3 Steps to LEVEL a Bumpy LAWN - EASY

Everyone wants a SMOOTH LEVEL LAWN, but what's the secret for getting one? See how to fix it one spot at a time the easy way. Bumpy lawns make mowing annoying, they pool water & can ruin the appearance of your lawn.
Due to issues with the company that made the rake in this vid I have found a MUCH better alternative. It's less expensive & INCLUDES a HANDLE.
Order here: amzn.to/43Q68iP
This video, description & comments may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel & allows me to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for the support!
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/ silvercymbal
Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of Silver Cymbal, I cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. Silver Cymbal assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use this information at your own risk. Silver Cymbal recommends safe practices when working on machines and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of Silver Cymbal, no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not Silver Cymbal.

[@SilverCymbal]

Due to issues with the company that made the rake in this vid I have found a MUCH better alternative. It's less expensive & INCLUDES a HANDLE. order here: amzn.to/43Q68iP

[@ciararespect4296]

Hi there great videos. Is there any alternative to top dressing like topsoil. Top dressing seems really expensive and I want a level lawn but it's not my house so I don't want to spend loads

[@Misiracaltudamecekas-qw8xo]

@@ciararespect4296 mason sand mix with compost or any other light soil but make sure its dry 50x50% , put some fertiliser a week before project

[@rc2204]

what issues ?

[@greenCHEVETTE_]

Nice to see a shout out for George. He seems like a good guy and has a nice format to his videos 👍🏼

[@bluejay3945]

Love how you are no bs. Great video. A relatively flat lawn pays dividends the older you get. Let’s all agree buying anything from a big box store requires a leap of faith. If you have the $ and availability check with a topsoil supplier. There’s one near us that mixes a top dressing formulation used by golf courses. It’s dry and very easy to spread. You nailed the most important point. If you have dips in excess of 4” better off leveling in intervals to prevent burying the grass. Thank you as always for a awesome video

[@barkingshark6413]

I might add that if you have a low spot… you can dig the turf up in that area, place soil down, and then place the turf back on top… I’ve done this a few times and it worked out well.

[@Brettsgrasscapades]

Great to see a shout out to George! Always enjoy your stuff silver cymbal!

[@themoistgreenorganic]

I like a mix of sand and topsoil or potting mix, it gives more structure to the soil and stays level for longer. Just my experience. Topsoil alone broke down and was left with a dip again.

[@hongtruong5516]

What part of the country are you from?

[@ChaosActual1]

Would you be using an even mix of the two, or would you be using more of one than the other?

[@msk3905]

Same here, I’m in New England and using just soil after a few frosts and defrosts it’ll come back so I use 30% sand mixture. Ever wonder how golf courses are so nice, they apply sand as a topper/leveler.

[@ACR4008]

I came to your channel to find exactly this, and I’m glad you updated the video with the new German quality rake.

[@outtadarkness1970]

Thank you for pointing out that a lawn is an ever changing commodity. (For those who think this is something they will only use once.) Another thank you for letting people know what product to use on their lawn based on locale. As usual, your review was informative and thorough. ❤️🌻

[@JL-hw5hu]

Agree!!😊

[@davidbruce3632]

Ordered, thanks for this review. Best rake i have seen.

[@solidsoldier9021]

GREAT JOB!,. YOU EXPLAINED THAT SO WELL.

[@bobx6565]

Yup. I bought top soil from Lowe's also. It's the cheapest stuff. I have been putting top soil where the water is visible during heavy rain. Water always shows the low spots. Also been fixing grade around foundation so water flows away from house and extending downspouts. Eastern Massachusetts.

[@GeoFry3]

I've been doing this technique for a long time. It works well.

[@CounTreeGuy]

Amazing video. EXACTLY the info I needed. Thank you!

[@delliott777]

Awesome, this is now on my To Do list.

