Lawn Leveling Tips for TALL Cut Lawns

Lawn leveling and fixing bumpy spots in a tall cut lawn. It's a little different than leveling a short cut lawn with one key difference.
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[@Thelawncarenut]

Spring Fling T-shirt - soft, comfortable, nice drape thelawncarenut.com/collections/shirts/products/spring-fling

[@ScoutFX]

Will you ever sell the "Throw her down" shirts again?

[@sokola311]

You said years ago on your channel that when leveling your lawn to not ever use play sand. What changed?

[@jtaylor8807]

Blue shirt guy at the end: "Who is that talking back there? Oh, it's that guy that talks to his grass again". 🤣 Love the content!

[@Thelawncarenut]

😂

[@flch95]

Video quality on another level! Well done!

[@brothertax]

Awesome production quality. Your videos constantly improve.

[@Jaybo-bx4ge]

I live in southwest Washington state my grass has spots that get washed out so for 2 years I have been doing this and now it finally looks good

[@garryrobinson5695]

Man you’re awesome! I’m trying to dominate my new construction neighborhood and have been using your videos! Keep up the great content

[@GirLzLawn]

Awesome tip! I just leveled with sand and organic compost in my Fescue. That was round 1. For the next round I’m going to try just some dry sand. Thx

[@jeremyauzenne5537]

Excellent video. Informative and well-spoken.

[@s.p.c.3724]

I have a few low spots that I would like to tackle while the weather is cooler...this is very helpful!

[@SuperSwole92]

The knowledge is just as good as the 80s synth wave background music 😎 keep it coming brotha!

[@debbie1483]

Thank you for such great videos! I just caught your one on killing crabgrass and now a new subscriber. Also, thankful to read you have a podcast, already subscribed. I live in South Texas, hoping I can learn for my climate.

[@matthewgross6958]

Had four 20-year old Ash trees succumb to the Emerald Ash Borer beetles. While the stumps have been ground out, this technique is working to level that area of my front lawn out.

[@ciardude4822]

Hey Allyn! Been a nut and loving your content all the way from Canada over by derr! Ran out of time for ordering some of your product to bring north but sure hope to check in next year with your YM team. Keep up the great work!

[@CR-ow2wp]

Allyn, THANK YOU for this! All the other lawn leveling videos I've seen on KZbin have been with short cut turf so it's greatly appreciated that you did this video for those of us with taller cut turf. One idea for a possible follow-up video: what is the most economic and efficient way to level a larger section of taller cut turf (like 1k SQ ft or more)? The bags of dry play sand are terrific and affordable for small areas, but it would get expensive and cumbersome to get dozens of bags for a large area.

[@kt9495]

Your local landscape supply should be able to deliver in bulk and often have online calculators that will tell you how many cubic yards you need. Others have asked if using a drop spreader would work but I can’t speak to that. I agree with using sand because any organic material in topsoil will break down over time.

[@drewslawncare1913]

Going to have to try this out

[@skyfall2442]

Awesome video

[@Jon-st2ib]

That was great information. Going try that tip thanks allan

[@Thelawncarenut]

you're welcome Jon!

[@bigbearbear5458]

I have often wondered who on earth started the rumor of adding sand to your turf soil will turn it into concrete, that is the kind of science that claims if you add water to anything you'll get coffee. As Allyn mentioned in the video, you need Portland cement and sand to make concrete. If you look at the ingredients of topsoil sold at many places, sand is one of the ingredients in it. Here in western Washington, I get my topsoil from Carpinito Brothers and their Topsoil is a 3 way mix of loam, manure and sand.

[@maltedbarley1]

You’re the man!!! Wet sand sucks! I have a putting green and won’t even use damp sand for it

[@maltedbarley1]

Did you want me to text?

[@kentfaver1367]

Now we know - thanks Allyn!

[@johnnyplair8532]

Great advice 👍

[@Thelawncarenut]

Thanks JP. 👍

[@MattDottCom]

Tyvm I have some horrible spots in my bluegrass/fescue mix lawn I’m reseeding now. I’m going to level in a few week when it’s sunny

[@pughconsulting]

I have a small 3-4 foot wide sink hole that I dump sand in. I put about 100-200 pounds every year in it. Keeps it fairly level. At a depth of 4-5 inches of sand covering over the top off the grass, the St Augustine grows right through in less than a month.

