There aren’t many things as pleasing to a gardener’s eye than a beautifully balanced, level lawn that’s light, bright and lusciously green.
However, even a beautifully maintained lawn can become uneven over time. Sadly, unless you plan on switching to wooden decking or patio paving, that’s one thing you’ll have to get used to.
Bumpy lawns can be a real eye-sore for any garden, while also posing a potential risk to young children or elderly family.
Level the playing field and flatten your earthy opposition with these top tips for fixing a bumpy lawn.
What causes a bumpy lawn?
Bumpy lawns are a common sight in gardens nationwide and aren’t so much of a possibility than they are an inevitability.
This could be down to a variety of reasons: be it weeds, wildlife or simply the weather. Meanwhile, children or pets can also have an effect on the lay of your land when they dig into the surface of your lawn.
While some of these elements are virtually impossible to avoid, there are a few handy ways to fix these bumpy blemishes when they do eventually occur.
Rolling in the deep?
While it may be tempting to simply flatten your turf with a heavy lawn roller, this option is often unsuccessful when it comes to uneven garden surfaces.
If anything, more often than not, this option only damages your lawn further by compacting the soil beneath, which can have a lasting negative effect on the grass.
Uneven lawn surfaces are often the result of dips and dents, making rolling a non-factor. Instead, try to do a bit of detective work beforehand and see just what is causing your lawn to take a slump.
How to fix an uneven lawn
Before you can fix your bumpy lawn, it’s important to know what’s causing the issue to begin with. While this can be difficult to ascertain for issues involving weather and wildlife, man-made problems can be easier to identify and may involve a different course of action.
The root of the problem
When diagnosing exactly what is causing your once-level lawn to take a dip, there are a couple of tell-tale signs that can point to the main culprit.
Uneven ground can be the result of poor drainage. If the lumps occur in areas around water pipes, it may be an issue relating to damaged water pipes.
Drainage problems such as this could require additional groundwork, so it’s worth seeking the advice of a professional if you do suspect you have a water issue in your garden.
Levelling shallow spots
If water damage isn’t the cause of your problems, you may be able to solve the issue yourself with a bit of garden DIY. When looking to fix a low spot in your garden, topdressing these dents is a great way to level your lawn in the least invasive way possible.
Combining compost, topsoil and sand, simply apply this muddy cocktail to the low patches, being careful not to smother the grass underneath with too much coverage. Use about half an inch of the mixture and rake to achieve an even spread. Brush the mixture through to ensure a thorough coverage of topdressing between the blades of grass in the affected area.
Over time, the earthy mixture should begin to blend in with the rest of the grass. If not, repeat the previous steps until the whole area is level and green. If there are spots of bare soil, over-seed to ensure an even coverage of grass.
Levelling deeper spots
The topdressing method of half an inch deep at a time can be a good solution for shallow dents but a time-consuming process for any dips of notable depth. For these problem patches, you can simply pad out the area beneath the surface.
This can be done by removing the surface turf (aka, “sod”) intact and filling the dented area below with topsoil, adding water to the topsoil as you go to remove air pockets. Once you have added enough dirt to level the ground, simply replace the turf, water the grass and let nature take its course!
If your problem area is larger than one square foot, it may be worth removing the turf in smaller chunks. Anything bigger than one foot can be difficult to replace in one piece, making it a real awkward sod indeed.
Levelling multiple problem areas
If your lawn is overrun by more craters and dents than a Spartan’s shield, you may need to consider a more extensive solution and potentially entertain the idea of a wholesale refurb of the lawn.
Re-grading your lawn can be a somewhat drastic option to take, but it can also be an extremely effective tactic in the long run – particularly if you are inundated with dips and dents. Think of it as wiping the slate clean and starting from scratch, giving you an entirely new, fresh canvas to play with.
For a professional opinion, why not give us a call? Our team of experts can advise you with the best course of action and even provide you with a FREE lawn survey. Simply give us a call on 0800 111 4958 or contact us via the box below.
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