A lush green lawn can be the crown jewel of a home’s curb appeal. But when that once-pristine turf becomes marked by dips, valleys, and bumps, it loses its luster faster than last year’s Zoysia grass.
Uneven spaces not only look bad — they can create functional issues, too. Depressions lead to water pooling after storms. High points leave grass starved for moisture. And those same peaks and valleys make it harder to push a mower evenly across the yard.
The solution? Lawn leveling. Sometimes called lawn grading, this landscape makeover technique helps smooth over trouble spots for a more uniform, graze-worthy lawn.
Why Lawn Leveling Matters
Leveling out your lawn brings more than just aesthetic improvements. Properly grading a yard enhances drainage, irrigation coverage, and overall lawn health.
Boosting Drainage
When rain falls or sprinklers run, water flows downhill. So in an uneven landscape, moisture readily pools in low areas yet runs off peaks.
Depressions that hold water compromise plants. Grassroots will rot when soaked for more than a few days, creating dead patches prone to weeds and other problems.
Grading fills in such problem pockets so precipitation percolates down evenly through the soil profile. That helps grass roots grow vigorously to better withstand drought and pest pressures.
Improving Irrigation Efficiency
Similarly, a graded yard with smooth contours ensures irrigation systems water uniformly. Rotor and spray heads have a set throw distance. So on a bumpy lawn, their streams don’t reach raised areas.
Every high or low spot that irrigation misses is a green-grass-deprived eyesore waiting to happen. Leveling corrects this by keeping the entire landscape at a consistent height within a system’s range.
Promoting Turf Health
Grading also sets the stage for healthier grass. Lawns with uneven terrain tend to have thinning turf cover. That’s because the blade and root growth supported varies with the soil depth.
In raised sections, the rootzone is shallower. So plants suffer frequent drought stress, especially on sandy soils. They also can’t expand sideways because of steep slopes.
In low ribbons and bowls where topsoil accumulates deeply, grass becomes floppy and disease-prone due to reduced airflow and light.
Eliminating such ups and downs lets turf mature evenly across each square foot of lawn. That yields a dense mat of finer blades that better hold up to heavy play and foot traffic.
Signs You Need Lawn Leveling
Wondering if it’s time to level out your lawn? Check for these clues:
Bumpy Terrain
High and low points scattered across your yard make mowing a teeth-rattling ride. They also collect thatch and leaves to create lumpy mini-obstacles.
Water Drainage Issues
Certain areas stay soggy days after a good rain while other zones seem perpetually crispy. That indicates poor percolation and runoff.
Irregular Grass Growth
If you notice thinning turf, mossy patches, or spotty irrigation coverage, uneven terrain could be the culprit.
Weed and Disease Flare-ups
Low, compacted spots prone to standing water are breeding grounds for fungal diseases. Weeds also readily colonize bare areas.
Mower Scalping
Ever notice ribbon-like swaths where your mower blades seem to have shorn the lawn down to the dirt? That scalping occurs when wheels sink into dips.
If any of those describe your yard, it likely needs leveling to smooth things out.
DIY Lawn Leveling Gear: Equipment and Materials
Now that you know what lawn grading can do, let’s go over what you’ll need to do it.
Stock up on these essentials before starting your leveling project:
Safety Gear
Protect yourself from sun, flying debris, and heavy loads by wearing:
- Sunscreen
- Brimmed hat
- Work gloves
- Dust mask
- Safety goggles
Measurement Tools
- Tape measure
- String line
- Spirit level or laser level
- Rake handle or long straight board
Soil Amendment Supplies
- Topsoil (fine sandy loam)
- Compost
- Sand
- Organic fertilizer
Mixing Tools
- Garden rake
- Metal hard rake
- Shovel
- Bow rake
- Wheelbarrow
Leveling Tools
- Landscape rake
- Metal hard rake
- Long straight board
- Screening tools – roofing shingle, rigid-tine rake, or mesh roller
Grass Seed
- Quality seed mix suitable for your climate and sun exposure
Skimping on supplies could make leveling harder. But no need to buy the most expensive models either. Most basic tools will make the lawn smooth enough.
How to Level a Lawn: A Step-by-Step Guide
Ready to tackle transforming those lawn lumps and bumps? Awesome!
With the right tools and techniques, even first-timers can regrade their yard. Here’s a step-by-step guide to DIY lawn leveling from start to smooth finish.
Step 1: Remove Debris and Dead Grass
Before breaking ground, clear away anything that might get in the way of working the soil.
Use a stiff rake or power dethatcher to remove:
- Thatch layers
- Weeds
- Twigs and rocks
- Leaves and grass clippings
Also, expose the soil surface by scalping down thick or tall grass. Mow as low as possible without completely removing living plants.
Step 2: Map Your Lawn’s Grades
Now to analyze what parts need filling or shaving. String lines let you visualize your lawn’s topography.
Stretch mason lines end-to-end across several directions:
- Longways front to back
- Sideways across the width
- Diagonally corner to corner
Wherever lines bulge up or sag down indicates high and low points needing correction. Outline these with marking paint.
Step 3: Calculate Soil Needs
Figuring out how much new soil you’ll need prevents shortages mid-project.
Use stakes and a line level to determine the depth ranges across uneven areas or the overall desired grade. Then use length x width x depth measurements for each zone to compute the cubic yards required.
As a rule of thumb, plan for 1.5 to 2 inches of amended topsoil. That might take 10 or more yards for larger lawns. Give yourself 20% more than the estimates to be safe.
