Advice on how to level lawn appreciated...

Hi all,

Last year I grew a new lawn from seed. Unfortunately it is not as level as I had hoped for. I realise that I can rectify this problem by regular top-dressing, and I intend to do this over the next season. However, I am not sure if I will get it right by just using the back of a rake, and I was looking on other options such as the use of dragmats or levelawns.

What do you suggest is the best option?

Many thanks for your help,

Pablo

 

Low spots aren't such a problem as you can build up the lawn by gradually filling them in with good topsoil put through an 6mm riddle. Just even the height with the edge of a wooden batten (a straight floor board is ideal) dragged over the soil. It's better to under fill a deep hollow and build it up in stages to allow the grass to grow up through. The lawnmower should do the rest.

Crests on a lawn will always be subject to damage by the mower so high spots need to be treated with care. Use a sharp turfing spade to cut a cross in the centre of the high spot, carefully cut underneath the turf and peel back to expose the soil then remove some soil untill the turf will lie back down level to your satisfaction which you can check with your batten. If possible avoid heavy traffic on the resettled turf until it's established itself again. You will probably need to water the patch during dry spells.

Generally I use the batten and eye aproach when dealing with large lawns as you can then create natural looking curves and sweeps which will mow without problems but not have a bowling green flat table which can look odd (unless you want to play bowls of course :D )

 

Even compaction or firmness is the key. use a roller if you can get one if not heal it in rake it heal it in rake it about 6 times untill it is all firm. I like level on's but its all about how well you can use the tool as you probably noticed your self you have to flick the rake at the end of each pull or drag to avoid clumping. You will also get different results from damping down topsoils and i recogmend you do damp down again to firm your topsoil allowing you to see any dips or humps you may have.

 

ive not heard of these tools, can you explain please

 

Thanks for your advice frogesque and turf doc.

Just a few further questions:

I had been thinking about using a roller, but read that this would not level the lawn, but only compact the bumps and dips. But I agree that to me it seemed an attractive option to do it that way. I was also not ware that a levelawn was difficult to use, as I have never used them before.

Lady Gardener,
I shall make an attempt to explain those tools as good as I can but I am sure there are better experts on this forum.

A levelawn is like a rectangular metal frame , attached to a handle and it is designed to level your lawn when top dressing.

A dragmat can be used for the same purpose, but it is a mesh either made from steel or cord, that you can drag over your lawn.

Hope this make sense.

Pablo

 

If it is not a massive lawn you could use a straight edge. This could be a piece of timber, also knock in, as working, small pegs to give you a guide for leveling and filling in.