The Step by Step Guide to Levelling Your Lawn

A step by step guide to the lawn levelling process using a sand/soil mix which will solve the majority of bumpy lawn issues.
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[@rickbear7249]

My lawn was so very uneven that I decided that rather than levelling it I'd actually "landscape" my garden with natural looking valleys and small hillocks, including a pool and a stream. Totally the opposite approach, but it worked for me.

[@11furyan]

Daniel Hibbert the guru of growing grass 🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@rottiejakeluke]

I totally understand ALL you did. There’s nothing like a beautiful, lush, level lawn.

[@fenners1290]

A top tip I learnt from premier lawns channel was to put half the seed in a bucket and fill the other half with soil and then mix together and then spread by hand. Gives better contact for germination.

[@martinsylvester1823]

Yes agree...any tips on how to stop the blooming birds scoffing the seed, to big an area for a net

[@thediyandpianoguy8665]

@@martinsylvester1823 my late grandfather used to stick short lengths of cane in the ground every few meters, then run string along them - imagine lines of string, strung a couple of feet off the ground a meter apart, running the length of the lawn. Then he'd hang ribbons of tin foil from the string every meter or so. Apparently the birds wouldn't go near; I took his word for it because his lawns were always beautiful.

[@harbottle8580]

One tip i remember from years ago was to mix the seed with soil in the bucket, but don't sow it immediately. Leave it in the bucket to start germination. Then sow the seed together with the soil. Birds won't eat germinated seed. I never tried it, but i see no reason why it shouldn't work.

[@Egalitarian-bt7kz]

What a fantastic idea and a HUGE thank you…

[@christianpetersen1782]

@@harbottle8580I don’t think the seed deep in the bucket would germinate when not exposed to sunlight, only the seed near the surface.

[@tureq85]

i don't even have a lawn in my back garden and still loving the video!

[@ur2insecure]

Great video as always thank you. I killed off my old lawn a few years ago and reseeded with Barenbrug Sports RPR Golf. Expensive seed but it is 100% perennial ryegrass which is a Regenerating Perennial Ryegras (RPR). It's amazing at healing itself after heavy foot traffic or general lawn damage.. I urge anyone who wants a 100% perennial ryegrass lawn to check it out.

[@Honest_Reviewer.]

I always love your added bits of comedy!

[@HayzeeHayes]

You've done a great job there buddy, moving two ton of soil is hard work! Honestly your lawn is going to be cracking and especially with full Rye. I know Dan is the Man. He's the best lawn expert for me. Great you have the pop up sprinklers to use when you have germination.

[@ProperDIY]

thank you very much!

[@mickeyhughes7244]

Im hitting my lawn in early Sept to do exactly the same...Daniel Hibbert channel is awesome too..keep up your good work

[@IgnatiusZaaijman]

I've never seen a man so in love with his lawn! (And I completely understand!)

[@bladeboy2041]

I love this channel.

[@ProperDIY]

Great comment!

[@madgebishop5409]

your neighbours must think you are truly off your trolley, mowing the lawn about 6 times, then talking to yourself the whole time 🤣

[@BillPeschel]

Don't forget them telling each other, "Who films themselves moving the grass?"

[@ProperDIY]

This is the problem with filming for KZbin - if anyone sees you doing it, it must look very strange - especially as my neighbours don't even know I have a channel!

[@Viellgas89]

Who cares what other people think...? The beauty of living and being alive is that you can do what you like doing, if you always think of what other people think about you, then you might miss living your life the way you want to live it 😏

[@antbans5137]

Cant wait to see the outcome of this .really hope it all takes your lawn will look amazing. I would maybe have spread some of Daniel hibberts best freind and that is jack's magic..😎🤔

[@mickeyhughes7244]

Brilliant 🤣🤣🤣

[@videostarish]

Nice! I was thinking that if you waited for a really dark night, you could shine a powerful floodlight across your lawn around 6" above the surface, as this gives a 'modeling' effect, & shows-up EVERY peak & trough like a sore thumb! Also very useful for walls etc to show how imperfect they are. 🙂

[@ProperDIY]

Good idea. the neighbours really would be wondering what I was doing!