[@sithlordbilly4206]

My dog likes digging holes in the yard. This tool be great for this project! 🐕

[@jvcyt298]

That tool is on my wish list, and I always run the soil through a 1/4" sieve to remove any debris.

[@SeattlePioneer]

I just found a screen with 1/4 inch openings. I used it today to sift compost and get rid of sticks, uncomposted leaves and such. That left me with some very nice composted soil.

[@YardBrah]

Gotta love that German engineering! Awesome video! 😊🤙🏾🙏🏾🙌🏾

[@ultimatefishkeeping]

Very neat tool. I will need to invest on One of those for fixing lawns. Like 1015 is now up. Thankyou very much for sharing. 👍😊❤️

[@jsrizo01]

Another quality video Silver Cymbal. I have also seen some of the other videos you put out and are fully detailed and amazing the time you spend informing the public on stuff you do as a homeowner. Amazing stuff, keep bringing it! 👍🏻

[@mpgsierra7364]

Didn’t know these rakes existed but for your video. Thanks!

[@rudygeorgiamulesandcountry1594]

A tool with potential. A couple years ago I bought a 42" x 18.5 HP riding mower. My yard was always rough, being a former chicken farm built durring the depression. I'd had a couple garden spots over the years, there ere some ruts , rotted out tree roots and I had voles. I knew I had some work to do to make mowing more comfortable and prolong. The life of the mower. I got it done with a 2x4 and a bow rake, but I could have used this tool.

[@teddysoft]

Love the video! Just got in after an hour of work on the front lawn, using my new tool from Fiskar to remove the whole plant if dandelions. Best tool ever 😍👍! Got alot of bumbs on the front lawn, and this video gave me some good News for the future 👌

[@tincupco]

Don’t pitch those dandelions. Put the to good use. Look up all of the health benefits and uses the dandelion provides.

[@teddysoft]

@@tincupco We got a bunny that take care of this 👍. But i have indeed been reading about making dandelion tea and so on.

[@dennisv9261]

Great videos! Thank you

[@kenb.9976]

I made a screen to filter out the large sticks and other things before putting it down using the leveling tool. I also mix in some fine sand, which seems to work well.

[@Cravenn5]

I love this video 🙏 Thank you definitely ordering today and worth every penny. Thumbs way up❣️😊

[@SilverCymbal]

I really appreciate the nice words. Glad it was helpful

[@Straight_White_Fatherly_Figure]

Dang, very good recommendation man! Thank you!

[@SilverCymbal]

Thank you

[@jaymetheaccountant]

George from Princess Cut gets a shout out 👍 great content!

[@michaelsoltesz3779]

I can’t justify the price of such a specialized tool, but that is a very cool design and technique. Thank you. 😉

[@dsbennett]

Make one out of wood. Get free wood from the scrap pile at construction sites (with their permission).

[@magicrobharv]

Great video.

[@rpdrpd4153]

Great information as usual! Love your channel. I like you live in New England. Would screened loam be a good option than just bagged top soil? I don’t think I want to try sand and I have heard bad things lately from too many people trying the bagged soil blends from the box stores. Thanks!

[@ogsan1296]

Outstanding Video Sir...great content aout the leveler. I am in NC so I use the 70/30 for leveling.

[@SilverCymbal]

Thank you very much. Yes that totally makes sense for lawns further south.

[@narutofanz85]

Shutout to George at pricess lawn care! Both of your channels are some of the best content available and I've learned so much from you both. Tha you!!

[@SilverCymbal]

Thank you & George is amazing. He is bringing a lot of great new content to the lawntube world.

[@MarlonJoseGE]

Very true. George did a great job comparing the various leveling tools. His sprinkler videos are also phenomenal.

[@tanmay_6363]

@@SilverCymbal is lawn roller useful in this situation?😥 Good video helpful 👍🏻

[@mr1pearl]

I swear you're reading my mind stop it 😆 My lawn this year is at its worse so this is very helpful thanks !

