3>
Now that you know what you need for this task and the prep work to do beforehand, let\u2019s talk about how to level a lawn. If you have only minor unevenness in lawn areas where the depressions aren\u2019t too deep, you can solve the problem by topdressing your lawn<\/a> with a topdressing soil mixture. <\/p>
This type of yard leveling repair is the least labor-intensive and least expensive. Here\u2019s a step-by-step:<\/p>
- Create a topdressing:<\/strong> Using a wheelbarrow, create a mix by combining equal parts sand, compost, and topsoil. If you have finely textured soil like clay, avoid using sand. <\/li> <\/ol>
- Apply topdressing:<\/strong> Add a thin layer of no more than 1\/2 inch of the soil mixture to the low areas in your yard.
Do not apply the topdressing mix any deeper, or you can suffocate the grass. You can apply more over time if needed.<\/li> <\/ol>- Smooth the soil mix into the lawn: <\/strong>Use a garden rake, push broom, or lawn leveling rake to spread the soil mix evenly over the low spots. Work the soil into the base of the grass blades.<\/li> <\/ol>
If the grass was originally growing in the sunken areas, you should see new grass growth popping up through the soil mixture. If the area still is a bit low, repeat the above steps until the turfgrass is level.<\/p>
Expert Tip:<\/strong> If the uneven areas lack grass before you apply the topdressing, you need to overseed the lawn<\/a> to promote new growth. Keep the area moist while the grass seed germinates and takes root. Watering your growing grass the right way is key. The best time to water your lawn<\/a> is early morning and up to three times a day.<\/p>
Level a Moderately Uneven Lawn: Remove Sod<\/h3>
If areas of the lawn have more moderate and numerous problems with low areas and higher spots, it will take a bit more work to bring it back in shape. <\/p>
- Mow your grass:<\/strong> For ease in applying your soil mixture and seeing where all the bumps and depressions are. Cut it shorter than usual but not short enough to see the stems of the grass blades. (Don\u2019t scalp the lawn.) If desired, you can use stakes or marking flags in areas that need attention.<\/li> <\/ol>
- Smooth high spots:<\/strong> If you own a lawn tractor, you can smooth out any higher areas by attaching a wooden pallet to the back and dragging it over them. (As an alternative, attach a rope and drag the pallet around yourself.)
Work the high spots with a garden rake or lawn leveling rake until it\u2019s all on the same level.<\/li> <\/ol>- Remove sod:<\/strong> Dig up and remove your sod<\/a>. Place it in a shady location until you are ready to replant.<\/li> <\/ol>
- Fill the low spots<\/strong> with your leveling mix. Once filled, water the area to release any air pockets in the soil and continue backfilling with the soil mixture until the recessed areas are level.<\/li> <\/ol>
- Replace<\/strong> the repaired areas with the removed sod or lay new sod<\/a>. Make sure the roots have good soil contact. Keep traffic to a minimum and water once or twice per day for several weeks while the sod takes root.<\/li> <\/ol>
Level a Severely Uneven Lawn: Call in a Pro<\/h3>
If your lawn looks more like the moon\u2019s surface than an earthly yard, refurbish the entire area. Of course, this process comes with the most cost and labor, and it\u2019s best to hire a pro.<\/p>
When low areas and high spots are too numerous, it will generally require:<\/p>
- New grading:<\/strong> Grading is the process of altering the slope and drainage of your yard. It\u2019s best left to landscape experts<\/a>.<\/li> <\/ol>
- Soil preparation:<\/strong> Test your soil<\/a> and add the amendments your new, healthy lawn needs.<\/li> <\/ol>
- Re-seed or lay sod:<\/strong> You can start your lawn anew by planting grass seed<\/a>, or take a quick approach and lay new sod.
<\/li> <\/ol>Expert Tip:<\/strong> Never smooth out a rough lawn or lay down new sod with a heavy lawn roller. A grass roller<\/a> can harm your healthy grass and cause further compaction.<\/p>
The Best Time to Level Your Lawn<\/h2>
Now that you know how to level your lawn, it is also important to know when is the best time to do it: Anytime from March to September, when the grass is actively growing<\/strong>. <\/p>
However, spring<\/strong> is the best time to level your warm-season lawn because that\u2019s when warm-season grasses<\/a> are growing after being dormant for the winter. Cool-season grasses<\/a> will do better if you level in late summer or early fall<\/strong>.<\/p>
If your lawn is suffering from drought, pests, disease, or becomes waterlogged, you should wait. Take care of these problems first before leveling your lawn. To avoid a muddy mess, it\u2019s important to level your grass on a dry day.<\/p>
What Causes an Uneven Yard<\/h2>
![\"Tree](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/rsz_2019-05-11_13_23_46_a_mound_of_exposed_roots_at_the_base_of_a_red_maple_in_a_lawn_along_cobra_lane_in_the_chantilly_highlands_section_of_oak_hill_fairfax_count.jpg\")
Tree roots disrupting the surface
Photo Credit: Famartin<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>Areas of your lawn and even the entire lawn can become uneven over time. This is especially true for older, established lawns. The common sources for creating low areas or higher spots include:<\/p>
- Compaction:<\/strong> The soil underneath your lawn may become compacted<\/a> by high traffic.<\/li>
- Hardscaping:<\/strong> New fences, sidewalks, or other hardscapes installed by you or your neighbor can change water flow.<\/li>
