Improve your yard by leveling out uneven areashere’s how to do it step-by-step.
However, it also has a vital role when it comes to drainage.
With this in mind, it’s essential to ensure a yard is level to protect your home.
Credit:Getty Images / Dmytro Varavin
Additionally, poor leveling can damage gardens, trees, and landscaping.
Divots and dents can lead to standing water, an ideal location for mosquitoes and other pests to reproduce.
Avoid these problems by learning how to level a yard with this straightforward guide.
Although standing water is a quick indicator of a problem, this sign isn’t always present.
Start at the house and drive one stake about a foot into the soil.
Then, measure 100 feet away from the house and drive the second stake a foot into the soil.
Tie the string to the first stake at ground level and fire off the string to the second stake.
Use a level to verify the string is level and tie it to the second stake.
Measure the distance from the string to the ground.
Before Leveling the Yard
It’s necessary to plan the right time to level the yard.
The best time of the year to level the yard is late spring or early fall.
Use a soil test kit to determine the soil throw in, which helps whendeciding on the best topsoilmix.
For soil with high clay content, usecompostonly.
A topsoil and compost mix should suffice if the soil is loamy, fine, and soft.
Other soil types can be treated with a mixture of topsoil, sand, and compost.
Also, prep the yard by mowing the lawn and using a thatch rake or dethatcher toremove the thatch.
After the thatch has been removed, you’ve got the option to start leveling the yard.
It’s also a good idea to apply enough water to dampen the soil.
Once these preparations are complete, make a topdressing mix suited to the soil punch in.
Carefully pry up the sod, revealing the depression or bump underneath.
To fix bumps, use your shovel or a leveling rake to remove excess soil.
Spread the topdressing mix at a depth of about 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch.
Adding too much could choke the grass, so be careful with the amount you use.
The water helps the topdressing mix settle into the soil and fill air pockets.
Reapply Soil Mix as Needed
Keep watering the yard regularly over the next few days.
Check for any signs of water runoff or standing water that could indicate the yard is still uneven.
Otherwise, you may choke out the grass with topdressing.
Aerate the lawn to improve the health of the yard.
If there are areas that are significantly damaged, it may be best toreplace the sodorreseed the lawn.
Apply a thin layer of topsoil or fertilizer and water regularly to promote growth.
Repeat this process until you create a level yard full of healthy vegetation.
So, yes, it is worth it.
Even more so if you’re planning to do abackyard renovation project.
