To prevent a garden with lawn from turning into a tripping hazard in summer, you should remove any unevenness in the lawn. At first glance, this task seems complicated, but considering a few factors, it can be easily accomplished. Additionally, proper lawn care can ensure that your area does not become uneven over time. This will help you avoid lumpy lawns in the garden while reducing the potential danger to small children or older family members. Just check out the tips below to fix an uneven lawn for a level playing field.
What should you know before leveling out small or large unevenness in the lawn?
Bumpy lawns not only make mowing more difficult, but in addition to the dangers mentioned above, they can also become unsightly. Whether it's a few areas or most of your property, it would make sense to know exactly what you're dealing with. In addition, the causes of unevenness in the lawn can be different. For example, if you find that youruneven lawnis due to wildlife digging, you should take appropriate countermeasures. However, if this is the result of mowing the lawn, you can prevent ruts by following certain patterns. AlsoChildren or pets may affect the condition of your propertywhen they burrow into the surface of the lawn. But why does lawn become uneven and what can be done about it?
It often happens that turf becomes denser and makes such unevenness difficult to see. In such cases, yourDo not mow the lawn too shortor trim. These are all influencing factors that are practically impossible to avoid. However, there are some ways to fix bumpy blemishes if they ever happen. While it may be tempting to simply smooth the lawn with a heavy lawn roller, this option often proves useless when the garden surface is uneven. In most cases, this can actually do more harm than good to your lawn, as it leads to soil compaction, which has a lasting negative effect on the grass. Do a little detective work to find out what exactly is causing the problem.
Check the drainage of the soil
Most unevenness in the lawn is often the result of depressions and soil compaction, so rolling over is not a problem. In addition, a ground that is too muddy and wet can quickly become bumpy when pressure is applied to it. Therefore, it is a good idea to increase permeability by aerating your lawn. If the lumps appear near water pipes, it could also be a case of damaged water pipes. However, if there are problems with drainage, additional earthworks may also be necessary. It's best to consult a professional if you suspect this type of problem exists in your garden. Otherwise, you can take a few steps and either fill in any unevenness in the lawn or level it.
This allows small unevenness in the lawn to be straightened out
If the bumps are slight, less than 1 inch (2.5 cm), you can smooth them out by simply pedaling in late spring when the ground is soft. However, a roller filled with water is also suitable for this. Fill it about a third full with water and move it back and forth over your lawn. If the lawn is still uneven, you can add a little more water and repeat the process. However, do not overdo the weight of the lawn roller so as not to compact the garden soil and cause even more complications.
Fill holes in the lawn
If you want to repair hollow spots, top dressing is a common way to level them in the least invasive way possible. To do this, you can combine compost, topsoil and sand and then simply apply the mixture to the low areas. However, it is also important to ensure that the grass underneath is not covered too much. Try to lay a thin layer and rake it to achieve an even distribution. Spread the material evenly over the area to allow for thorough top dressing coverage between the grass blades in the affected area.
Level out deeper and strong unevenness in the lawn
If the holes in your lawn are larger and deeper, the method with top fertilizer can be more complex. In the case of such problem areas, it would therefore make sense to simply pad the area beneath the surface. You can do this by removing the surface turf intact andthe dented spotfill underneath with topsoil. This will allow you to level out any unevenness in the lawn with soil. To do this, you need to add water to the topsoil to remove air pockets. Once you've added enough soil to level the ground, simply replace the turf, water the grass and let nature take its course. If the problem areas are larger, you can remove your sod in smaller pieces.
Follow step-by-step instructions for moderate unevenness in the lawn
If the lawn isn't too uneven, you might consider removing the turf, fixing the cause of the subsidence, and then backfilling it with new soil. However, you will need enough excess topsoil to allow settling. You can then simply reinsert the removed turf. Here are some steps you can follow to do this:
- First, raise the sod over the uneven area. If the area is larger than 12 inches square, consider cutting out several pieces to make them easier to move without breaking. Then put these aside.
- First, gently pull the pieces upwards so that the roots are free from the ground.
- Roll up the strips to keep them moist and move them to a shady area if in the sun.
- Then shovel enough topsoil into the hole so that the area is level after replacing the sod.
- As you shovel the soil into the hole, add water to settle it, which will help remove any air pockets.
- Replace the turf if it is still in good condition or use new turf or seed.
- Finally, water the treated area, although you should not carry out the task immediately after heavy rainfall as the soil will be difficult to work.
Take preventive measures against uneven lawns
Try going through areas several times until the results are satisfactory. In areas with severe depressions or clumps, you may want to sow new seeds as part of the process. Additionally, a heavy layer of soil could suffocate the lawn and give weeds a chance to take root. Although you don't necessarily need equipment like scarifiers to level or scarify your lawns, using the right garden tools can make the task easier. It is also best to plan basic repairs for the spring or before the summer season. This gives your grass time to grow in and also provides the moisture needed to firm the soil.
Although spring is the best time for humidity, it can also be the worst period for it. As the snow melts, the ground is usually very soft, which could lead to new unevenness in the lawn if there is too much traffic. Do not try to level the grass in winter when it is dormant. Once your lawn is level, it can be crucial to take preventive measures to prevent new bumps or depressions from developing. Avoid creating ruts on your lawn mower's wheels when mowing the lawn by changing the cutting pattern between cuts. Also try to allow as little foot traffic as possible on your lawns when they are very wet.
