So you want to know how to level a lawn with topsoil so that you can have the lawn everyone wants which is a lawn like a putting green.
It is actually quite simple to level a lawn if it is only moderately uneven but if your lawn is very, very uneven then it may take some work to get it truly level.
My lawn was not perfect when I moved into my new house and I did not get it perfect in one year, I thought I did at the time but then I started to notice that actually there were still some uneven parts or at least parts of my lawn were still not as perfect as I had dreamed of.
It is definitely possible to get your lawn completely level in one session so you should read this article if you want to learn from the mistakes I made so that you don’t make them.
There are different methods you can use for leveling your lawn and different tools on the market that will help you achieve your goal. It all depends on how uneven your lawn is and whether you want it to be just level or putting green level.
It is simple to level a lawn with topsoil, all you have to do is spread a thin layer of quality topsoil over your lawn. Just make sure you spread it only between ¼ – ½ inch thick and you will see massive benefits.
What Causes An Uneven Lawn
You have an uneven lawn and you want to know how to get it level again so the first thing you have to do is figure out what has made your lawn become uneven.
There are many things that can cause your lawn to become uneven and some of them are as follows:
- Animals – animals can be a nightmare if you want a perfect lawn. Whether it is foxes that have dug a hole looking for food and its then grown in or moles that not only create molehills but when the tunnels the moles create collapse it leads to an uneven lawn.
- Water Damage – If your lawn becomes waterlogged during the winter this can lead to your lawn becoming uneven. If your lawn does become waterlogged you really ought to get that problem sorted before you set about leveling your lawn.
- Soil Settlement – In soil settlement, I would count this as anything that happens under the surface of your lawn that is beyond your control. It depends on what is under your lawn whether it is pipes, rocks or debris from when your house was built. If the composition under your lawn is changing or eroding that would cause an uneven lawn.
If you suspect your lawn is uneven because of any of these problems you really should address the problem and get that sorted before you set about leveling your lawn. Otherwise, you will level your lawn and it may well deteriorate into a state of unevenness again.
Check out my full article on using compost as topsoil
How Uneven Is Your Lawn
There are definitely different standards of lawn disrepair.
You have to figure out how bad your lawn actually is before you figure out your plan to get it level.
Is your lawn actually only slightly uneven and are you looking to achieve total golf green standard perfection or is your lawn covered in craters that would not look out of place on the moon?
If your lawn has patches that are only 1-2 cm deep and you want to get it level then you will definitely have to use a different tactic to what you would need to do if your lawn has divots that are 2-5 cm deep.
If your lawn is only slightly uneven and you want to level it with topsoil then that is the solution I will give you in detail below, on the other hand, if your lawn has deep holes or divots that you want to get level it is a different scenario and may take some major surgery to get level.
To get deep unevenness on your lawn level you basically will have to slice the turf and lift it up, fill it with enough topsoil to make it even and then put the turf back on top of it.
Check out my full article on tips for leveling an already laid lawn.
Prepare To Level Your Lawn With Topsoil
If you are going to the trouble of leveling your lawn then you really should prepare your lawn properly for it so that you achieve the lawn perfection you are looking for.
Before you set your plan for leveling your lawn it is a good idea to mow it so that you can have a good look at it and see what areas you are going to take action to level out.
Before you take action you should have sorted any issues that you think maybe causing your lawn to become uneven so you may have to consult an expert otherwise when you level your lawn it may actually become uneven again.
When you are leveling your lawn with topsoil you don’t want to be adding the soil to a soaking wet surface so I would recommend you give your lawn a good water a few days before you add topsoil so that it has had a chance to dry out and not be soaking.
Make sure you have everything you need such as a lawn leveling rake and the correct amount of soil before you start the process as you don’t want to be running out of topsoil halfway through the lawn leveling process.
What’s The Best Type Of Topsoil For Leveling A Lawn
If you are going to level your lawn with topsoil there are a few options when it comes to what material you can consider for using to level your lawn. I will now go over what materials different people say you should use or not use to level your lawn and look at the advantages and disadvantages of all the available options.
- Sand – Sand can be used to level lawns and some people like it because it is very fine I texture so it is easy to work it down to the soil. Using sand can cause problems especially if you have soil with a high clay content under your lawn. When sand and clay mix it can turn into a near concrete mixture and that will cause all sorts of drainage problems later on.
- Sand/ Topsoil Mix – Using a sand and topsoil mix is a much better option than using sand on its own. Using this method has the advantage of the sand making it easy yo work through the grass and down to the thatch level whilst the soil makes sure there is still good drainage. The topsoil will also add some nutrients back into your lawn.
- Topsoil – If you use a high-quality topsoil mix for leveling your lawn it will have all sorts of benefits as apart from leveling your lawn it will add organic matter back into your lawn. When you add a blend like this onto your lawn all the nutrients will work their way down to the soil and back into your lawn. Adding quality topsoil to your lawn will have the same effect as using fertilizer on it.
Check out my full article on compost v topsoil.
How To Add Topsoil And Level Your Lawn
If you only need to add a thin layer of topsoil to level your lawn then it really is not a difficult task.
If your lawn has deteriorated and become unlevel then I cannot recommend strongly enough that you actually investigate what the problem is that has made your lawn become uneven before you fix it otherwise it will probably become uneven again after you level it.
The actual task of leveling your lawn with topsoil is simple.
- All you have to do is divide your lawn into sections I use quarters as this makes it easier to spread the topsoil evenly over your whole lawn.
- Get the topsoil mix you have selected and put in little piles that look like molehills evenly all over the sections of your lawn.
- Spread the topsoil evenly over your lawn with a lawn leveling rake or even just use the flat backside of a standard rake or brush to spread it evenly.
That is how simple it is to level a lawn with topsoil and you should then see massive benefits because not only will you have a level lawn but the topsoil will add lots of healthy nutrients back into the root system of your lawn.
Tools For Leveling A Lawn With Topsoil
There are professional tools available on the market for leveling a lawn such as a lawn leveling rake which does make it really simple to evenly spread the topsoil over your lawn and it can also be used for spreading soil evenly in your flowerbed or vegetable patch.
If you are spreading topsoil to level your lawn as a one of then you really don’t have to go to the expense of buying expensive specialist equipment.
All you need is a tool to spread the soil so you could easily improvise and use a tool you already have such as the flat backside of a rake or a brush.