[@chrisv390]

Keep it up Allyn

[@monkeyslawncareandgardenin473]

Good stuff

[@rebeccahaller4032]

Hi Allyn! So we built a new house in Aug 2019 in Cincinnati, OH. The seed that the builder put down was contractor grade (crap seed) & the builder over watered the seed (put the hoses on timers & didn't move around) before we moved in & washed a lot of the seed & straw away which made "tiny creeks/streams" all throughout my lawn. Ultimately, it left my lawn w/a seriously bumpy lawn, clumpy grass & dirt areas everywhere! I have since brought in 8 yards of topsoil just on my front lawn to level using a level rake & seeded that fall w/GCI Coolblue Turf Type seed. It came in beautifully. However, 4 yrs later, the soil has really settled & had an irrigation system installed last fall & now the yard is back to super bumpy & clumpy grass & bare areas. I have tried to level out the horrible spots in the yard & seeded ever fall since we've moved in. My question is... how do you level a whole yard that is super bumpy, clumpy & has bare areas that I can't seem to ever get good grass to grow?

[@Thelawncarenut]

Hey Rebecca - sorry that you are having to fight the lawn so hard like this! I am going to address this question on the podcast because I think it will help alot of other people too - stay tuned (Lawns Across America is the name of it)

[@rebeccahaller4032]

​@The Lawn Care Nut Oh, that would be so awesome! Can't wait to hear it!!! Also, the measuring tool in the Yard Mastery app flashes my house for a slit second & then shows the property from 5+ yrs ago when it was just woods & a field. Who can I contact about that in the Yard Mastery app?

[@lawn2learn]

Thank you sir ❤

[@michaelshallue1801]

Love da video ta day en, so!!

[@jimmckillip7975]

I need to do that to my lawn Alan

[@codymcpherson5628]

thank you!!!

[@nygrasshole]

Great advice! I just did a soil, compost , some sand major leveling last season on a full renovation. Now that it’s grown in I want to do the sand in spots that sink a bit. Any time of year that’s better or worse up here on Long Island?

[@jeepcj7dude]

6:08 Dude was thinking you were talking to yourself. :) I get it all the time :) Thanks for the tips!!

[@Thelawncarenut]

😂

[@artieartya]

Yeah, I like the play sand a lot because one it’s dry and two it’s super fine so it’s very easy for it to make its way down.

[@Thelawncarenut]

Agreed 👍

[@FreedomRock44]

Haaaaaa That is the sand I buy for my driveway ice in the winter and steps.....works awesome!!!!!!

[@ski874]

you da man! Were not worthy were not worthy!

[@johncontract7855]

Thanks Alan. That's a good video. Will sand be ok for clay soil as well?

[@romexranger8784]

Miss your Midwest videos. Being from the PNW I rewatch your videos from your old place to refresh. Does fescue and such grow in Florida??

[@waterboysh]

Thanks to following your plan the last few years, I've got a nice thick St Augustine lawn (just a couple hours north of you). In the fall, ATT came through and installed fiber through the neighborhood. I was able to finally ditch Cox so I'm not complaining to much, but their machine that drills horizontally through the ground and pushes the conduit through made some ruts in the yard. Not huge ones, but it's definitely bumpy when mowing. Can sand be spread using my Earthway spreader or are the grains to small and going to get into places where they shouldn't? I'm thinking it might be a good idea to put some down every week and build it up over the summer while the grass is actively growing.

[@dawnb2224]

The play said just like that is what I have been using.

[@brianfernandez2614]

Dude your the best....my shady st aug spots are doing waaaayyy better than open sun..any ideas. Same watering for the whole yard.

[@justinrichardson3864]

We did some grading and reseeded our yard back in the fall, and right after the seed went down, we had a hurricane come through, and got some big limbs down in the yard. So I don't have low areas, but I have basically divots from where these big branches fell. Is there anything different I should do with those spots? Lawn is fescue.

[@sfreni1]

Thankx for another great informative video just 1 thing, at 2:38… NO WHEEZING THE BROOM!

[@precisionmatchtimer]

I have large rugs in my st aug from the street pavers dump truck that drive through the yard. Plus the street is now a bit higher (no curbs). Is sand enough to build it up and get grass to grow again there. Can I throw some new sod on top of that.

[@PatrickHealy]

Getting ready to topdress with 60/40 compost to sand. Any recommendations on getting that down nice and level?

[@thetommantom]

When it snows I like to spread sand so when it melts it runs or something idk the first couple snows so it gets down in there before the spring and it shrinks or during the summer when it's growing a ton

[@uwinuwish]

Allyn, I live next door to your old state. I’m in OH. My new yard/home is 80% clumping fescue . Do I just burn it off later this year and start new? Or do I do years of over seeding? I know nothing but glyphosate will kill this stuff. Ant advice would be great. I’ve been a sub, and purchased your flagship blue label fert. Last year. Thanks

[@mcginn997]

How would you approach doing a few thousand square feet? My front lawn doesn't have any big holes but definitely lumpy when I'm cutting. I'd love to flatten it all out.

