Evening out the lawn

d0nkeyk0ng

Around the end of October, I cut the lawn and then scarified it using a manual scarifier. I thought it would be straightforward to use but the slight dips and bumps in the lawn meant that at times I was ripping out chunks of lawn.

This has left me with with small dips with no grass. I've also got a large dip (approx 1m x 1m, drips to 4-5cm in middle) on one side of the lawn. I want to even the whole thing up.

Could I just use topsoil and rake it in?
How do I then flatten it down? I plan to reseed/overseed the lawn in March (weather permitting).
Should I cut and peel the bump and fill it in? Or should I just topdressing over it?

My aim this year is to get the lawn level and well-seeded with grass.

Justagardener

Cheap garden centre compost is ideal for this and if you can mix a bit of John innes in even better. There are two advantages to this, the compost mix is light and allows grass to grow through on the higher spots and secondly grass seed germinates very easily in this compost. You can often pick up cheap split bags or 3 for a tenner type deal at the garden centre and it's surprising the area you can cover. In my experience top soil is a bit too heavy for the situation you are describing.

greatgimpo

Given time, maybe a year or two, the compost will completely disappear. I would use top soil and seed or turf it.

Justagardener

Given time, maybe a year or two, the compost will completely disappear. I would use top soil and seed or turf it.

I disagree, ten years ago we had a bad infestation of chafer grubs on a full size croquet court which attracted badgers and crows who turned the court into a ploughed field with in two days. We used this method of repair and it was 100% successful even to this day.

glasgowdan

I wouldn't use compost either. It's not suitable for even/fine lawns. Topsoil, applied generously every 8-10 weeks in the growing season until level, and raked in with a nice wide chelwood rake or dragmat.

martinthebandit

Have a read, https://www.todayshomeowner.com/top-dressing-to-improve-the-soil-in-your-lawn/

I plan on doing mine in the spring and I won't be using compost either.

Justagardener

Have a read, https://www.todayshomeowner.com/top-dressing-to-improve-the-soil-in-your-lawn/

I plan on doing mine in the spring and I won't be using compost either.

Step 2...

Step 2: Prepare Your Top-Dressing

You can make your own top-dressing using a mixture of:
Sharp sand (not sea sand which contains lime)
Loam or topsoil (a fine crumbly soil that is neither clay nor sandy)
Peat (or compost if your soil needs a nutritional punch, but be prepared for sprouting weeds!)

I agree that a fine sandy topdressing mix is ideal for top dressing..i.e. putting a THIN layer over the lawn and then using a drag mat, is the correct way to topdress, thus allowing the blades of fine grass a standing chance of growing through giving an even surface overtime. However, in a domestic situation (which I think we are talking about here) where good results are achieved in the first season professional topdressing is not always possible, You can dump 3-4" of topdressing in the hollows if you want to but you will end up with a sandy pan splodge and very poor looking grass and germination rate.

glasgowdan

Justagardener wrote: »

Step 2...
You can dump 3-4" of topdressing in the hollows if you want to but you will end up with a sandy pan splodge and very poor looking grass and germination rate.

Nobody suggested this

d0nkeyk0ng

Thanks. I think I'll try and cut back the turf and add in the soil to even out the large dip. With the general dips/bumpiness, I'll go down the route of top dressing. Have seen videos on it. Looks like levelling lutes would be a great tool but over the top IMO for a lawn that is at most 25sqm.