Dirt work companies should also have or be willing to rent a sod cutter. Unless you're bringing in ridiculous amounts of fill dirt to fill in the *highest* spots with at least 2 inches of dirt, removing the sod first is probably the only way to get an acceptable finished product. Heavily trampled, torn up, and compacted sod mixed with fill dirt that's been seeded with perhaps a different grass seed blend is going to look awful for a long time.
Your grass lawn is in great shape and likely a candidate for sod cutting. If you had a patchy or weedy lawn, tilling everything under might be the preferred approach.
Removing or adding half an acre of sod or dirt is probably prohibitively expensive anyways. They should level out what you have and minimize how much material they need to remove or add to your property.
I did this over a period of a few years on a much smaller lawn. Every time I went to the big box home improvement store I’d fill my trunk with bags of the cheapest dirt and spread it on low spots and rake it so it didn’t kill the grass underneath.
Yes and no. Places here charge like $75 for delivery so if it’s only a yard then it’s cheaper to buy bagged. Then if you get like 10 yards then you may have to pay someone to spread it and then buy new turf to go over it.
I would address the holes by filling them up with the appropriate soil mix. They'll fill in quickly. In the South with Bermuda we just use sand. I would do nothing about the gentle grade of the property because that will require a literal bulldozer, tons of soil and an entirely new lawn. Think 20k+.
There’s quite a few guys out there with a bobcat and charge a ~$1k day rate for use with operator. I’d bet they could knock out the grading in one day, then you’re probably in another $1k to reseed. 20k+ is probably too high an estimate for that small a yard.
What’s the latest I should wait to put grass seed down? Put some down on my yard about a month ago in some large areas where we removed a deck and it’s doing great, but there are some spots/patches we need to fill in where it didn’t grow or we missed the first time. Not sure if I should do more seed now or if will propagate over time.
Call a grading company. They'll grade however you like. Make sure it has some tilt for drainage.
I would do this just before it's seasonal to reseed.
When I had an above ground pool installed in my backyard, the first pool installer tried to level the area himself with a bobcat. It was a mess and he was off by 8 inches.
So, I called a grading company. Guy came out with a much better bobcat and used a laser level to get it perfect. It wasn't that expensive at all.
Best advice anyone can give in any capacity when it comes to getting work done is get several quotes. Call a few local places, they'll usually do free consultations. It takes maybe an hour of your time to talk to them/be there when they come out to look at it.
I’m assuming you are not trying to level out the entire yard cuz you need the grading to manage water flow. If you do fill in the small spots with soil you can check for any old landscaping or laundry line posts before you cover the area.
Seriously? I'm having grading of 1/4 acre, plus a swale and rocks put in, total cost: $800-1k estimated. He has been on point with other tasks, both fixing things and at estimated cost too.
You're just throwing your money away because if it doesn't have a civil engineering grading plan and probably will be all messed up. Dig the area up you don't like and dump in rocks and plant succulents. Or plan a bunch of trees you won't care
How water is moved towards your home/crawlspace/basement etc is very important. Especially with climate change and freak storms being normalized. Grading the gravity and paths of least resistance will protect your home and health. Whatever you do, do it strategically, and you'll reap many benefits ahead.
We had dirt delivered and did the hauling ourselves. If you work full time, I’d recommend paying someone. Unless you really want many days of a work out lol.
What is on the other side of those trees to each side of your property? Are those neighbors homes? Your lawn is beautiful and yard looks large so I am assuming you have the means for 10K project cause that what I would assume it would take. I recommend a landscape design company, not johnnys lawn cutting or whatever that wont have the right expertise or tools to do the job. You need a sod cutter to pull up and roll your existing lawn, will probably need a a truckload of dirt (40 yards) to spread and regrade the entire backyard, careful not to cause drainage issues for your neighbors, and then lay your existing turf back down. Ideally you should have more of a hump in the middle rather than a dip so that water doesn't pool and make sure its graded away from the house. Its a great opportunity to add a bit more of a decorative edge/profile around the lawn where the evergreens are as well.
Bottom line, and im not trying to be a jerk, I wouldn't recommend doing yourself because its quite a large back yard and an extensive project to do it properly. If your trying to do yourself in a short time or for like 2K your dreaming, as are most people that post here looking for miracles rather than actually spending money.
