How to level my backyard - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Hardknock · 08-28-2005, 06:37 PM

When I bought my house last year the backyard was a complete jungle. I somehow got it down to the point where it's manageable but there are so many bumps, potholes and tiny hills that the entire yard is completely uneven. Whenever I go over it with the mower it always bumps all over the place. How can I somewhat level it? Any type of machine I can use?

mazak · 08-28-2005, 07:10 PM

hi,not sure how much land we're talking about but, a garden tiller i would reccomend a self propelled rear tine tiller .simply run over it like cutting the grass, with a push mower. it will knock down the hills and it will make it flat. then you fill in the low spots. if its a lot of land a small tractor and a box blade will make small work of it .hope this helps and good luck!

Hardknock · 08-28-2005, 08:44 PM

Not a lot of land. Just the backyard of my 1000 SQ house.

Martian · 08-28-2005, 10:59 PM

Yeah, a tiller will do the job. Be aware that you'll have to reseed the grass afterwards, which means you'll be cultivating mud for a year or so and it'll be 2-3 before the grass comes in thick enough to really look right, as it were. The result however, should be a nice flat, level lawn and if you reseed well it should come up quite lush as well.

Normally I'd say to plant any perennials you want at the same time, since the soil will be nice and loose after the tiller does it's thing, but given that it's so late in the season you're just going to have to hold off until next year.

Daniel_ · 08-29-2005, 12:43 AM

Turf.

edmos1 · 08-31-2005, 09:28 PM

till, and bring in topsoil. then roll out with a roller to level. string level it to fill in low spots

then seed, or hydroseed, or sod

irateplatypus · 09-02-2005, 08:50 AM

if you want to avoid the price having sod set down... there is a way to do it on the cheap.

i'm not quite sure how severe your problem is... but there is a decent chance some sand and a few laps with a heavy roller would do the job by itself.

string level and pour sand/dirt in the deep holes when the ground is dry. then, wait until the ground is soft from rain (but not too soft, you'll just bog down and damage your grass) and do an even roll as if you were mowing it to smooth out the little hills.

your lawn will most certainly be damaged, but it recovers well from the sand and a little care with the roller will not make it too traumatic.

Powderedmaggot · 09-02-2005, 11:51 AM

If you just want to even out the lawn and not necessarily level it get a load of sand and a wheelbarrow and walk around and fill the holes. If you level your lawn it will become a big mud hole. You need a slope to provide drainage.

Hardknock · 09-03-2005, 11:45 AM

Can't I just fill it with top soil? How am I supposed to get rid of sand once it's there?

irateplatypus · 09-03-2005, 07:45 PM

lol, i wouldn't worry about getting rid of the sand.

in my experience, sand is a great filler for holes. it's cheap, transports easily, and will fill holes with a minimum of labor. i certainly wouldn't recommend filling gaping holes with it, but the grass will grow back naturally over it. (at least it has with all the soil types i've had experience with)

i'm sure if you ask your local home depot or lowes guy, he can direct you toward your optimum filler based on your soil and application.

thingstodo · 09-08-2005, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irateplatypus

lol, i wouldn't worry about getting rid of the sand.

in my experience, sand is a great filler for holes. it's cheap, transports easily, and will fill holes with a minimum of labor. i certainly wouldn't recommend filling gaping holes with it, but the grass will grow back naturally over it. (at least it has with all the soil types i've had experience with)

i'm sure if you ask your local home depot or lowes guy, he can direct you toward your optimum filler based on your soil and application.

There you go...ask the pros local to your area!

08-28-2005, 06:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
Hardknock Republican slayer Location: WA	How to level my backyard When I bought my house last year the backyard was a complete jungle. I somehow got it down to the point where it's manageable but there are so many bumps, potholes and tiny hills that the entire yard is completely uneven. Whenever I go over it with the mower it always bumps all over the place. How can I somewhat level it? Any type of machine I can use?

08-28-2005, 10:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	Yeah, a tiller will do the job. Be aware that you'll have to reseed the grass afterwards, which means you'll be cultivating mud for a year or so and it'll be 2-3 before the grass comes in thick enough to really look right, as it were. The result however, should be a nice flat, level lawn and if you reseed well it should come up quite lush as well. Normally I'd say to plant any perennials you want at the same time, since the soil will be nice and loose after the tiller does it's thing, but given that it's so late in the season you're just going to have to hold off until next year. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

08-29-2005, 12:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
Daniel_ Evil Priest: The Devil Made Me Do It! Location: Southern England	Turf. __________________ ╔═════════════════════════════════════════╗ Overhead, the Albatross hangs motionless upon the air, And deep beneath the rolling waves, In labyrinths of Coral Caves, The Echo of a distant time Comes willowing across the sand; And everthing is Green and Submarine ╚═════════════════════════════════════════╝

09-02-2005, 08:50 AM	#7 (permalink)
irateplatypus can't help but laugh Location: dar al-harb	if you want to avoid the price having sod set down... there is a way to do it on the cheap. i'm not quite sure how severe your problem is... but there is a decent chance some sand and a few laps with a heavy roller would do the job by itself. string level and pour sand/dirt in the deep holes when the ground is dry. then, wait until the ground is soft from rain (but not too soft, you'll just bog down and damage your grass) and do an even roll as if you were mowing it to smooth out the little hills. your lawn will most certainly be damaged, but it recovers well from the sand and a little care with the roller will not make it too traumatic. __________________ If you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly, you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance for survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves. ~ Winston Churchill

09-03-2005, 07:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
irateplatypus can't help but laugh Location: dar al-harb	lol, i wouldn't worry about getting rid of the sand. in my experience, sand is a great filler for holes. it's cheap, transports easily, and will fill holes with a minimum of labor. i certainly wouldn't recommend filling gaping holes with it, but the grass will grow back naturally over it. (at least it has with all the soil types i've had experience with) i'm sure if you ask your local home depot or lowes guy, he can direct you toward your optimum filler based on your soil and application. __________________ If you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly, you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance for survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves. ~ Winston Churchill

08-28-2005, 07:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
mazak Crazy Location: louisianna	hi,not sure how much land we're talking about but, a garden tiller i would reccomend a self propelled rear tine tiller .simply run over it like cutting the grass, with a push mower. it will knock down the hills and it will make it flat. then you fill in the low spots. if its a lot of land a small tractor and a box blade will make small work of it .hope this helps and good luck!

08-28-2005, 08:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
Hardknock Republican slayer Location: WA	Not a lot of land. Just the backyard of my 1000 SQ house.

08-31-2005, 09:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
edmos1 Daddy Location: Right next door to Hell	till, and bring in topsoil. then roll out with a roller to level. string level it to fill in low spots then seed, or hydroseed, or sod

09-02-2005, 11:51 AM	#8 (permalink)
Powderedmaggot Banned	If you just want to even out the lawn and not necessarily level it get a load of sand and a wheelbarrow and walk around and fill the holes. If you level your lawn it will become a big mud hole. You need a slope to provide drainage.

09-03-2005, 11:45 AM	#9 (permalink)
Hardknock Republican slayer Location: WA	Can't I just fill it with top soil? How am I supposed to get rid of sand once it's there?