By Jaime Staufenbeil - Milorganite Agronomist
May 12, 2022
There are many possible causes for the lumps, bumps, dips, and holes in your lawn. Eventually, every lawn will need a little leveling to remove the irregularities. Depressions in the soil may collect water causing drainage issues that can kill patches of lawn. Extremely uneven lawns can be dangerous, especially for children.
The first step is to identify the cause of the uneven terrain. Then, you can decide on the best treatment for a long-term solution. If you try to fix the problem without first identifying the cause, you may be wasting your time when the bumps or valleys return to your lawn.
Why is my lawn bumpy?
Here are some examples of why your lawn may be uneven:
- Uneven thawing in spring
- Heavy garden equipment
- Repeated mowing in the same pattern
- Pests, such as grubs and voles
- Children
- Weather
- Natural settling
Lawns Settle Over Time
Lawns naturally settle over time and with new construction, the lawn will most likely settle unevenly the first few years. Shallow or small areas can be fixed by topdressing the lawn. If the lawn has settled by one inch or more, you may need to remove the sod, back-fill, then return the sod.
Clay Soil
If you have clay-heavy soil and live where the soil freezes in winter, you may see new bumps and bulges in your lawn during the spring thaw. The clay soil causes heaving and buckling, which results from uneven thawing.
Clay soil will benefit from aeration, which breaks up the surface soil and redistributes it. This allows water and oxygen to more easily reach the roots. Topdress your lawn using quality topsoil or fine compost to level any remaining low-lying areas.
Animals, Children, Pests
Wild or domestic animals may be the culprit for low-lying areas. Dogs may enjoy digging for unknown treasures. Children and dogs playing or people simply walking across a soggy lawn can cause depressions, which may happen more easily on saturated spring soil.
Borrowing pests, such as moles or voles, can cause holes and small mounds. Chinch bugs and grubs can also be a problem. Address the pest issue first, otherwise, it’s just going to happen again.
Garden Equipment
Gardening equipment may cause holes and ruts. Repeatedly mowing your lawn in the same pattern can cause ruts to develop.
Spring: It’s the Best and Worst of Times
Spring provides the conditions grass likes—warm days and cool nights—which makes this season a good time to repair lumps and bumps. It can also be the worst time if the soil is soggy. You may be doing more damage than good walking on the lawn. Wait until the soil has had a chance to dry out.
How to Level Your Lawn
Topdressing with quality topsoil or compost could be your best solution for minor problems. Cut the lawn or affected area very short before topdressing. It’ll be easier to see the area and level the topsoil.
Apply no more than ½” at a time and gently level it without completely covering the grass. The grass will continue to grow through the topdressing. If a half-inch of soil isn’t enough, continue to topdress over several months until the area is level.
If a deeper, but small, hole is surrounded by a healthy lawn, you may be able to level the hole with soil and allow the grass to fill in. Larger areas will need to be seeded or patched with sod.
Watch this Video on How to Topdress Your Lawn with Compost
Rolling Your Lawn
Are you considering leveling your lawn using a roller? Here’s my advice: DON’T DO IT! It’s the worst thing you can do. It may seem logical, but the grass won’t grow in the heavily compressed soil created by leveling with a roller.
Prevention
The best way to help prevent lumps and bumps in your lawn is to keep it thick and healthy. Aerate regularly to loosen soil and allow more moisture and oxygen to reach the roots. Overseed to thicken lawns. Fertilize regularly using a nitrogen-rich fertilizer, such as Milorganite, to keep your grass lush and green. Stay on top of pest problems before they get out of control.
Lumps and bumps are natural. Determine what’s causing them before deciding on a long-term solution, not just a quick fix.
FAQs
Topdressing with quality topsoil or compost could be your best solution for minor problems. Cut the lawn or affected area very short before topdressing. It'll be easier to see the area and level the topsoil. Apply no more than ½” at a time and gently level it without completely covering the grass.
Can you flatten bumpy lawn? ›
Small bumps can often be flattened by treading them down when the grass is moist. Larger lumps can be removed by pulling back the turf and removing excess soil.
Can you fix a bumpy lawn? ›
A shallow depression in a lumpy, bumpy lawn – less than an inch deep – can be corrected gradually by top dressing over it. Topsoil and sand mixes are best for this. A very common problem is that people often perceive a lawn is bumpy when it has nothing to do with soil!
Can you put soil on top of grass to level? ›
In the least extreme cases, you can solve the leveling problem and achieve the right mixture by topdressing with a thin layer of leveling mix (soil, compost, and sand). This is a good solution for widespread unevenness that does not run too deep.
Can you level a lawn without removing grass? ›
There are actually many benefits that come from leveling your lawn—it doesn't to mean you need to rip everything up! In fact, you can simply apply a layer of top dressing to your lawn to even out its surface in most cases.
Why has my lawn gone so bumpy and lumpy? ›
Heavy Foot Traffic – If you frequently entertain guests outdoors, foot traffic just might be what is causing bumps in your lawn. Pests & Vermin – Small burrowing animals such as rabbits or moles could be the culprits causing your unwanted yard bumps.
Should I roll my bumpy lawn? ›
As lawn care experts, we actually never recommend rolling a lawn, and any reputable lawn maintenance company in your area would agree. Using a lawn roller on your lawn in an effort to flatten it never achieves what people expect it to do. You would need a steam roller to be able to effectively smooth out bumps.
Will aeration fix bumpy lawn? ›
As we talked about earlier, aeration is an essential part of leveling a bumpy lawn. Over time, weather, wildlife and regular wear-and-tear can cause the soil to become compact, preventing your lawn from getting the nutrients it needs. To reverse this, aerate!
What is the best equipment to level ground? ›
Bulldozers. Bulldozers' incredible size and power make them some of the best equipment for leveling ground for large projects.
What is the best material to level a lawn? ›
A sand-soil mixture is the best soil type for leveling lawns. Because it will help your lawn grow after leveling. This is considerably better than putting pure sand in a lawn area without any kind of combination. Sand-soil combinations contain nutrients and have a long-lasting capacity to retain water.
When should I fertilize my lawn after leveling? Immediately after the leveling has been done you should fertilize your lawn. We prefer using fast acting starter fertilizers in order to get the nutrients into the soil.
How much topsoil to level a lawn? ›
If you're looking to level a bumpy lawn, the general rule of thumb is to use between 2-3cm of topsoil – we've also created the ultimate guide to levelling a lawn.
How to level a bumpy yard? ›
Fill low spots (holes or depressions in your lawn) with the sand, compost, or topsoil mixture. The goal is to make any low areas flush with the surrounding lawn. Your leveling rake will make quick work of this process. Use your feet during leveling to compact the soil into the low spot.
Can you put topsoil over existing grass and reseed? ›
Although it is possible to place a layer of topsoil over the grass and reseed the area, the grass that is below the topsoil will eventually grow up through it and cause problems.
Can I put sod over existing grass? ›
People often think that laying sod over an existing lawn makes sense and saves time. In fact, laying fresh sod over an existing lawn is no shortcut and could kill your sod and cause you twice as much work. Removing your old lawn before laying new sod is crucial for a healthy root system.
How to level a bumpy lawn without the use of heavy equipment? ›
Use a wheelbarrow to mix 1:1 soil and sand, and add plenty of grass seeds. Don't cover your grass completely; just fill in as many problem areas as possible with the mixture. Spread the mixture over your yard using a push broom or a leveling rake, applying no more than half an inch in any spot.
