Mix equal parts topsoil, compost, and sand to make a topdressing mixture. Fill dips in your lawn with the topdressing until the area is level. Use water to relieve any air pockets that build under the soil. Aerate your lawn.
The cheapest way to level a yard is by using stakes, string, a spirit level, shovel, and wheelbarrow. You may also need some extra soil to fill in holes and a couple of friends to help you.
Due to the adverse effects of adding pure sand on your lawn by itself, it is better to use a mixture of sand and dry topsoil to level uneven sections on your lawn. You can make your lawn leveling soil by mixing pure sand and dry topsoil in a ratio of 1:1.
Can I level my backyard myself? Sunken spots, holes, or shallow depressions are easy to repair yourself. Large areas or lawns with extensive damage may require labor, materials, and equipment supplied by a contractor.
Topdressing involves spreading a leveling mix of topsoil, compost, and fine sand. The soil should not contain mulch or plant debris, which can smother the grass. The best sand to use is play sand, which you can buy at any home center. A typical mixture is 40 percent sand, 40 percent topsoil, and 20 percent compost.
Lawn Leveling Equipment
Basic equipment needed to level your lawn is pretty simple: a hand rake, landscape rake, plastic leaf rake, a large push broom, a shovel, an edger, and a wheelbarrow. Additionally, the tool I use is a leveling rake, like the Accuform AccuLevel by Par Aide or a similar one on Amazon.
Prepare a 50/50 mix of dry topsoil and fine sand in a wheelbarrow. Make sure that the mixture is dry before continuing. Use a shovel to scoop up mixture and fill in low areas of the lawn.
While there are many varieties of topsoil available, sandy varieties of topsoil are the most effective at handling minor drainage issues in your yard or garden. Topsoil can conceal or repair damaged areas of your lawn, and it can also fill in sloped or low-lying areas that are holding water.
If you're looking for a short answer, then yes, you can put topsoil over grass and existing garden lawns.
The proper way to re-grade starts with removing the topsoil from the problem area. Now adjust the subsoil by scraping away high areas and filling in low areas. Spread 2-inches of the reserved topsoil and till it into the first 2-inches of subsoil. This will help prevent drainage problems between the two layers of soil.
The better choice is a screened topsoil off the pile at a local landscape or garden center. This will be sourced locally and most likely a native silty clay loam that will be easy to work with, settle into a desired semi-permeable state, and will support vegetation.
A properly graded yard is extremely important. If the surface of your land slopes toward your house, water drainage will create problems with the foundation. Poor leveling can also negatively affect trees, gardens and other vegetation. Hiring a landscaper to reslope your lawn is generally a great investment.
Fill dirt is a combination of natural materials, like rock, sand, and shale, used to—you guessed it—fill in a hole or change property elevation. Topsoil, on the other hand, is dirt fortified with nutrients usually used for gardens and grass.
Bulk soil is measured in yards. 1 yard equals 27 cubic feet. Think about it as a cube that is 3′ X 3′ X 3′.
The average topsoil cost is between $10 and $50 per cubic yard, or $150 and $500 per truckload, including delivery. You can also purchase topsoil by the 1/5-yard scoop at an average price of $10 to $25, including delivery.
Fill materials should be fairly sandy and coarse. This will help the particles sift down among the blades, and the grass blades will grow up through a coarse fill better. It should be low in organic matter. Builders sand, pump sand and river sand can be used.
For the most part, sand is prone to displacement to a greater degree than fill dirt, which can be compacted very well. This displacement and tendency to shift and slip means that while sand is ideal for drainage purposes, there are some instances where its presence can be a liability.
Leveling a sloped lawn is the process of smoothing out and re-grading the surface of your yard to give it a smooth and even surface that's attractive, safe, and functional. Not all sloping lawns need to be leveled, and every yard should be graded somewhat to help water move away from your home.
Running a chain harrow in different directions flattens humps and drags material into hollows. The grass will then be invigorated and look a lot flatter. Chain harrows are recommended in the professional groundsmen industry to keep rugby pitches looking great during a playing season.