[@Duke_of_Prunes]

I bought a lawn lute from R&R golf products 3 years ago. I am mainly trying to keep the deck on my large mower as level as possible, to avoid what I call "chuff" marks. Some of the worse spots are taking more than one season. It's a big lawn.

[@1ronhall]

Nice work, SC. I’ll buy it through your link.

[@GlennC789]

For anybody wondering about the price, which the website doesn't make particularly easy to find: $188 including shipping to my location in Colorado.

[@daryl4841]

Thats quite expensive and I don't think I'll buy one, but it doesn't surprise me for a high quality item. Thanks.

[@randymahony8157]

Yeah, I'll buy a landscaping rake for about $20. Thanks for the info 👍

[@mtadams2009]

I wonder how much for the cheap knockoff?

[@cammiosis]

Well worth it for a lawn lover or a landscaper!

[@justmee9441]

You da REAL MVP

[@ham5483]

Your property and house are an absolute dream

[@cherylskates]

I feel like you made this video just for me. Need to try this! My lawn is bumpy from driving the Kubota over it. I need to level my lawn badly! Would screened loam be ok to use in MA for leveling? Thanks so much!

[@yetiswotstream2539]

Great video worthy of subscribe

[@freedizz7096]

I made mine. Works great. Tutorials on KZbin somewhere.

[@ryand9111]

You can just tell by looking at it that the rake is a high quality tool.

[@webeducation]

Sand will get hotter than soil in the summer. If the area is under trees or shady areas then mixing more sand will work. However, sand doesn't hold organic material very well. Ive started doing 2/3 compost & 1/3 sand which seems okay.

[@badpixels_]

looks great,

[@SilverCymbal]

Much appreciated, its a very nice tool for sure

[@checkyoursix5623]

My leveling rake broke off at the hinge point between the handle and the rake itself. Had to track down someone who could weld on stainless steel - took a while, but got it done. Rake works as advertised. Pay attention to the quality of the weldment at that location.

[@outdoorcooks488]

If you wanna fix an ankle breaker of a dip/hole all you have to do is grab a shovel, stick the shovel in the ground on either side of the dip pull up the grass without fully ripping it off the ground and fill the gap up to where its needed with dirt.

[@davidz1681]

Neat. I've never seen that tool.

[@PrincessCutLawnCare]

Thanks for the shoutout boss! Love the Rassenrakel and the team behind it!

[@jesusgjchuza6491]

Very nice 🤝🤟🏼😎

[@GreenStreetPlayer1]

Thanks. Be good to know how long your grass is before raking any soil in and how long do you do this process after you have cut the grass. Appreciate you don’t want to mow the lawn bald as you always want the grass to come through.

[@JWEX500]

The Chinese made comes with the handle which adds a LOT in shipping cost, whereas the German one conveniently skipped that part and expects you to find one for it. IMO if they cost the about the same I would go get the Chinese made product, seemed like it was well made for its purpose and price.

[@TuanNguyen-pp4uo]

Can you post the links phone purchasing them?

[@ChaosActual1]

I couldn’t even guess how many years it would take me to level my yard at that rate. Lol

[@paulkonieczny3815]

I love your ornamental grass on your fence line what is it.

[@IMOO1896]

When you showed sticks in Lowes soil, last year, I purchased several bags of topsoil from Home Depot. It was awful, several pieces of plastic including a fork, sticks that looked recently cut, I guess they didn’t allow the fillers time to break down sufficiently.

[@triwithms]

Great video, just an FYI... I tried to like the main video on your channel and I didn't see any of the controls to leave a like. Not sure if there is anything that can be done about it just wanted to let u know. Thumbs up for that one too btw!

[@mikecon7634]

TY SC

[@laurenceminuto8769]

I live in North Tex. I just moved into a new house and while the grass is a real nice Bermuda the ground is not level at all. I have never had to level a lawn before and not sure on soil sand mixture any help on that? This tool looks like it will work well for what I need to do.

