How to get your soil perfectly level and flat prior to seeding a new lawn
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- Learn how to level your lawn. In this video, I use 5 tonnes of topsoil to bring a "space" up to the right height before seeding.
The garden was brand new. Landscapers had installed a patio and used a fair bit of poor quality soil. It was full of glass and pottery and stones.
I sourced some very high quality slightly sandy topsoil and had 5 tonnes delivered. I used the 5 tonnes to raise the uneven bumpy existing soil up to the right height, level and flat with the existing patio so that mowing would be a pleasure.
Building the soil up in layers, firming, rolling and lawn luting, I was able to transform a bare space into something the customer is going to enjoy using for years to come.
#raisesoilheight
#newlawnprep
#howtolevellawn
Use the same products and tools as me:
• Lawn Care Shopping List
Thanks man! This is one of the best videos I've seen regarding leveling the soil.
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Ok can we appreciate how gorgeous this backyard is. So beautiful!
thanks!
Thank you for this! I thought I would be fine without a roller, but seeing your video I think I may need it!! I have a hand tamper and that takes too long!
Yes a roller is def quicker 😊
Hi Shaun thanks for making such a comprehensive video 👍 since watching your videos I've grown so much in confidence. That lawn will look great once established 😊
Thanks!
nicely prepared mate👍brings back memories of when I used to do a lot of turfing & my OCD used to go through the roof when preping. just didn't know when to stop 😭😂
😊🤣 thanks
I got my area eye close with topsoil. Dragged a 2 by 4 across. Sprayed heavy water to compact it. Rolled and raked it the next day. Easy because it was still moist. Then seeded. No need for string. Close enough. I took the poor man’s way. 🥴 Great video!
Well done Shaun.
Very hard work bringing the levels up that much.
The lute is one of my favourite tools but the hardest.
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19:52 I looked those up, Lolium Per = perennial ryegrass, Festuca Rub = red fescue. Good job.
Looks like a good days work that. A job well done 👍😁💪
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I wish i'd known about those rollers! I went and ordered a tamper yesterday, oh well, it'll be good exercise :)
Aye.. positive thinking 😁😁😁
Such a lovely man. Thank you for your lovely advice. such a good video.
Thank you!
Amazing job Shaun cannot wait to see the results from your hard work 👍👊🤝and thank you 🙏
Thanks!
I can’t believe this is the video you’ve put out today! I’ve been killing my compacted & cracked clay lawn/weed garden for the last few weeks and I spend yesterday tilling to loosen the surface. Today is adding 4 tonnes of topsoil, and I’ve been wondering how to level it best!
Thanks!
Perfect timing!
I wish he had put it out 20 years ago - lol.
Very useful thank you. The string line and bricks was a great idea
More than welcome
@@LawnRight If you were laying turf and preparing and levelling the soil underneath, would you still make the soil level/flush with a patio or just go just under?
@@alistairmackay3075 I'd have the soil almost level.. the turf will add another inch.. you can then have your wheels run on the patio when mowing.. but it can also settle over time so maybe 1 to 2 cm higher
@@LawnRight Great thank you. Stupidly ordered turf for tomorrow and still levelling today so I'll aim to go higher thank you - I didnt think it would take a few weeks to settle in - learning process!
A really instructive video. If we want a bowling green we know how to get one 😁 I now vote for Shaun as minister for leveling up 👍
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Great information and thanks for some new ideas sir!
You're very welcome!
Your videos are great mate!
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Hi Shaun, I am in the middle of seeding my first lawn from scratch and I was wondering how best to level the lawn for my customer. I search u tube and nothing was coming up until just now and I have to thank you most sincerely for a fantastic teaching with meets my every need. The lines are a game changer..
😊😊😊 youre most welcome!
Really interesting and useful as always Shaun, thanks for sharing. Still experimenting here with some success and can see differences in the different approaches I try. But the lawns really need levelling. When my dad was around, the lawns here were like snooker tables but have been seriously neglected for 15 years since he became less able and passed away. Now I am here full time to care for my mum, I have some time to spare to have a go more regularly - not to his OCD standard, but just acceptable, level grass blades and minimal weeds.
The clay lawn at the back (which I just blade scarified and didn’t weed treat first) is getting well aerated as it was full of dandelions and I have a Fiskar which I use every day. So it is now full of compost / seed filled holes at various stages of germination. 😁 It is a bit uneven and would benefit from a moderate top dress just to fill dips without raising it too much. So I think I will get some soil, a lute and roller and try to flatten it at some stage.