[@darren78anderson]

This works really well for filling walls too. Think your wall is smooth? Turn the light off and shine a light at an angle across it and it looks like the surface of the moon!

[@NAFO_Badger_Brigade]

Or a laser ha ha !!!

[@rickbear7249]

You could also buy one of those cheap 'laser pointers' - those red dot things - that'd give the same result. I've just done something similar with levelling the ground for a lightweight pvc greenhouse. Definitely a very good suggestion 👌

[@Danielle-nz9tn]

What a great idea! We actually have a bright spot light. Gonna give that suggestion a try! Might be a fun way to engage kids by having them go around and put little flags into the depression areas so the next day you can easily see where they are in order to put down the sand.

[@normancoutts]

You are taking this very seriously! Looks like a splendid job.

[@ProperDIY]

Thanks Norman

[@MW_1981]

Very helpful guide to leveling. Be good to see how this is looking in 4 weeks or so.

[@zigbug1314]

I have just found your channel and watched a couple of videos. You have earned a new subscriber! Brilliant content, well explained and I have already taken away valuable information. I work at Toolstation so am very familiar with tools right across the trade. How to use them effectively and learning more about skills/techniques you can apply is so valuable! Many thanks.

[@LTFC1964]

Hi Stuart, scarification is the process of removing the thatch layer. It can be done with what you used which in real terms is a power rake which is quite gentle, or by using a designated scarifier which is a row of tines that will leave grooves in the soil layer. So yes, the cartridge you used does perform a level of scarification as it will remove thatch but it is not a true scarifier which is very aggressive. As usual, a very comprehensive and excellent video.

[@martinsylvester1823]

Yes I agree, mine has tines that does grooves and does take out thatch (great) but Stuart made the point that his does rip out the horizontal weeds more effectively especially after he has done it a few times to get the thatch out, I can see the point in that so to me a very handy bit of kit he has purchased.

[@reallunacy]

Thank you for this post Patrick. I actually came in the comments to verify the term scarify to be synonymous with dethatching a lawn.

[@Lawn_Care_Lounge_tv_uk]

We levelled our lawn about two seasons ago and reseeded it and ive started putting videos on KZbin been watching your channel for a while now and do find it helpful . We have couple vids on my channel how to remove weed grass and when i over seeded my lawn unedited and long tho keep up the good work #Diy lawn care

[@Acheiropoietos]

Summer in the UK last year was very fierce, I hope your lawn was not affected too badly!

[@DanielHibbertLawnExpert]

Thanks for the shout out, very kind

[@dwoodog]

hats off to all the hard work you putting in to this. It'll look good.

[@ProperDIY]

Thanks

[@SpartanMJO12]

Cracking job as usual Stuart, you can see why you're a professional

[@deepb4101]

Most useful video I've watched on this subject! Thank you

[@mortofromoz1]

Great video, Stuart. But if I did that here I’d have a yard full of Cockatoos and Galahs and no grass seed. Hence the next step: a layer is top dressing to cover the seeds.

[@purestilton]

Wow, that is one of the most nature depleted “gardens” ever.

[@Drink-Diesel]

No different to our depleted subscribers lmao😂

[@ryanlloyd4395]

Great video, just what i needed for spring

[@Sarah-Gee]

You are hilarious 😆! Was having a bad day but you made me chuckle a few times 😉

[@Conservator.]

It a good idea to give your gras a boost by giving it some fertiliser before you start this process. Give it about two weeks or so depending on the weather/temperature. The grass will grow much more and faster through the soil.

[@l.j.b9863]

Great job, what a beautiful home you have.

