Recently moved into my first house last fall, and have been slowly working on cleaning up the curb appeal.
Just edged the sidewalk for probably the first time in years, and the soil height is aggressively above the sidewalk (particularly around the tree) but fairy even on the opposite side by the curb.
When I renovate and level it'd be nice to bring this height down. I've thought about renting a sod cutter, however it's high on this side, but fairly even at the curb, and would think I wouldnt want the sod cutter to go lower in areas where it's not needed.
I was thinking aerating and scarifying might loosen up the soil enough to make shoveling tolerable.
Any protips are welcome for people who have had to deal with this before.
by DS-19
33 Comments
Same boat as you bud.
Either lower the sod or raise the sidewalk. Either way it’s going to labor intensive unless you hire someone to do it.
Don’t waste your time, money or body. You don’t own the curb.
I’d really just leave that alone
I ran over mine with a golf cart every time I took it for a spin and eventually compacted it down to the concrete.
Back it up with a cobblestone border.
Lift the concrete
Why not cut it back at an angle ? Kind of natural curb
Drive over it with something heavy a few times 👍
Make sure you’re somewhere it’s not just going to build up again in a few years before you waste your time. I live by the edge of town, right by farms, and my father in law pointed out that no matter what you do tons of dirt is going to get deposited and built back up. He had to raise all his sprinklers for a few years till it evened out, and then had to raise them again a decade later because another 3/4” of dirt built up.
You could rent a sod cutter
Raise the sidewalk
Hire a turf cutter. Cut one or two rolls of turf all the way along. Shovel out how much you need gone, re-lay turf. Not a massive job
Pay some other SOB to bust their back with a shovel.
Bring the sidewalk up. It is infinitely easier.
I had the same issue. I waited untill it rained and ran the roller over it a few times. Ground level and perfect edge.
Get the sod cutter. Roll up the sod then remove the amount of soil you want. Then either relay the sod or throw some seed down. I did a 500 sq ft section by hand 2 years ago.
https://preview.redd.it/h4zy53ds384f1.jpeg?width=2832&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e078dd5d2e2392fae139e124c33376016b4d8167
Go at it at an angle with a string trimmer if you want. Personally I like a small amount of dirt showing. Let’s me know im not gonna wander into a hole on the side of the sidewalk
Carpet edge it. Let the grass grow sideways and hit it with the trimmer
Aerate and remove the cores. Do this for several years and natural compaction will gradually lower it. I’m guessing you have some material coming in from somewhere so even though I don’t think this looks bad, I’d start with the aeration anyway and keep up on it.
Sod cutter and seed. I’ve found great success listing sod and dirt online for free to dispose of it
Sod cutter and a rake, you could be done before lunch if it’s a smaller area. Then just put the grass sod back. Ideally you want your dirt to be 1″ below the cement height.
Yes. Pay someone else to bust their back with a shovel.
Get longer fingers
My dad leveled his. In 5 years u couldn’t even tell he did anything.
and here I am struggling to get my sod/dirt that same thickness, and not be flush with the sidwalk
Rent a sod cutter, you can get them for 4 hours for like $35 or so… put the sod on marketplace for free or whatever… will take 2.5” if set at the deepest…
Seems like you want something to do
A couple passes with a sod cutter would do the trick. You can rent one.
I’d bet you have some roots running through it too. Why not fit a nice steel lawn edging and plant it?
Manuel core aerater and rake plugs up, roll or tamp it, repeat every so often?
https://preview.redd.it/6kszcgnae94f1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3c485f8cc6cc9dd11380aa194633f2f0eb76ec60
Just did the same thing yesterday. Brought the edge down a bit after this with the weedwacker and mower to get closer to the curb. Added new seed where the grass is gone now
I like that thick brown cut. I’ve got the same on my city curb but at my own drive it’s much thinner. I showcase both why not