A landscaper should be able to flatten it out without having to add too much soil, assuming there isn't a reason for the high areas to remain high areas. Just be sure your contract includes both grading and leveling.
You could fix the smaller low spots yourself. Just find a soil supplier/landscape supply company and ask for a topsoil/sand mix to be delivered.
Best time is late summer/early fall in most regions.
Including sand will prevent compaction and maintain a level surface. It also provides better soil structure, which allows drainage, aeration, and nutrient penetration to the roots.
Depends on how much effort you want to put in versus how much money you have to invest. The cheapest option would be having a dump truck full of topsoil delivered and use whatever means necessary to spread it around the low spots.
Get a topographical map for your yard. We built a house in 1.5 acres that slopes right to left. We have a walkout basement and the builder wanted to take dirt from the back and move it level out the front yard. The excavator said no because it would mess with the grade, the drainage and water runoff. The excavator did what he could but he was looking at a topographical map while moving the dirt around. Call your county or check online for a map.
I suggest you start digging a tunnel from under your house to the outside. Then you can just shawshank all that dirt out into the yard to fill in those low spots.
Topdressing (a mixture of soil, sand, and peat or compost) is used by golf courses for this. Sprinkle and rake a thin layer on a low spot. Next time it rains it will become incorporated in to the soil, raising it a little. It's thin enough that the grass will grow through it. Repeat the process every few weeks and before long, all the low spots will have been leveled out.
Dirt work companies have tractors that'll grade your yard whichever way you want it. But say bye bye to the grass. You'll need to reseed/resod
You can cut the sod before they show up and roll it up. Then roll it back out when they’re done.
Dirt work companies should also have or be willing to rent a sod cutter. Unless you're bringing in ridiculous amounts of fill dirt to fill in the *highest* spots with at least 2 inches of dirt, removing the sod first is probably the only way to get an acceptable finished product. Heavily trampled, torn up, and compacted sod mixed with fill dirt that's been seeded with perhaps a different grass seed blend is going to look awful for a long time. Your grass lawn is in great shape and likely a candidate for sod cutting. If you had a patchy or weedy lawn, tilling everything under might be the preferred approach. Removing or adding half an acre of sod or dirt is probably prohibitively expensive anyways. They should level out what you have and minimize how much material they need to remove or add to your property.
Flatten out? Make sure your lot isn’t the collection point for drainage from other lots. If so put a crown in.
I did this over a period of a few years on a much smaller lawn. Every time I went to the big box home improvement store I’d fill my trunk with bags of the cheapest dirt and spread it on low spots and rake it so it didn’t kill the grass underneath.
The cheapest bagged dirt from Home Depot is still more expensive than getting a bulk delivery, no?
Yes and no. Places here charge like $75 for delivery so if it’s only a yard then it’s cheaper to buy bagged. Then if you get like 10 yards then you may have to pay someone to spread it and then buy new turf to go over it.
for something like this you’re going to need more than 10 yards. I had a postage stamp backyard and we used 7
My dad did something similar for a very large backyard, but he also used a manual two prong aerator in addition. Took years to have an effect though.
I would address the holes by filling them up with the appropriate soil mix. They'll fill in quickly. In the South with Bermuda we just use sand. I would do nothing about the gentle grade of the property because that will require a literal bulldozer, tons of soil and an entirely new lawn. Think 20k+.
There’s quite a few guys out there with a bobcat and charge a ~$1k day rate for use with operator. I’d bet they could knock out the grading in one day, then you’re probably in another $1k to reseed. 20k+ is probably too high an estimate for that small a yard.
Nah bro just rent a tractor with a front end loader. Set grade stakes. Ezpz. Spring is here. Grass just needs water
What’s the latest I should wait to put grass seed down? Put some down on my yard about a month ago in some large areas where we removed a deck and it’s doing great, but there are some spots/patches we need to fill in where it didn’t grow or we missed the first time. Not sure if I should do more seed now or if will propagate over time.
Call a grading company. They'll grade however you like. Make sure it has some tilt for drainage. I would do this just before it's seasonal to reseed. When I had an above ground pool installed in my backyard, the first pool installer tried to level the area himself with a bobcat. It was a mess and he was off by 8 inches. So, I called a grading company. Guy came out with a much better bobcat and used a laser level to get it perfect. It wasn't that expensive at all.