[@jamesrodriguez5671]

Can’t believe taken me long to find your channel

[@darf8475]

You’ve created a perfect lawn at the expense of creating a beautiful garden

[@user-hp6ls8qy6d]

Or he's created a blank canvas for a beautiful garden. Maybe he doesn't have the time or inclination to manage a big garden. In which case, a lawn is a good idea.

[@martinsylvester1823]

Nice video Stuart as always....looking forward to you building a summer house on that huge lawn, would be a great project

[@pincombe]

Great job! :) Allett themselves put out a great video showing how a compost spreader can massively increase the gemination rates when overseeding. Well worth looking into for future overseeding projects as the process also made spreading compost much much easier than using a rake. Of course wouldn't have helped you this time since you were levelling :-)

[@deedee8568]

Love your approach! Thanks!

[@JohnnyMotel99]

I have a scarifier for my grass area, I was warned that some of the creeping weeds will regrow just from tiny cuttings pulled up by the scarifier. The that end I actually went over the grass with leaf vacuum!

[@tessagus2]

Was hoping you would whip out that long level out again and show us how well you done

[@xCupressocyparis]

Fabulous job! Looking forward to seeing your lawn in future videos! 👍

[@fenners1290]

100% ryegrass is good but on the allett page it was noticeable how less coverage you have and they recommended a mix of creeping fescue and rye. Love your channel keep up the good work!

[@ProperDIY]

As it's an overseed, I have a lot of other stuff in there already

[@NAZAM1122]

Stuart you're brilliant!

[@SteveMonk1956]

That's going to look really lush once it's germinated, looking forward to seeing the results.

[@ProperDIY]

thanks Steve

[@comingtofull-ageinchrist6736]

I like the sand and compost mix! I've been seeing people using sand only, and I don't like it very much; because it doesn't hold moisture long for the grass. I used Peat Moss on some areas of my lawn this spring, and the color of the lawn has such a rich green color. I used it because I seeded with Bermuda seed, and I'm happy with the healthy looking results of it. My soil already has enough sand in it. Oklahoma is known for its sandstone and clay, and unless someone has hauled in top soil with a much mix in it, you'll see a lot of sandy dirt.

[@comingtofull-ageinchrist6736]

The Perennial Rye grass is a winter grass, and I bought a bag of Lowe's Kentucky Blue grass seed, and what I got was a Perennial Ryegrass! I personally think it is an ugly grass. I planted what I thought was Kentucky Blue grass a few years ago because I had a shady place I had a hard time getting to grow grass. It never died through the winter! I think it reminds me of Bunching Tall Fescue, which I think everyone tries to remove from their lawn and grows in bunches or patches. It lasts up to 3 or 4 years unless adversely effected by extreme winters. It doesn't tolerate drought or long periods of extreme heat, and it flourishes is fertile and well-drained soil. It is native to Europe, Asia and Northern Africa but it is cultivated around the world. Something else I noticed about this grass is it used for pastures and it requires over seeding every year in the fall, and it grows up to 1 feet tall, and is recommended that you cut it 2 to 2 1/2 inches tall, and to increase the height of it 1 inch as it warms up in the summer. It grows in bunches much like bunching tall fescue does. Like I said, in my opinion, it an ugly grass that looks more like a weed. It grows in bunches much like Poa Annua, an annual blue grass, and everyone I know, including me, spray it with herbicides that effectively kill it. Perennial Ryegrass is commonly used in large fields. You may want to think about planting this before you commit because you may not like what grows up!

[@raybray8207]

Hi Stewart ..Who is your local Company who supplies your 'lawn Repair Mix' ? It looks fantastic stuff ... lovely and dry! ideal for spreading. The suppliers near me mixes are wet and lumpy, even the separate sand and compost bags are too for mixing my own... Love your videos..

[@digitalmarketingemma]

Brilliant video - I feel I now what I need to do - thank you and subscribed!

[@nathans5773]

Well done. Nice tutorial.

[@balliballieryufdf]

This man is a machine

[@ingramdw1]

Nice video - it inspires me to sort out the lumps in my lawn. I'm on the other side of the planet, so I'll be waiting a few months though - lots of time to research KZbin with a glass of wine (or two)!