[@skyserf]

Oh noooo. I just put two scoops of dirt down in patches on my lawn. I really could have used this tool rather than the rake and de thatcher I ended up using. Think I’ll order one of these for the future though. Thanks

[@SilverCymbal]

Any work you did is a good thing, but if you have more spots in the future, this is a good one to consider. This is one of those tools that seems like you don't need it until you use it one time and then you are like whoa.

[@skyserf]

@@SilverCymbal At 2:15 are you using a pole you already had?

[@SilverCymbal]

@@skyserf Yes, that is actually the pole from my first tool. Its about 1" so almost any wooden tool pole or even a long wood rod from lowes or some depot will work. I haven't tried the Gardena pole yet but those do look very nice if you go that route.

[@skyserf]

@@SilverCymbal Thanks

[@JamieHarveyJr]

I’ve yet to find a top soil at the big named box stores that ISN’T just fine mulch. The amount of sticks and debris in all of them is simply unable to be used. I’m open to any box store suggestions though!

[@JamieHarveyJr]

I have had good luck temporarily topdressing very small areas with ‘Black Kow’ manure from Lowes, as an alternative to peat moss. No sticks or debris and retained water very well with the addition of Hydretain.

[@geo5913]

I have seen potting soil discussed. Maybe more expensive but I believe would be free of weed seeds and no wood chips

[@Dsaubt]

Potting soil is the only thing I've had success using for leveling. Miracle grow brand had fertilizer in it as well if you are overseeing which is nice.

[@Krymefighter]

Can this work any time of year? Just wondering if there are preferable seasons for this work. Enjoyed the video - thanks!

[@JohnWaclawski]

Is there any particular time of the year you should be doing this? And thank you for the video. Will dig into the lawn leveling rake. (no pun intended. :) )

[@shate74662000]

Do I have to mow grass first to fix bump or uneven spot? Thanks.

[@easterneuropeantracksuit3312]

Silver cymbal can you do a video on mosquito control both organic and non organic?

[@sandydotcom]

I’m quite impressed with your lawn leveling 🎉

[@arosas267]

Nice video. Your property is what i aspire to one day. Looks peaceful. Do you mind if i ask what part of the country you live in?

[@Lpttrsn301981]

@Silver Cymbal, rather than using top soil, could one use compost as alternative?

[@l9ikjam]

If you use only soil, you will end up having the same issue in 2 to 3 years. Using a 50/50 sand and soil mixed will last waaaay longer.

[@Bloozestringer]

We have one section of our front lawn (20' x 40') that I think they just tilled and seeded. Never rolled it or anything. I can barely mow it without twisting an ankle it's so bad. Definitely can't mow a straight line with my pushmower. Probably be easier to redo that section than to try this rake?

[@SIUDR7202]

Send one to me and I’ll review it. Looks well built but to pricey for the times. Need the money for food and gas to get the food and back and forth to work.

[@EfieldHfield_377]

Thx really good stuff, but I hate one time use tools.

[@exploringbc431]

What type of ornamental grass do you have? Wondering if it work grow in canada

[@JAYJAYJAY53]

I just thought of you today when I used my sedgehammer. It kept that nasty weed away for two years but it has reared its ugly head again.

[@Mike-we3rb]

I learned this working on cars. Just remember, if you’re thinking about fixing or having something fixed. Specifically For this video. It would cost probably over $300 for landscaping company to do what he did. The one time use part costed him not even $200. Use it once and throw it out you still saved money

[@theskyabove1]

Thank you for this timely video. Been bumping my zero turn all over my yard this spring. Would value your input on leveling high spots too. Mole hills over the years have created mounds. I assume the only way around this is to shave the high spots down and plant new seed but maybe there are other options.

[@JL-hw5hu]

I have the same problem thanks for the post

[@JohnDoe-id8si]

I would get a lawn roller and if the problem persists, pull up the sod, remove some soil, and then replace, water and roll, if its low, do what the steps show in this video. Most mole holes will be removed with a roller though.