[@kward4965]

Damn Bro looking slim … keep it up

[@lawnpanda]

The play sand I've bought before came w/ pieces of rock that were too big for bermuda. It was very noticeable.

[@wayneessar7489]

Please make a video using the Zoysia transfer tines that fit on the Billygoat mechanical 18 inch aerator. No one, not even the maker explains how it's done. Thank you!

[@Sig_P229]

Would it be ok to aerate and this use this or would it amend the soil too much?

[@marcobrown83]

Great video. Just bought sand from Ace and it's really dry.

[@trevormuggeridge4560]

Last Aussie 😁. Al, Keeping it reel. 🤠

[@natebolton9385]

Allyn any recommendations for bringing up level where it's a several inch drop? Hoping to avoid having to reseed but it's a little scary for kiddos/older folks stepping down at the moment.

[@paulpini9582]

So you level out your lawn ttf, kbg let's just say 3" added of sand now fall comes will seed take in that amount ?

[@cibearse4]

I have a big hole in corner of my yard (KBG/TTTF in WV). When they were paving my street one of the asphalt trucks drove over corner of my lawn and left a big depression there. Should I just fill it entirely with sand, then top dress with peat moss and seed or how should I fix this corner?

[@thetommantom]

I bought a really nice weed Wacker and I just made it look flat lol then when it was the way I liked it I added dirt and grass seed and kept raking it mix and match

[@Shunya0101]

Is this ok to do with fescue?

[@pennschlitt1228]

Hey Allyn. I’m on the other side of Florida and have cow pasture weeds… I mean Bahaaaaaya! As you can tell I’m not a fan. With as spotty as this stuff is but drought tolerant with our current conditions… would you use a pre-emergent still or do I just deal with it till I can renovate in a few years to the zoysia I want. Secondly, would a cool season grass work well here I central Florida during the winter. I know the few freezes wouldn’t knock it off but I’m afraid to lose it during the summer.

[@whest8085]

How does the extra sand effect the soil? Does the sandy areas stress the grass in the hot summer? I would think the sand would get hotter than soil

[@Supanova70]

You can do this with PR grass too?

[@RDAmidwest]

Hmmm, could that dry sand flow through a drop or broadcast spreader? The drop spreader seems it could precisely place it where you want it.

[@shawntracey]

If the sand is dry enough and fine enough like the bagged play sand, could you not put in a broadcast spreader to apply? 🤷‍♂️ I may give it a try!

[@Saltworx]

When it comes time to overseed though. Wont the layer of sand be an issue? Please explain that. It’s the sole reason I’ve never tried sand leveling. Northeast Ohio, basic cool season mix

[@300hiker]

Is sand ok if I don’t have sandy soil already? Can it harm northern grass? (SE PA)

[@thetommantom]

I had my bike parked so my kick stand was on my side walk and my tires made dead spots and I raked the side walk and just did a ton of raking

[@gpoman9988]

Allyn, Does St. Augustine get thicker each year with new stolons running across the yard? A guy in my neighborhood has really thick St Aug, almost looks layered.

[@JeremyKorzo]

Great tip Allyn! I always got some leveling to do over by dere 🤙🏼 currently battling a massive kalinga outbreak in the St. Aug. should I be bagging the clippings? I hate wasting the free nutrients. 🇺🇸

[@Thelawncarenut]

no need to bag. Kyllinga doesn't spread from clippings. It spreads underground. I would get down some Sedgehammer ASAP before the rainy season kicks in

[@JeremyKorzo]

@The Lawn Care Nut thanks!! I’ll be spraying N praying asap!! 🫡

[@bobzilla6618]

That was some sand slinging mastery right there Alyn! Great tips! I'm going to try some leveling in a few different areas of my lawn with some play sand too. My son doesn't play in the sandbox any more, so it's going to disappear slowly and no one will know 🤣.

[@Thelawncarenut]

Ha ha !! Great way to recycle 😁

[@stans5270]

To dry out the sand faster, you should try and spread it on a tarp on your driveway. The larger surface area is the key.

[@Thelawncarenut]

I definitely should have taken time to do that . Hopefully I can just keep buying the "pre dried" stuff from Ace. 😁

[@artieartya]

He’s in Tampa knowing his luck if he does it the next day is going to rain all over it and wash it away. Lmao.