Step 4: Select Quality Fill Materials
What you put back into low areas makes a huge impact on results. Use amended soil mixes that resemble the texture of the surrounding turf.
The ideal lawn leveling materials are:
Topsoil – Loamy and free of weeds, sticks, and large stones
Sand – Coarse builder’s sand
Compost – Fine-screened compost
Fertilizer – Granulated organic
Combine two parts of topsoil with one part of compost and sand. Then stir in a couple of pounds of fertilizer per cubic yard.
Step 5: Transport and Spread Fill Dirt
Now the real soil-moving work begins! Barrow amended soil into low spots first. Shovel and rake it out evenly about 1 inch at a time.
To prevent compaction tamp down additions lightly with the back of a rake. Then screen off any piles and fill in remaining low areas until smooth.
Step 6: Feather Edge High Points
Once it’s level from left to right, smoothing things front to back is next. This blending of soil depths is called “feather edging”.
Simply rake thin layers of dirt from any high points into adjacent low zones. Blend these transitional areas so no abrupt ledges remain between level changes.
Step 7: Shape the Final Grade
The last step is molding slopes for proper drainage. Grade downward from buildings at about 1 inch drop per horizontal foot.
Use a long board as a guide, checking work frequently with a level. When smoothed out remove any rocks or debris the grading process unearthed.
Step 8: Compact and Seed Grassy Patches
Roll the newly graded lawn using a water-filled landscape roller to settle the soil. Then apply starter fertilizer and grass seed to bare areas.
Water gently daily until new growth is mowed twice. Let new grass mature several weeks before heavy use.
Caring for Newly Leveled Lawns
Your work isn’t completely done once grading is finished. Maintaining that smooth grade involves encouraging root development through proper lawn care.
Here are key ways to protect your investment:
Inspect often – Check for sinking or repairs needed, especially after rains. Fill any dips immediately before they worsen.
Mow higher – Allow seeded areas to grow taller between mowings. This helps new grass establish deeper roots.
Water thoroughly – Moisten soil to a 4-6 inch depth without oversaturating. Use sprinkler gauges to track coverage.
Aerate annually – Core aeration relieves soil compaction from equipment used during construction.
Reseed worn areas – Rapid growth exposes tender grass. Reseed spots that show damage to keep lawn density.
With attentive follow-up care year-round, your leveled lawn will only get better season after season.
4 Biggest Lawn Leveling Mistakes to Avoid
When working with soil to alter grades, it’s easy to go astray. Don’t lose ground by making these common landscaping faux pas:
1. Scalping Down Too Close
Never remove more than the top 1/3 of grass leaf blades when cutting low to prep a lawn. Any closer risks killing the entire plant.
Always leave some green foliage intact so crowns can recover quickly. Wait until the turf regrows several inches before smothering it with new dirt.
2. Burying Grass Plants
Just like scalping too severely, piling a lot of loose soil onto living grass before it’s tall enough to poke through risks rot and die out.
Add thin layers incrementally allowing plants to pop up as you go. Or lift low strands temporarily out of the way when dumping deeper fill.
3. Compacting Soil Too Densely
While some tamping helps stabilize fresh fill, overdoing it squeezes out the air spaces plant roots need to spread.
Use equipment weight alone while grading rather than stomping to ensure no excess compression. Leave finished grades loose enough for water and oxygen to permeate.
4. Allowing Erosion Risk
When recontouring a lawn, new slopes can be prone to washing out if rainfall arrives before turf takes hold.
Mitigate this by covering freshly filled areas with erosion-control fabric barriers until grass emerges. Use wood planks or sandbags to fortify swales and drainage channels.
Should You Hire It Out? DIY vs. Professional Lawn Grading
You’ll need to decide upfront whether to DIY or hire a pro landscaper for lawn leveling. Which option makes more sense for your needs?
Going Pro: When to Call the Experts
Turning the work over to professional landscapers or grading contractors offers advantages like:
Precise grading – Laser-guided equipment expertly recontours for positive drainage
Access to equipment – Skip equipment rental costs by having pros bring tractors, bobcats, and other major machinery
Warranties – Many companies guarantee their renovation results for a year or more
No heavy labor – Save your back and energy since crews handle all the toughest dirt-moving chores
Hiring help can make quick work of major overhauls across acres of lawn or deeper terrain changes. Their experience also prevents costly rework.
So for most sizable, in-depth leveling projects, professional assistance proves worthwhile if within budget.
Going Solo: When to DIY
But tackling lawn grading yourself as a homeowner makes sense in many mild cases like:
Small yards – Modest patches of lawn an average person can smooth solo over a few weekends
Minor dips – Light smoothing needs just an inch or less of adjusted depth
Tight budget – Saving money by self-performing sweat equity work
Ongoing maintenance – Annual touch-up leveling to upkeep new-found flatness
With the right tools and commitment, many homeowners find simple lawn grading techniques quite doable. Dabble first in flatter front or side sections before attempting more sloped terrain.
Unsure what you’re getting into? Try a test patch first to gauge the workload and results before diving into the whole landscape.
Reclaim Your Lawn’s Level Glory
Like any renovation project, lawn leveling takes effort. But so does living with bumpy turf that frustrates your mower and Mars curb appeal.
By understanding what’s involved with grading techniques, even homeowners can smooth out their landscape. And as the grass grows greener on leveled ground, you’ll be glad you gave your lawn an even break.
The makeover results will have you beaming like a proud greenskeeper. So why settle for playing on uneven turf when with a little labor you can restore a smooth, beautiful lawn that gives as good as it gets?