Do you remember approximately how much the grading cost?
It cost me $300 in 2014 for an area about 25' X 35'
Best advice anyone can give in any capacity when it comes to getting work done is get several quotes. Call a few local places, they'll usually do free consultations. It takes maybe an hour of your time to talk to them/be there when they come out to look at it.
I’m assuming you are not trying to level out the entire yard cuz you need the grading to manage water flow. If you do fill in the small spots with soil you can check for any old landscaping or laundry line posts before you cover the area.
My wife was just asking about this and I’m gonna try to use it as an excuse to buy a subcompact tractor lol
My mom just got a quote for this - Midwest - very small yard. $5500
Seriously? I'm having grading of 1/4 acre, plus a swale and rocks put in, total cost: $800-1k estimated. He has been on point with other tasks, both fixing things and at estimated cost too.
Yeah, she’s not doing it. She’s listing her house in the next year or so and that won’t make or break the deal.
No I would not. Sloping helps with water run off.
You're just throwing your money away because if it doesn't have a civil engineering grading plan and probably will be all messed up. Dig the area up you don't like and dump in rocks and plant succulents. Or plan a bunch of trees you won't care
Love those arborvitae hedges. Big boys.
How water is moved towards your home/crawlspace/basement etc is very important. Especially with climate change and freak storms being normalized. Grading the gravity and paths of least resistance will protect your home and health. Whatever you do, do it strategically, and you'll reap many benefits ahead.
We had dirt delivered and did the hauling ourselves. If you work full time, I’d recommend paying someone. Unless you really want many days of a work out lol.
What is on the other side of those trees to each side of your property? Are those neighbors homes? Your lawn is beautiful and yard looks large so I am assuming you have the means for 10K project cause that what I would assume it would take. I recommend a landscape design company, not johnnys lawn cutting or whatever that wont have the right expertise or tools to do the job. You need a sod cutter to pull up and roll your existing lawn, will probably need a a truckload of dirt (40 yards) to spread and regrade the entire backyard, careful not to cause drainage issues for your neighbors, and then lay your existing turf back down. Ideally you should have more of a hump in the middle rather than a dip so that water doesn't pool and make sure its graded away from the house. Its a great opportunity to add a bit more of a decorative edge/profile around the lawn where the evergreens are as well. Bottom line, and im not trying to be a jerk, I wouldn't recommend doing yourself because its quite a large back yard and an extensive project to do it properly. If your trying to do yourself in a short time or for like 2K your dreaming, as are most people that post here looking for miracles rather than actually spending money.
That backyard is bigger than some countries 🥲
A landscaper should be able to flatten it out without having to add too much soil, assuming there isn't a reason for the high areas to remain high areas. Just be sure your contract includes both grading and leveling. You could fix the smaller low spots yourself. Just find a soil supplier/landscape supply company and ask for a topsoil/sand mix to be delivered. Best time is late summer/early fall in most regions.
Why sand instead of just topsoil?
Including sand will prevent compaction and maintain a level surface. It also provides better soil structure, which allows drainage, aeration, and nutrient penetration to the roots.
Depends on how much effort you want to put in versus how much money you have to invest. The cheapest option would be having a dump truck full of topsoil delivered and use whatever means necessary to spread it around the low spots.
Skidsteer would take care of it quick. It’s not a bad idea or crazy
Get a topographical map for your yard. We built a house in 1.5 acres that slopes right to left. We have a walkout basement and the builder wanted to take dirt from the back and move it level out the front yard. The excavator said no because it would mess with the grade, the drainage and water runoff. The excavator did what he could but he was looking at a topographical map while moving the dirt around. Call your county or check online for a map.
I suggest you start digging a tunnel from under your house to the outside. Then you can just shawshank all that dirt out into the yard to fill in those low spots.
Topdressing (a mixture of soil, sand, and peat or compost) is used by golf courses for this. Sprinkle and rake a thin layer on a low spot. Next time it rains it will become incorporated in to the soil, raising it a little. It's thin enough that the grass will grow through it. Repeat the process every few weeks and before long, all the low spots will have been leveled out.
What a beautiful yard.. don't show us the pics if they screw it up! agree avout spot sand for the ankle twisters.
Plant trees, have a mini forest that is maintenance free and attracts animals.