[@loki112000]

If you have a very large area which is sunken down, previous owner had semi in ground pool and you can see the clear circle of where it was filled in.

[@Conservator.]

I wish my lawn was as flat as yours before levelling! 😁

[@stephenmcgeown]

Loved the comedy intro Stuart!

[@ianbird6997]

Great video my neighbours and friends think I am mad too aerating and scarifying, wait till I start dressing and levelling 😂

[@komalpurewal9999]

But wait till they see your results

[@robertpotter2515]

Grass can be really hard to take care of but It's so satisfying having a garden with a nice cared for lawn everyone is just resorting to astro turf now I personally don't like it I think real grass is much nicer. Doing a great job 👍 hopefully it comes out looking really nice.

[@ClaireLeung-pj2ri]

Good one PD. ( I know that’s not your name) I watch Daniel Hibbert lawn are too. And that machine you’ve got is really versatile.

[@vfswan54]

Masterclass 👏👏👏

[@kisarader]

Always great knowledge in your vids thank you

[@jonathanjohannis6035]

Love your video. very helpful. Subscribed

[@NAFO_Badger_Brigade]

I have the earlier Qualcast/Atco 17inch cylinder mower with scarifier bought 25years ago for £750 (presumably Allet is a rebrand as it looks identical to urs). It always starts on the first or second pull

[@fixandfoodgman6987]

Awesome. Will be doing this. Esp the Wine

[@twentyonetwos3967]

That looked like hard work! Thank you for the video and thank you for showing us how to do the Charlie Chaplin walk whilst compacting. Very entertaining.

[@ProperDIY]

thank you

[@richardgamble8137]

Hi, what sand soil mix did you use and from who please, many thanks

[@Scottwilson374]

Great video. You did address it in the video but I was under the impression that what you were using was a power rake...the scarifier attachment I have is a lot more brutal than that and that one you said is a scarifier is according to the brand I use infact a power rake...god knows. However, if you can make a cure for Poa for all time that would be great! Absolute bloody bane of my life! - Does the weed/feed touch the Poa in your experience? - The stuff i'm using has worked for stopping all other weeds and grasses but not Poa!

[@lennykelly9952]

Stuart your lawn looked quite good to start with but a great job.If I may ask obviously when you bought the house there were screeds put in and it’s like doing concrete with levels where you compact the clay and run it with a straight edge from timber to timber just wonder how you got hollows.

[@twinwankel]

My lawn was sodded last year and within a year, it has gotten small peaks and valleys where the rain has run through it. Seems to me, you really can't keep a lawn permanently flat. But if your effort is successful, it might last for a few years before you have to re-level.

[@SpartanMJO12]

Nature doesn't like planar surfaces and 90 degree angles much to our dismay!

[@ajc2100]

You could top it up with a ton at the start and end of each season. That’ll keep it good

[@ericvong6176]

maybe thats why my sand is still sitting on my yard. I should drink the wine after i finish not before i start. thanks for the video help alot

[@campbellollie]

I look forward to the next funny intro section on these videos :)

[@DriveWithAndy]

If I had all that equipment I'd have no space left in my garden. Your garden is absolutely huge compared to our UK house. No joke your garden could fit about 20 of our gardens in it 😢😢😢

[@b-artofnoise1514]

Give your 'GBR' cap a washing machine turn 😂

[@steved8038]

So when do we get to come and play bowls on your new lawn 😁 Thank you.

[@alice20001]

- Honey! The neighbor is cutting the grass again! It must be the 4th time today! - Go to bed Harold!

[@txta786]

Hank Hill would be proud 🥲

[@initiald33]

what company did you use for the lawn dressing?

[@lookingfordiscovery]

A glass of wine well earned

[@jaredpeters8528]

That's dethatching/power raking. Scarifying is using rigid blades that is done much deeper to turn up the top layer of the soil.