[@robertswift6101]

i need 5 yards min delivered

[@steffen707-]

Yo yo Toro man!!!! When are you doing a video on the Toro Robotic Mower? Almost bought a Chinese bobomower. 😂 Seriously, if the price is reasonable-ish, I'm buying one. 0.75" cut baby, all day every day?!!!! Fertigate with irrigreen and I got automation CITY!

[@Electric_Hambone]

It is time, 4 years past, time for a reel mower for the Zoysa 😊

[@GW._.]

One question sand is good for drainage? Why do we use sand bags to stop a flood?

[@burgerking12321]

Curious, but nervous to try this on my tall fescue up here in CT. It Shouldn't cause any issues right?

[@Thelawncarenut]

You'll be fine . I promise. 👍 😁

[@ethanbrooks2146]

What if I'm needing to level my whole St Augustine lawn?

[@artieartya]

Question Alan, what about low dips in my grass where the grass is actually matted down not in good shape compared to the parts that are not dipping low. Can I still sand those or should those be soiled to help the grass grow in those low dips

[@Thelawncarenut]

Theoretically, grass in a low spot should grow same as anywhere. It shouldn't be matted down. It still should grow upright. So I think you may have another issue. Possible standing water or maybe something below the surface affecting the grass . My advice is to dig a little and see what you find.

[@artieartya]

@@Thelawncarenut I think it’s standing water from when we have those heavy rains and the fact that it is a low spot it’s causing the standing water. What do you recommend to eliminate that standing water keep adding sand and soil to thicken it up?

[@mikeoxlong8648]

Easy spread was my nickname in college

[@Thelawncarenut]

Zing !

[@thetommantom]

If you go to the beach the sand is always blowing and the plants they plant grow into it and make these impressive berms and that all done with wind just like the dry sand and spread by hand I like to say put it where you want it

[@sylee2113]

Allyn, what model ego mower are you using? Thank you

[@Thelawncarenut]

it's the new one with the Speed IQ. I hope to do a review on it here in the next few weeks

[@brianfolding40]

Gotta have one of those shirts over by der...

[@Thelawncarenut]

here you go thelawncarenut.com/collections/shirts/products/spring-fling

[@Ryush806]

What about “leveling” on a slope? I have an incline that has a bowl where water sits and drowns the grass every year. Just add the sand the same way and it’ll level until it spills over the edge of the bowl?

[@Thelawncarenut]

I'd give it a try and see what happens. Do it slowly over time

[@KJTB]

What about if I have bare spots in my Floratam St. Augustine grass? Is the concept the same? Or should I use grade A top soil and let the grass grow into it?

[@Thelawncarenut]

Funny you ask! Look what I did in 3 months with just fertilzer, mowing and good irrigation. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoOZf6iEeZWgY7c and to answer your question, putting same sand in barespots is fine.

[@KJTB]

@@Thelawncarenut thank you sir

[@KJTB]

​@@Thelawncarenut one more question! What are your thoughts on using red/clay dirt instead of play sand?

[@djhott6004]

So, I can use this same method of leveling my tall Kentucky Blue with regular topsoil?

[@Thelawncarenut]

Top soil isn't going to flow the same way as dry sand. Also top soil can have weed seeds in it that could cause you bigger problems. I always recommend sand for these small jobs like this.

[@djhott6004]

@@Thelawncarenut Even up here in Chicago I can still use the sand for leveling?

[@fargnbastage]

Is it best to mix sand/top soil for deeper holes?

[@hogheadrun9139]

I mix sand and steer manure together before applying. Dry of course.

[@Thelawncarenut]

yummy! 😃

[@terryfyre6881]

Hi Allyn, Can Sand be used in the PNW?

[@Thelawncarenut]

sure can! thrower down!

[@bradygaming5034]

I just layed st aug sod should i put anything on it or just water Maybe use rgs or milo?

[@Thelawncarenut]

RGS is great. 3oz/gallon/1000 and water it in then repeat in 10 days. That will get your sod rooted nicely.

[@bradygaming5034]

@The Lawn Care Nut awesome thanks Allyn!

[@engulfaudioable]

What kind of sand do you use

[@Thelawncarenut]

Paver Sand or Play Sand

[@benharrison1069]

Allyn, I'm not clear as to how you are differentiating a "small spot" versus a "large spot" to level. I do have some dips in my yard (it never was properly leveled), but I am not talking about something like a swale, just a dip of 10' x 10' and about 4-5" at the deepest point. That would take a fair amount of sand over a few applications to level a spot like that. Is the method you showed in this video what you recommend for leveling dips of this size? Does the soil type make a difference (mine is a clay soil)? Thank you for this video, Allyn.

