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Started By
Message
Leveling a yard
Posted on 8/18/24 at 10:40 am
Posted on 8/18/24 at 10:40 am
What is the best way to smooth out my yard? Yard was sodded with centipede when we moved in 8 years ago. It’s so lumpy now I dread pushing a mower. I’ve had people suggest renting a heavy roller and pull it around. Also some have suggested spreading sand to fill in the gaps. TIA
7
Posted on 8/18/24 at 11:02 am to jmh5724
Familiar problem. My centipede had very uneven thatch build up causing a bumpy lawn after a few years. For starters dethatch and aerate. In winter, scalp and assess what the surface actually looks like. You have all winter to add and rake a filler.
Opinions about the best filler are all over the place. Mason's sand should be weed free. I've used it, and the main downside is that you'll have dry areas in the lawn because the sand drains quickly. This winter I'm going to try a DIY mix of 50:50 manson's sand and composted cotton burr. The latter is a good organic amendment that's cheap if you are in a cotton-growing area. A few places I've used river silt and still struggle with the weeds.
I do have a roller that you fill with water. Only time I use it is after sodding. It greatly helps keep sod edges from curing up.
Have fun.
Opinions about the best filler are all over the place. Mason's sand should be weed free. I've used it, and the main downside is that you'll have dry areas in the lawn because the sand drains quickly. This winter I'm going to try a DIY mix of 50:50 manson's sand and composted cotton burr. The latter is a good organic amendment that's cheap if you are in a cotton-growing area. A few places I've used river silt and still struggle with the weeds.
I do have a roller that you fill with water. Only time I use it is after sodding. It greatly helps keep sod edges from curing up.
Have fun.
Posted on 8/18/24 at 11:39 am to jmh5724
I typically get a load of sand dumped and spread it with a roll of chain link fence pulled behind a 4-wheeler.
Hurry though, because once football season starts, there is no more yard work done around my house!
Hurry though, because once football season starts, there is no more yard work done around my house!
This post was edited on 8/19/24 at 6:36 pm
Posted on 8/18/24 at 12:14 pm to jmh5724
Since it’s Centipede, which is slow growing, I would just spot level with mason sand or play sand.
Though you might want to wait until next growing season at this point.
Though you might want to wait until next growing season at this point.
Posted on 8/18/24 at 12:49 pm to jmh5724
quote:The main usage of heavy rolling drums are after seeding so the seed will make good contact with the soil.
I’ve had people suggest renting a heavy roller and pull it around.
If you were to level with sand, you would typically use a leveling rake, a push broom, and one of the following: a professional drag mat, a wooden pallet, a piece of fence as mentioned, or anything DIY that can be pulled behind an atv or riding mower. Fwiw, I leveled 4 yards over 2k square feet with only a leveling rake and a push broom. It took about 8 hours.
There’s a million videos on how to level.
Look up Ron Henry, the average lawn guy, or the lawn care nut on YouTube. There are many more.
Warning: Once you start watching said videos, there’s no going back.
This post was edited on 8/18/24 at 12:52 pm
Posted on 8/18/24 at 1:29 pm to jmh5724
Leveling with sand could take several applications to smooth. The push or pull behind rollers will not smooth out anything. I rented a small street roller and rolled my yard to perfection. Don’t be afraid of putting that thing on your yard. Worse thing that will happen is you’ll need to punch. Which you probably need anyway.
Posted on 8/18/24 at 2:41 pm to jmh5724
I’ve got the same problem, except I’ve got zoysia that was laid in April. I was going to get it topdressed in February/March. Is that wrong?
Posted on 8/18/24 at 9:03 pm to jmh5724
Plan on core aerating and sand leveling my Bermuda lawn next year with masonry sand.
Posted on 8/19/24 at 12:24 pm to Art Vandelay
quote:
I rented a small street roller and rolled my yard to perfection.
I cant believe this actually worked. It didnt press your yard down too much?
Posted on 8/19/24 at 12:29 pm to Art Vandelay
delete
This post was edited on 8/19/24 at 12:31 pm
Posted on 8/20/24 at 9:20 pm to BankLSU
quote:
I cant believe this actually worked. It didnt press your yard down too much?
Not at all. But I’m not talking one of those big ones you see on the highway. It was a smaller one.
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