Hi all,
I recently moved to a bungalow in the area that sits on almost an acre of land. It was not noticeable through the winter, but as the snow melts I can’t help but notice the lawn is tremendously uneven. I’m looking for some insight as to the cheapest way you’ve all flattened a lawn.
I’m comfortable with doing a hard reset of sorts and having bad grass for the year, but I’m really trying to avoid having to buy the amount of dirt it would take it properly fill in all the divots. I’ll attach some pictures, but for further reference almost the entire yard is in the same state. Also a fun surprise that the homeowners last year did not decide to rake.
by jackolantern1007
7 Comments
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If you dont want to buy dirt or sand, which would be the best way to level it, you could get a heavy roller and roll the yard, but it will likely take multiple times and you will still need to spot fill areas.
You may have to till it, level it and replant….depending on your yard, you may not have to do the entire acre.
Some of that might not be unlevel, but just clumps from not mnowing last year and being packed down with snow.
Lazy man here: I’d overseed first with a good quality seed (check United Seeds, I like Super Turf II). The other work you’re gonna do is going to work they seed down and cover it. Get the leaves lifted up a little with a rake or blower so the mower can get them. Then mow it as low as you possibly can (there is a limit if it is really bumpy). It’s gonna take a few passes, so maybe start at a high setting and work in your way down. You want to get the grass clippings and mulched leaves mixed up so they compost well and act as a top dressing over your seed. You don’t want mats of leaves which block air or grass from growing through; they need to be broken up. When the grass starts growing again, start mowing at a longer more reasonable height. You’ll have a much better idea what you are working with then and might not need to level.
Since it is a new property and you don’t know what was done in the past, I strongly recommend doing a soil test with your local extension office. They will tell you exactly what is needed to get the soil right so grass will take. I would fertilize as recommended and then just fertilize to maintain that.
First mow it. Some of that is just clumping. Some of that is unequal breaking of dormancy and *might* resolve itself. Then reassess how much still looks bad.
I like sand for filling low spots, because it flows like a liquid when its dry.
If you have high spots, you can temporarily remove the sod with a shovel by separating the top 3 inches of soil underneath. You loosen up and remove soil to lower the high spots, put the sod back, and use your soil to fill low spots.
Make sure you don’t actually flatten and level the lawn too. You need some sloping to drain rainwater away from your house. Make sure you don’t accidentally regrade your lawn and end up with water pooling and not being able to go anywhere. Smoothing it out is fine, but you need to keep it sloped away from your foundation or where you park ideally.
This is really a job for an aerator to unpack all that, loosen it up, then you can seed and top dress with sand and soil
In the spring when you can mow I’d mow as low as you can and see how much is really divots or bumps. Then you can see what the real damage is. If it’s not great, you’re likely to have to till and regrade it. Best case is you have some bumps you can dig out and level or some low spots to fill