The lawn at the front has fewer dandelions (I weed treated that one a few weeks before teasing in all directions with a power rake), much better draining soil (dad’s ex-showpiece, he fixed the clay) but has got very uneven over the years. It is probably gonna turn out to be a major topdress and overseed as it is that dippy now, but again avoiding raising the overall level. Just debating Spring or late Autumn to do it, mum needs a green lawn to look at in summer.
The side lawn I didn’t touch, I just mow it frequently and see how it goes. It currently looks better than the others apart from dandelions, but green moss ridden clay lawns stripe quite nicely if you cut it short enough and I expect the others which are cut a bit longer to catch up as they recover. 😁
Hope your back is getting better. 👍
Hi.. nice few challenges to sort out. You could take the slow and steady approach to dips if preferred .. just apply around 1 to 2cm into dips, use brush to work the soil to ground level so the grass is not smothered. Repeat every 2 to 3 weeks slowly raising the soil height that way with minimal fuss
@@LawnRightMany thanks for that suggestion. I hadn't thought of that and will give that a go. You are a very generous person providing all this professional experience to us all.
Thanks Shaun. The price for all of this gear is unaffordable for me, but I enjoy watching and understanding what to do. I’ll just have to improvise with what I have got. I made a wooden lute and weighed it down with some weights and I pull it with a rope. Seems to work ok. Thanks again.
Hi I totally get it.. I should do a video on this at some point.. many thanks for watching.. a wooden lute works well :)
Thanks for the tutorial
A really in depth knowledge filled video that shaun, something different to the usual, scarify, overseed clips you see from other UK lawn youtubers. Nice one. P.S. still waiting on a video of your new LS45!
Thanks Mark! The new aerator showed a brief appearance on a recent video ua-cam.com/video/pApWnsw1TBY/v-deo.html (sloping lawn).. it's been out on 2 more also.. but I've not edited those yet.. many thanks 😊
@@LawnRight Thanks, must have missed it, will take a look :)
i needed this so much, got top soil coming next weekend!!
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Great advice! 🎉
Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Great job 👍.
Thanks 👍
I have a lawn with troughs in places and it's impractical to start again and relay the lawn. Any suggestions on how best to level when there's deep channels. Doesn't need to be bowling green flat. Just ok so my son doesn't twist his ankle playing football
Hi there's 2 options. Throw a load of soil into the troughs, use a broom or rake to drag it level, and scatter some seed in to the top followed by a thin layer of soil. You'll be inconvenienced for 2 to 4 weeks.. or do the same but only add an inch at a time once a month, using a brush or rake to make sure its worked in between the blades without smothering them. This way the grass grows up through the soil and each month you add more soil. In time it'll level out and all you've done is add soil bit by bit
wow, lots of hard graft in there. great results! maybe also you could try a chalk string line if you have surrounding borders. snap it against the wood then fill to the height marked.
LOVE this idea! You're the best, thanks for sharing!
Interesting video, a hard day's graft in that. Thought when the customer went that far they would have sowed a dwarf rye for that closer greener cut. Whatever customers choice, I'm sure it's all looking fantastic by now and their delighted. A***
Hi yeah it had a few wobbles but generally looking good now 🤞😊
Cheers for this pal, i only have to level 12x12ft but still handy info. We just got our first house, it's a new build so it's all clay and rubble 6 inches down, i used a pickaxe to break it up. Subbed :)
Thanks! Have fun with that!
Im going to give it my level best
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Love your content. I would have loved to see how to use a Spirit Bubble in the Lawn Leveling Process.
Yeah I took it and used it but found it easier just to move the string line to gauge things on that one
Amazing video Shaun. Such a big job. I will need to level exisiting lawn, about 80 sq metres so probably need a tonne of top soil then overseed and top dress . Does that sound ok . Thanks Shaun
Sounds good..although cant say how far the tonne would go as that would depend on hour lawns current dips etc. Either way, sound good!
I have a 70 m² lawn that until a couple of years ago hadn't been touched, so very undulating. I used 2 tonne of topsoil to level it out. Had a fantastic lawn last year. In a moment of madness I decided to kill it off again this year. This time I only used less than half a tonne of 90:10 sand dressing as it was more or less flat from last year. Basically, it goes to show the amount needed to level a lawn depends on how bad your lawn is. My tip would be to take your time. If one tonne isn't enough then leave it order some more and don't seed until your happy. Don't rush it.
Thank you sir!
Welcome!