- Digging animals:<\/strong> Animals such as gophers, ground squirrels, voles<\/a>, and even your pets will leave holes in your yard.<\/li>
- Seasonal changes:<\/strong> The freezing and thawing of water in the soil change the landscape.<\/li>
- Pest or disease: <\/strong>Divots in the grass arise from insects like lawn grubs<\/a> eating away at the grass roots. Lawn diseases also cause changes to the infected area. When grass dies or thins, erosion may set in and cause the area to become uneven.<\/li>
- Tree roots:<\/strong> The roots of trees<\/a> can disrupt the soil beneath them, elevating the ground surface.<\/li>
- Broken pipes:<\/strong> The soil might erode as a sprinkler system leaks or from other plumbing issues.<\/li>
- Poor lawn care habits:<\/strong> Mowing your turfgrass at too low a height can quickly lead to uneven lawn problems. You end up scalping the turfgrass with the mower blades, damaging the roots, which may lead to thinning or death of the grass plants.<\/li> <\/ul>
Cost to Level a Yard<\/h2>
If you enjoy DIY projects, you\u2019ll save a significant amount of cash if you prepare (aerate, dethatch, mow) and level your own lawn versus the cost of professional lawn care service<\/a>.<\/p>
You also have the option of slowly building up the uneven areas of your turfgrass over time, creating a less labor-intensive repair.<\/p>
You\u2019ll have zero costs for all the tools you already own, with additional costs going to:<\/p>
- Soil improvements with amendments<\/a><\/li>
- New sod or grass seed<\/li>
- Potentially having to rent an aerator. Depending on the type, they\u2019re typically $100 to $150 a day<\/strong>. <\/li> <\/ul>
Of course, you also have the option of adding an inexpensive hand aerator to your lawn tool collection with costs starting around $25<\/strong>. Non-motorized walk-behind spike aerators start around $60<\/strong>. However, the cost of push-corers that you tow behind a riding mower might reach $350<\/strong>. A motorized core aerator machine starts at around $3,000<\/strong>.<\/p>
Cost of Grass Seed<\/h3>
The cost of turfgrass seed per pound varies depending on the type of grass and the amount you require. So, overseeding patchy areas of existing grass will cost less than seeding an entire lawn.<\/p>
Depending on the lawn service you hire and the number of square feet that require replanting, the cost of the grass seed alone can set you back $500 to $1,500<\/strong> or more. This doesn\u2019t include the costs for labor, which can run you another $500 to $1,000<\/strong>, depending on the size of the job.<\/p> \n
- Hardscaping:<\/strong> New fences, sidewalks, or other hardscapes installed by you or your neighbor can change water flow.<\/li>
- Compaction:<\/strong> The soil underneath your lawn may become compacted<\/a> by high traffic.<\/li>
- Re-seed or lay sod:<\/strong> You can start your lawn anew by planting grass seed<\/a>, or take a quick approach and lay new sod.
- Soil preparation:<\/strong> Test your soil<\/a> and add the amendments your new, healthy lawn needs.<\/li> <\/ol>
- New grading:<\/strong> Grading is the process of altering the slope and drainage of your yard. It\u2019s best left to landscape experts<\/a>.<\/li> <\/ol>
- Replace<\/strong> the repaired areas with the removed sod or lay new sod<\/a>. Make sure the roots have good soil contact. Keep traffic to a minimum and water once or twice per day for several weeks while the sod takes root.<\/li> <\/ol>
- Fill the low spots<\/strong> with your leveling mix. Once filled, water the area to release any air pockets in the soil and continue backfilling with the soil mixture until the recessed areas are level.<\/li> <\/ol>
- Remove sod:<\/strong> Dig up and remove your sod<\/a>. Place it in a shady location until you are ready to replant.<\/li> <\/ol>
- Smooth high spots:<\/strong> If you own a lawn tractor, you can smooth out any higher areas by attaching a wooden pallet to the back and dragging it over them. (As an alternative, attach a rope and drag the pallet around yourself.)
- Mow your grass:<\/strong> For ease in applying your soil mixture and seeing where all the bumps and depressions are. Cut it shorter than usual but not short enough to see the stems of the grass blades. (Don\u2019t scalp the lawn.) If desired, you can use stakes or marking flags in areas that need attention.<\/li> <\/ol>
- Smooth the soil mix into the lawn: <\/strong>Use a garden rake, push broom, or lawn leveling rake to spread the soil mix evenly over the low spots. Work the soil into the base of the grass blades.<\/li> <\/ol>
- Apply topdressing:<\/strong> Add a thin layer of no more than 1\/2 inch of the soil mixture to the low areas in your yard.
- Create a topdressing:<\/strong> Using a wheelbarrow, create a mix by combining equal parts sand, compost, and topsoil. If you have finely textured soil like clay, avoid using sand. <\/li> <\/ol>
- This is a good time to aerate your lawn<\/a> to improve any compacted areas. Aeration also allows you to fill any remaining low-lying areas with plugs.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Dethatch your lawn<\/a>. With a thatch rake or dethatching machine, remove the excess thatch layer. Excess thatch keeps your grass from absorbing water and nutrients properly.<\/li>
- How to Level Your Lawn<\/a><\/li>
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/pexels-anna-shvets-5231236.jpg\")
![\"One](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rsz_ls-one-third-rule-illustration-1.jpg\")