Like some things in life, lawns can be complicated. As the un-levelling of your lawn is a natural process, the changes are so gradual you hardly notice them, until suddenly you see Wimbledon or the greens at Augusta on TV and find yourself thinking, “didn’t my grass used to look like that?”. The process of moving from flat to flawed involves a variety of factors -
- Frost
- Different places thaw at different rates due to sunny & shady areas. This can cause the ground to buckle ever so slightly.
- Feet
- Some parts of your lawn are walked across frequently, whereas other areas aren't which results in uneven wear and tear.
- Animals
- Whether it’s the local fox, neighbour's cat or your own pets, their activity affects the grass and the ground it grows in. Even birds pecking for food will have a slight impact on your lawn.
- Rain
- Exposed lawn areas will of course get wetter than sheltered ones. Wet spots get soft & depressed, AKA uneven, when walked on which will create puddles in your lawn. These spots are also prone to moss growth too.
- Gardening
- Sometimes showing your lawn TLC can be counterproductive. If your mower isn’t well-maintained, it can rip lumps of grass out & create bare spots which will be an open invitation for weeds.
How to level a lawn with small uneven patches
If your grass is mostly fine except for a few places, you can tackle the problem areas one by one. Here’s a simple way of levelling your lawn:
- Using a sharp-bladed spade, cut through the uneven patch with an H-shaped incision and peel back the turf.
- Fork over the base soil, remove the excess or add new topsoil to raise the level.
- Tamp the soil down firmly and replace the turf.
- Check that the patch of lawn is now level, lift the turf again and adjust if necessary.
- Brush a sandy topdressing into the crevices where you made the incision.
- Tap the turf edges with the back of a rake to bed them.
- Water the patch using a watering can.
Levelling with topdressing
Topdressing is an effective way to level a larger lawn area by spreading a mix of topsoil, compost and fine sand over the grass. The compost adds nutrients to the soil and the sand promotes good drainage.
Here’s our six-step guide to topdressing:
- Spread a half-inch layer of topdressing mix over the low areas (any more will smother the grass).
- Rake the topdressing to spread it evenly.
- Use a stiff broom to brush the area back and forth, working the topdressing into the earth.
- Water the area gently - too much will wash away the levelling mix.
- Monitor the area to check that the grass is coming through.
- Repeat the process if the grass isn’t level.
Levelling larger sections of lawn
If the dips in your lawn are too deep or extensive for patching up or topdressing, the best thing to do will be to fill the holes with soil, gently compact them and then water. Leave a layer of looser soil at the top then sprinkle seed over it ensuring you follow the instructions on the packet to correctly nurture your lawn.