[@Shakerhood69]

Same issue, damn moles making my front yard a bumpy mess.

[@RandyLott]

I have about 1-1.5 acres of grass, and my yard is very bumpy, uneven, and there are some large boulders poking up. Do I need to grade it in this situation?

[@lobstercannon]

is it a good idea to do this after I dethatch and overseed in the fall as a 3rd step?

[@jonathanluis4966]

Would definitely love to level out my lawn, it is very bumpy and the work done by a crew to lay new gas line didn't help at all.

[@moxnix]

A simple leaf rake work for me.

[@dg-hughes]

A poor man's method to filter the bagged soil is chicken wire. It gets out the big chunks.

[@johnbedell2376]

Hi, I just bought this and want to ask where you purchased your handle from? Thank you.

[@vialig3631]

Can you use this on clay soil as well?

[@hudsonjamesc]

I like to use usga topdressing to level

[@PlanetJimmer]

It seems like a little over seeding directly afterwards would be a good idea.

[@frankcampos1251]

You mention the material to use for leveling a lawn in the north. What would you recommend to use in the southeast? I’ve tried sand in the past and it seems to turn rock hard concrete when mixed with our clay soil and it ends killing the lawn in that area.

[@matthewmeuleman3369]

Put down compost. Compost your grass clippings then use them.

[@NeoStorm_401]

Sir please I need your advice. It’s May 11 I want to level my bumpy lawn. I’m at 2 1/2 inch cut. What should I be at to level? I am going to use soil and nursery compost blend( the amazing stuff). I really need your advice. I am in Riverside RI.

[@fletchflips1017]

Great video and will be ordering the tool for future use. Question: I renovated my lawn here in Michigan last fall and put all new seed in. However, one side of my lawn is quite sloped and the grass is coming in nicely but due to rain periodically I have ruts throughout this side. How and when do I go about getting this leveled out without damaging the new growth?

[@Ww-dl7vr]

You need to get something there to manage that water. Not sure for you application, but a french drain near the top and bottom in line to move the water underneath soil and out of your yard. Possibly a rocked area to help disperse and slow down the corrosion.

[@alexk3948]

Always filter top soil before applying to the lawn.

[@Mexi99]

could you use this on a clover lawn? i have a few bumps i wanna fix.

[@margaretturvey]

Great videos! My lawn is covered in weeds, and I'm following the tips in your 'How to fix an ugly lawn' video to get grass cover. Would you recommend that I solve the bumps before or after getting grass to grow?

[@SilverCymbal]

Thank you very much. No, save the bumps for later. They wont affect the grass and weeds, I would focus on those first then level the next season

[@winstonsaxonsdad]

I have watched a number of videos on this subject and one thing stands out in particular--the use of top soil vs a very fine dry sand. Anything organic is going to break down and you will end up with the same situation you started with. The sand won't break down...I live in CT and would be interested in your thoughts on this..Thanks

[@DONALD1951]

Hi. I live in Ct too...Orange and my lawn is very bumpy....did you decide what to use? Do it yourself?

[@wally7856]

Once you go sand you must always only put sand on top or you will have big problems with moisture in your soil. Water can move from coarse (sand) to fine (soil) particles but not the other way around unless the fine layer is super saturated. You don't want layers in your soil profile, especially a sand layer part way down. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5jSY3mhqraqrsU My personal choice is to screen out the native soil from the aerator plugs with a 1/4" seive, add a bit of compost and use that. That will leave you with enhanced native soil that won't cause dry spots down the road. Save the sand for reel mowing, then put up with the dry spots and eventually bare spots that Ryan and Connor always have.

[@massages_for_world_peace8909]

@@wally7856 You seem super knowledgeable about this! Curious what you might do when the bumps are the the other direction? Mounds and lumpy terrain that I want to remove some soil to flatten, but keep grass on the top….How would you go about that?