[@roger4880]

Nice one! Definitely scarifying with those tines. With blades it is vertical cuts, so many others incorrectly interchange the two. Good process 👍

[@ProperDIY]

I'm glad you agree

[@paulwestlake4278]

Are the vertical blades not aerating?

[@TavsIsAbout]

Great video! Side question, but what foliage do you have growing around the edges along the fence line? Only because I need to plant something along a long fence line?

[@PNRobo]

nice video ,thx . One question . U put sand every year in Lawn or how often ?

[@samhillyersh]

7:08 absolutely sent me

[@justinjones5281]

I didn’t my leveling by just slowly filling low spots for 3 solid weeks moving from one section to the next, than next day new area third day new area four day new area. Than back to forst area again. I’m not level everywhere but I noticed the low spots create high spots around the low spot so I had to buy a lawn roller to flatten the swollen earth.

[@Lloyd1885]

When I started watching this I thought you was spreading top soil, with a view of the existing grass growing through it...obviously not, but would that work?

[@mammothmotouk]

Great video and super channel. I can’t remember what type of sand you used for the levelling? I will watch again but in the meantime, could you let me know? Thanks.

[@kronic0961]

Thanks for making this video! Please can you share where the sand was from, or what I need to purchase?

[@chrishartle1326]

Nice work as ever, was expecting to the the laser level make an appearance though

[@danielgambling]

A good sign that you have weeds coming out of your topdressing / levelling material?

[@gengpan]

After I retire. I may have time for this

[@Ddk90]

Your levelling loot works like sponge float when plastering making surface flat 😉

[@ProperDIY]

Yep

[@njq-wr6ck]

First clue this isn’t made in Australia: “Coming into “summer”” Jumper and pants Nice video

[@bhamjee]

I have recently seeded my garden after levelling it and there seems to be LOADS of stones that didn’t look to exist when we initially seeded. What do you think I should do? I’m stuck

[@darkstari]

I just dug out my lawn for 2 appletrees and filled those with beds with fresh soil. then spread the sand and soil mix to few dips in lawn. I'm waiting for my second 20ton lorry to bring me more soil to top that ditch up and then I get to fill the flowerbeds and our vegetable garden. Maybe in few weeks I'll finaly get to spread the seeds. Your lawn looks really good now. Hope that it starts growing nicely.

[@octocon1379]

Oh don’t give me this now, struggled with this for a few weeks, gave up, then seeded it about 3 weeks ago! DOH!!

[@ProperDIY]

Oh!

[@PatrickGuerrisi]

My question and concern is when I fill up a dip how do I not kill the grass because you're supposed to at least have some leaf above the sand for growth?

[@henryng9406]

Don't you have to top it all off with a thin layer of moisture retaining material (peat moss or equivalent)?

[@DarenSaroop]

So I live in an area where there is a lot of clay. I am worried about using a sand mix that could turn into hard chunks with the clay and sand. What would you recommend 100% top soil?

[@mikemarinadoherty3364]

The seed spreader is nice size and compact. Could u share with us where to buy this spreader?

[@chlordk]

Why do you water the seed in England? I thought it was raining all times? Maybe it is only in London or south England?

[@markjefferson7492]

brilliant video. Can i ask, what type of sand did you use?

[@DavePawson]

Thanks, useful. The 'lute'? Looks expensive? Have you tried making one? Make for a good video?

[@DavePawson]

(And it is. )

[@Paul_C_Music]

Great video! How large is your lawn Stuart? I’m about to do this in March and trying to work out how bags I’m going to need

[@darren78anderson]

Just need to pop a hole for rotary washing line, and you can be out there practicing your 'putting' in no time

[@HIK_48]

Birds! Damn birds. How do you stop them eating half your seed before it's had a chance to germinate?

[@Egonomical]

You did that in a day? 😮😲😳 Are you superhuman. Im 57 it would take me a week to do that 🤔😂🤣