How To Level A Bumpy Lawn?

There are tons of headaches from a lumpy lawn – difficult mowing, poor soil health, and risks of stripping if you don’t watch out your steps. Not to say that it looks ugly.

It’s time to fix it! Here are our guides on how to level a bumpy lawn depending on the slope level and many other things. Read on!

Why Is My Lawn So Lumpy?

By inspecting and finding out the reason making your lawn lumpy, you will get the best solution to level it. Here are the most common reasons making a lawn so bumpy:

Nightcrawler Earthworms

An adult nightcrawler earthworm can consume, digest, and recycle 4.5 pounds of soil per year. The more of these huge earthworms, the higher the amount of soil moved to the surface, resulting in a bumpier area.

How to fix: If you find the population density of nightcrawler earthworms in your lawn is too much, try to lower the pH level of the soil.

Poor Lawn Health

Poor soil has a tendency to become diseased and patchy, which makes some areas prone to erode and the surface is uneven.

How to fix: Renovate your soil by testing its pH level and nutrient ingredients to find out the right treatment. Choose the right fertilizer to feed it, rake/aerate frequently and don’t forget to water.

Besides, you should choose the right types of grass for your soil.

Seasonal Free-Thaw

Some areas with harsh climates might suffer frozen winter months, and this can be a reason for your lumpy lawn.

Some patches of grass are weaker than others, which will die and decay under the snow layers, which you only notice once thawing.

How to fix: Regrow new grasses in these areas or find a better way to cover/protect your lawn in the next winter.

Poor Drainage

This also affects your lawn health because frequent waterlogging increases the risk of rot and disease on the grass.

How to fix: Try to extend the downspout to direct and divert the runoffs to the drain hole rather than your lawn. Or, you can build a French drain.

How To Level A Bumpy Lawn

What You’ll Need:

• One sprinkler
• Top dressing mixture
• One garden rake or lawn rake
• One flat-edged lawn spade/a mower
• An aerator (optional)

Choose the right topdressing mixture for your soil. For example, use a blend of topsoil and compost for clay soils. Use any gritty top dressing mixtures, like a blend of topsoil, compost, or peat, and coarse sand for loam or sandy soils.

How-To:

With under 1” drops

Step 1: Use a spade to make clean, vertical cuts along your lawn’s edges around the deep drops. If you intend to use a mower, set the blade speed at the lowest mode.

Step 2: Remove the excess turf and gently place it aside.

Aerate the soil if it hasn’t been aerated for three years now.

Step 3: Fill the deep drops with top dressing until it’s at the same degree as other areas. However, it should not be over ½”, otherwise your grass might be buried and hardly grow.

Step 4: Rake the surface to smoothen it, then walk around this space to press the new soil.

Step 5: Apply some grass seeds, gently press them into the ground then water them

With 1”-24” drops

Step 1: Repeat as above.

Step 2: Water the soil, press your spade, or shovel into it below the root level to create 1-foot-square cuts. Identify the conditions of your turf to set a good plan.

For example, replace the current sod or grass if it’s too weak. Conversely, roll up the sod grass-side inward and put it in a shady spot. Remember to water it properly.

Step 3: Inspect to find out the reason causing your lawn to sink, like leakage or rotten logs. Then, fix it.

Step 4: Fill the hole with the top dressing mixture. For each 6” layer of top dressing, walk around and water it to press the new soil.

Step 5: Reseed the lawn or replace the sod, then water well.

When to level a lumpy lawn?

The best time to do this is during spring or early fall because of the softer soil texture and your grass has enough time to thrive through the top dressing layer.

How To Remain The Flat Surface Of Your Lawn

Fixing a bumpy lawn takes time, effort, and even some money. To avoid that, you should:

• Choose the right type of grasses that suit your lawn soil, weather, and climate
• Control weeds and pests in your lawn
• Apply proper fertilizers
• Frequently aerate the soil
• Water your turf properly

Conclusion

If your lawn is severely eroded and you have no idea how to regrade the whole area, ask a professional landscape designer for help because they will come with some dedicated tools and equipment, such as a backhoe and site level.

They will save you lots of time and effort to get a new beautiful lawn again. Of course, consider your budget first before deciding to carry out any regrading plan.

And that’s how to level a bumpy lawn. If you have any questions, kindly let us know. Thanks for reading!