Grading and leveling your yard and lawn can vary widely in price. Hiring a professional — According to Improve. People always seem to ask: why do I need to even need to grade my yard? The reason you need to grade your yard is for proper drainage. Eventually, this is going to kill your grass and cause more headaches than anything else.
I get asked quite a bit whether you should level your recessed areas with sand and my quick answer is: NO because, in the summertime heat, sand is known to dry out pretty quickly. Over time, this will affect the grass above and will most likely starve it of water, therefore killing it. Yes, if you do have a bigger area it may be a little bit more difficult and we do recommend at least consulting with a professional before you start on your own. For most people with a normal sized yard and existing landscapes that has semi-adequate drainage, this is a pretty easy process that can be completed at a much lower cost than hiring a professional.
Have you graded or level your yard? If so, we love to hear how it went. Leave a comment below and let us know! Very helpful…. Would you use different materials? We are starting a project right now for leveling our yard to add artificial turf, and gravel or paver walkways, with a garden in the back.
We have a sq ft backyard, which is right now all dirt with rocks in it due to the house build, and our side yards need better drainage. Are there any tips on doing this DIY? We obviously want to save on labor costs by doing it ourselves. We live in Arizona, so are dealing with the desert, any specific top soil composition for that? Must add I meant are there any additional tips for the DIY project.
I realize this article is about DIY leveling. Thank you for this article, it really helped me understand the direction to take our project. I appreciate the comments, SCB!
The best recommendation I can make is just do a lot of research. My backyard is bumpy and lumpy, It needs grading and leveling. I have had some pretty expensive estimate from five thousands and more. This is a tiny backyard, I never thought of doing it myself, but after reading your post I think I might be able to take it on. Thank you so much. This article was co-authored by Benjamin Hansen. With over 12 years of experience, Benjamin specializes in transforming properties into aesthetic, functional, and drought-tolerant oases.
Benjamin uses color scheme, dimension, and water conscious spaces to inspire the design and installation of soft scape, hardscape, patios, pathways, irrigation, drainage, fencing, concrete, lighting, and electrical work. Artscape Gardens covers all areas of the C landscape contractor classification. This article has been viewed 1,, times. Homeowners level ground in their yards for a variety of reasons.
Some people level the ground before building a new home, especially when the property has hills. Others level ground to prepare for new above-ground swimming pools, swing sets, driveways, sheds or patios. Some people even level the ground before planting grass seed, flowers and vegetable gardens. Whatever your reason to level ground, the process is the same. To level ground, start by using strings attached to stakes set at the height where you would like the ground to sit to see how much dirt you will need to put down.
Then, remove any existing grass from the area, and use a shovel to add an even layer of ground cover. Spread the material with a rake and use a level and measuring tape to check the grade of the land. Carefully tamp the soil down to make it flat, and let it settle for 2 days.
For more tips, including how to regrow grass, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No. Log in Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue. No account yet? Create an account. Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article parts. Tips and Warnings. Things You'll Need.
Related Articles. Article Summary. Part 1. Stake off your area to level. This area does not need to be perfectly square or rectangular unless you are planning on using sod instead of simply replanting your grass. Drive wooden or plastic stakes around the area to be leveled.
Use a string level. Attach strings to stretch between the stakes, a few inches above the ground. Attach a string level to the strings to determine the high point. This will usually be your starting point and the rest of the ground will be brought to here, but you can also lower some ground if that makes more sense for your project.
Adjust the strings. Using a tape measure and your level, adjust the strings until you can see how much height needs to be added or taken away across the area you are adjusting. Adjust for grade. Keep in mind that you may want to adjust the grade of your land to help combat drainage problems.
Your land should be graded 1" for every 4', leading away from your home. Part 2. Remove the grass if necessary.
If you are leveling a small area and it is mostly level, you probably will not need to remove the grass. However, if you have a large area and a lot of leveling to do, removing the grass will be much easier. A simple shovel is all that's necessary for a reasonable amount of space. Add your ground cover. If you want to grow grass in this area, the cover will need to be nutrient rich. If you want to level for a pool or shed, soil and sand will do just fine.
Spread the topsoil. Use a garden rake to spread the material evenly, checking using your level and a measuring tape to make sure it's staying level. If you have a large area to cover, there are small versions of ground moving equipment that you can rent from your local hardware store. They will be able to advise you on what will work best for your property. Tamp the soil. If you are leveling a small area, you can tamp the soil using your foot and the bottom of your rake.
If you are leveling a large area, or it is especially important to keep the ground level such as if you are building a structure , get a tamper or plate compactor to compact the soil. Let it settle. Give the soil plenty of time to settle. It needs at least 48 hours, if not several days or weeks to settle properly. Mist the area with water if your area does not get rainfall during that time. Part 3. Spread your seeds. If you are intending to reintroduce grass to that area, you will need to buy grass seed that is appropriate for your needs and the area in which you live.
Get your seed, as well as a hand spreader or other tool to spread the seed evenly. Lightly cover with more soil. Lightly cover the seeds with a sprinkling of topsoil and lightly tamp it down. Water lightly. Mist the area with water 4 times a day for at least 2 days to encourage the seeds to germinate.
Reseed as necessary. Give the grass time to grow in and then reseed areas where the grass does not grow in to your satisfaction. Alternatively, buy sod. You can also buy sod if you are impatient or want a particularly uniform appearance. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow.
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