[@wally7856]

@@massages_for_world_peace8909 Rent a sod cutter, cut some strips over high spots, roll up sod, remove some soil to flatten, unroll sod, water well. Save a bit of the soil to level the area with a leveling rake (or just a 2x4) after you unroll the sod as there'll be a few spots that'll need it.

[@ilonadever8249]

Great information!! In my area, the soil is red clay (North Carolina). What soil/sand would you recommend for leveling?

[@nancymarianik]

South Carolina, same soil😮

[@sptrader6316]

Garden soil or sometimes potting soil has wood debris in it. Top soil is supposed to be pure dirt, much less junk in it. (shouldn't be any junk on quality top soil).

[@brianfoley4328]

Has anyone ever told you that you sound like Christopher Walken...if you slowed the cadence of your speech, it would be "dead on". I liked the video by the way...great info.

[@Legacyyyyyyyyyyyyyy]

yeah the fill dirt they are selling lately is more mulch than dirt.. kinda ridiculous

[@mattazmy]

LOL. I wondered why you used the Garden Soil instead of the Lawn Soil?

[@faziousj]

Should you seed it also?

[@alexandersackman8611]

Great video! I am interested in purchasing the Rasenrakel to level my lawn. As you noted it does not come with a handle. What did you end up using for a handle? Any suggestions?

[@mattemmons88]

I'm having this same conundrum while my Rasenrakel is on the way. I'd love to not spend another large chunk of change on the recommended 70-72" handle, but it's looking like this is something of a specialty item.

[@alexandersackman8611]

@@mattemmons88 I ended up buying a 72 inch wooden dowel from Home Depot for about $15. They sell them in 1 inch and 1.25 inch diameters. The Rasenrakel takes a 1 inch diameter, but I ended up using the 1.25 inch dowel for a sturdier handle and just sanded down the end to fit in into the rake, then just drilled a hole and drove the screw through and all is good! Hope this helps, it was a cheap and effective way to get a handle for the rake. Which by the way, the rake is absolutely amazing!

[@mattemmons88]

@@alexandersackman8611 I actually ended up doing exactly the same thing! I got the 1.25"x72" dowel and used a wood file to get it close. Drilled a hole and boom it works perfectly. I actually made the mistake of trying to use the rake while my dirt/sand mixture was too wet and it did not go well. I'm currently trying to dry everything out in the driveway so I can actually rake the material down into the grass.

[@alexandersackman8611]

@@mattemmons88 Great minds think alike! Yes, as I have learned too, having dry materials is key. Once dried, it works great. Best of luck on your project!

[@joshd605]

Are there any options for leveling a large area? Last year I added about 15,000 Sq ft of lawn to my backyard but unfortunately right after the work was done we had like 8” of rain which washed away a little bit of the loam that was put down. It’s not the terrible but I can feel the bumps when I mow.

[@SilverCymbal]

You can use drag mats, and larger versions of these but the challenge is that you still have to apply material to the low areas and avoid the high spots. I know it may seem daunting a bit but I will still do exisiting lawns like this. One spot at a time, every spot you fix is done. Just do what you can and save a lot of much larger equipment. For unfinished or raw dirt, you can use drag mats and a ATV or tractor but you don't have to worry about existing turf.

[@joshd605]

@@SilverCymbal Guess I’ll have to take it one area at a time and go after it by hand. Do you think using loam will be fine? I’m also in Massachusetts so I’d probably just get bulk material delivered.

[@peterpiper_203]

Took your advice on a number of your reviews This one is no different

[@SilverCymbal]

Much appreciated, if you get one of these you will be impressed. I think it took the US inflation to get so high that what used to be expensive German stuff is now affordable

[@joshmoisley1193]

Does anyone know if this will work on a bumpy lawn?

[@greggaynor5100]

I always just flipped my garden rake upside down. Never needed a special tool.