[@jackskelly6473]

I have the same issue.

[@Thelawncarenut]

This is something I could probably go into more detail with on the podcast but really, it comes down to how crazy you want to get. If it's really bad, you could just rent a Bobcat and scrape it all up and regrade completely - that would be super nutty. If that's not an option, then yes I would attempt to build up that large spot over time. I would still use sand and just feather it in over 2 seasons. I just don't know of an "in between" option.

[@WithTheBears]

So he would end up with 5" of sand in some spots. Will grass still grow in this? How about new grass/overseeding?

[@andrewccolwell]

@@WithTheBearsmy opinion in this scenario would be to use topsoil initially and just use the sand to fine tune the last inch or so. Yes the organic matter in the topsoil will break down over time… just fine tune with a little more sand. The grass *will* grow in 5” of sand but the sand will drain water faster and won’t hold on to the nutrients as well as topsoil will. So in theory, you could be creating a spot that needs more frequent watering and fertilizing if you had a spot with really deep sand.

[@WhittyPics]

Looks like ACE is the place

[@Thelawncarenut]

it's my first choice everytime!

[@matthewstover6789]

Would that technique work in a swale?

[@Thelawncarenut]

yes but a swale is there for a reason - usually to draw water away between houses. I would not recommend filling that in.

[@wkobayashim]

Will this work on clay? Worried it will harden up like concrete

[@Thelawncarenut]

works great. It takes "portland cement" to harden up clay and sand. Just don't add that and you will be fine.

[@MCVCMC]

Can’t you use a drop spreader similar to the way you would spread lime?

[@MCVCMC]

?

[@mrmidnight32]

I thought plants didn’t grow in sand. Wouldn’t this ruin your fertilizer base?

[@JonAlldred]

Hey Allyn, Is there anything against putting sand on your lawn? P.S. I'm in Ohio with a cool season lawn with TTTF. I've heard that it isn't good for sand to be in the lawn

[@kswas2784]

I'm in Ohio too. Using just plain sand really isn't that great as it has zero soil nutrients for your lawn which we already struggle with given the clay content of our soil. It's ok for a couple of small spots but if you are going to do a major (whole lawn) project, it should be mixed 50% with organic material.

[@Thelawncarenut]

the challenge there is then, how much nittrogen does that organic material have and will it create super dark green spots in the lawn where the rest of the lawn didn't get the organic stuff? It's like the opposite problem. This is why sand is best because it is neutral, allowing you to add nutrients (nitrogen) on your own, evenly across the lawn.

[@kswas2784]

@@Thelawncarenut I've never heard of anyone having those issues at all. The organic material isn't going to all of a sudden make a spot of dark green super fertilized grass like what can happen when a dog urinates in a spot. You're just reaching for something to support your video and it's incorrect.

[@cphorn15]

​@Kswa S to be fair though, you didn't specify what type of organic material that should be mixed in, which is why he calls out the nitrogen issue as a potential problem to look out for. Every lawn/area is going to be different so if you need to amend your soil or sand, then do so as is appropriate for your situation.

[@Thelawncarenut]

@@kswas2784 we can both be right. Everyone has their own opinions - I am giving mine and you are giving yours.

[@michaelgorini1978]

Why do you use sand? What's the benefit vs just more soil?

[@Thelawncarenut]

here is the first video I did that addresses that kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2SugKCfjrOsn68

[@michaelgorini1978]

@@Thelawncarenut thanks!!

[@ArthurDayneFirstOfHisName]

A couple two three inches and FORGETABOUTIT ! 😂

[@Thelawncarenut]

over-bye-dare! 😃

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

I think the broom head may have messed up your level over by der 😮

[@njneer7511]

Hey Allyn, love your content as always but you may want to do a little more research into paver sand or polymeric sand before using in the yard. It is basically sterile and has polymers that are activated by water to make it cake and stick together. Thats why its great under paver stones because it is a foliage and insect inhibitor. Just doesn't seem right to me to use something like that. Maybe Im wrong.

[@jimmaul]

Sunniland paver sand (what he was using) does not contain anything other than sand. Therre are no additives, and it is not polymeric sand.

[@Thelawncarenut]

I agree, polymeric sand should not be used. The packaging for it is much different, its more wxpensive, and it's clearly labeled as "polymeric sand" hopefully people can understand the difference.

[@Eli-9]

You just created a hot spot on your lawn. Sand cap your entire lawn. Do it right or don’t do it at all.