How to Level a Bumpy Lawn
Homeowners wish to have an aesthetically pleasing lawn. Typically, this means having a flat and rectangular area filled with lush, green grass. Sadly, slopes and low spots can emerge and make your lawn look unsightly. Thus, you should know how to level a bumpy lawn.
Determine the Cause of a Bumpy Lawn
There are several reasons why your lawn has developed an uneven surface. By identifying the cause, you can perform the fix. For one, the huge earthworms more commonly known as nightcrawlers could move around 20 tons of soil to the surface annually. If you see them in your lawn, try to lower the pH level of your soil.
Another cause is waterlogging, which is more likely to occur during winter due to snowfall or rainfall. When surface water stays for far too long in your lawn, lumps will begin to appear.
To fix this, you should ensure a good drainage system for your lawn. Furthermore, soil settlement might be the culprit. If so, just dig up the uneven area and break up any of the rocks or debris underneath.
Level in Spring and Irrigate the Lawn
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The best time for leveling a bumpy lawn is in spring. This is a period when your grass seeds have enough time for growth while the soil gets adequate moisture to properly settle.
Before you do attempt to level your lawn, irrigate it first to ensure that the soil is not hard or too compacted. However, pay attention to how much water you are providing to your lawn since too much will also make it hard to level the area.
Level the Shallow Spots
The next process is for fixing low spots that only have a one-centimeter or two-centimeter difference compared to the normal level of the soil. Simply get a topdressing mixture and apply it directly onto the shallow low spot. Get a garden rake to fill the low spots evenly.
Afterward, make the soil compact by stepping on it. You can also use the flat portion of the garden rake for this. In addition, lightly irrigating this area will support soil compaction.
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Just leave it after this and allow it to settle for some time. Once several days have passed, it’s time to plant grass seeds and apply another thin layer topdressing mixture. Instead of stepping on the area, just use your hands to carefully make the area compact.
During the first two days of having planted the grass seeds in the newly leveled area, you need to lightly water the soil four times a day. This is the amount needed for seed germination to commence properly. After this period, you just have to go back to regular watering to let the seeds grow.
Level the Deep Spots
If the bumps in your lawn are caused by low spots that are at least two centimeters deeper than the normal soil surface level, this is what you should follow. First, get a square point shovel and use it to mark the center and edges of the bump or low spot.
Essentially, you will be forming a cross-shaped cut, with all cuts being ideally even. Having even cuts will lessen the difficulty of lifting up the soil without it breaking up.
Consequently, ensure that you make cuts at a depth ranging from four centimeters to five centimeters. Afterward, slide the square point shovel below the soil to perform horizontal cuts. The soil should have a bit of moisture so that it won’t crumble once you move it.
To help keep the soil together, try to let the square point shovel as flat as you can. Thus, you can flatly lay these sections of turf back to your lawn after the uneven areas are dealt with.
If you notice any more bumps, simply remove the excessive soil underneath the lawn grass. Just dig them up after you’ve made the horizontal cuts.
Once the affected area is leveled with the nearby sections, return the strips of lawn grass back to where they were. Treat down to enhance soil compaction and prevent any more low spots.
You’ll notice gaps due to the cuts you’ve made for leveling the lawn. Cover these areas with a topdressing mixture to prevent them from getting dry.
In addition, sowing grass seeds in these gaps of the cross-section and watering them regularly will help restore the lush and green appearance.
Finally, place a wooden stick in the previously bumpy areas. This will allow you to check if the soil has become uneven again.
Here is a video of fixing a bumpy lawn:
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Overall, leveling a bumpy lawn does not always require professional help. Except for problems with the water pipes and the overall drainage system, you can address the issues on your own.
Sometimes, a bumpy lawn is just caused by pesky nightcrawlers or natural soil settlement. Regardless, it’s important to know how to level your lawn without damaging the turf.
We hope that our guide helped you to keep a beautiful, leveled lawn. If you have any queries, feel free to give us a comment.
About the Author Ann Katelyn
I'm Ann, I have dedicated most of my life in gardening. This is a subject I enjoy the most. Since then, I committed to developing my website to be the best guidance when it comes to taking care of flowers and plants. I am trying my best to be well-versed with plants found in desert areas, tropics or Mediterranean. I still need to be knowledgeable about so many kinds of botanical life.