Thank you. Would you recommend watering between rolling to help the soil settle?
For me, no, because it would then be sticking to the roller and delay the whole process by several hours but if you'd more time maybe.. I've never personally done it though
@LawnRight got it. Thanks for the reply
Hi there, enjoying your videos on lawn care. I am doing this exact job in my garden then laying turf. So my question is, as there will be new turf layed would you level topsoil with the patio or would you leave a 20mm gap between topsoil and patio? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and keep up the good videos.
Hi I'd go level in case the soil sinks over time
@@LawnRight great, thanks for the advice.
Hi there,
Thanks so much for all the content!
Is it possible/how would you go about flattening a lawn without taking it back to soil?
Hi you can fill in the dips very slowly.. add a cm depth of soil to a dip.. 2 cm at most.. use a brush or rake to work it down... wait a couple of weeks then repeat.. so potentially raising dips by 3 or 4 cm a month.. within year you should have good improvements.. you can optionally cut the turf off in a dip and put soil in, then lay turf back on top
That was a lot of work. Looking forward to seeing the progress. How many times a day and for how many minutes would put the sprinkler on after re seeding and top dressing. It's hard to find top soil and compost without any stones or hard lumps in. Thank you.
Hi Ray so you dont really want the seeds to dry out much if possible, so when its cooler twice a day.. when it gets warmer 3 to 4 times a day.. when it's hot as much as 5 times...
Thanks. How many minutes would you leave in on for?.
Ash yes.. itll literally only be afee minutes in each area at most.. it's also best to do by hand first few weeks as sprinklers can sometimes leak and form puddles around them, floating the seeds up.. also you risk dragging the hosepipe across the lawn and moving seeds.. so if you do use it carefully carry the hosepipe and keep moving the sprinkler around
Do u fill your roller with sand or water? Ive bought a roller, will be 70kg with water, 130kg with sand what do you suggest?
Hi my roller was given to me by a customer. It's sand filled. Any will be fine really it's just for weight
Brilliant video & step by step guide, thanks Shaun 💯
🙏 thanks!
@@LawnRight don't know why my comment posted twice 🤷🏾♂️ but that video was definitely worth the double thanks lol
Thanks for the video mate, doing this project at home. Looking at lutes online. Which do you recommend? Many thanks
Hi theres loads to be honest. My first was really heavy one from ebay was about £90 and was just the lute itself.. I had to buy a broom handle for that. It's good. Then I got a landzie lute. Its a lot lighter but does the job just fine. www.gardenimports.co.uk/product/landzie-lawn-level-36?ref=566
I'm starting too feel like some Igor character asking his master for advice yet again 😂 I'm thinking of doing the exact same thing, but should I till the top soil in ? I own a tiller and really want to improve my clay soil
😁 hi certainly wouldn't harm and I'd go so far as to add in some compost and a touch of gypsum
@@LawnRight thanks master 🙌
Great work! I've got a question, my garden is heavy clay soil and really bumpy, its quite raised up as well (sits above the paving slabs), am I better using an auger to drill some aeration holes in then trying to level it, or just take the turf out and lower the level to then top it up and make it level like you have here?
Hi it all depends what finished level you're after. If your looking to be flush with the slab you'll need to dig out to a final height just slightly higher than the slabs.. ,if you're going all in I'd dig out more thee mix some topsoil and composting and rotavat it all before leveling... If you simply want minimal fuss.. Aerate then fill the holes with soil and compost then add final soil layer in all the dips before seeding
@@LawnRight Thanks mate!
Hi Shaun. I haven't got a roller, but I have a manual lawn mower, which is quite heavy. Could I use this instead.
Thank you.
Yes.. Once finished mowing.. Drop the mower on its lowest setting with the power Off. And push to get stripes
Hey. Would you ever put weed suppressant on top of the original soil before putting the top soil on?
If not, why wouldn’t you do it?
Thanks
They only work for so long and new weed seeds will find away to germinate
Fair. Thanks
Another helpful video, thanks. Will try my own renovation in the autumn. What starter fertilizer do you use or recommend?
Hi I'm not biased to any brand whatsoever. Any preseed or general balanced fert will be fine (similar and low npk values). 😊👍
Hello Shaun I’ve been watching some of your Videos lately and I’m really enjoying them as I’m in the process of sorting out my lawn…. I’ve have a really patchy areas after I put seeds down, how long after till do I plant new seeds to cover the bare spots? Thanks for advice
Hi once grass begins to come through and if you feel its ready for a mow. Typically 2 to 3 weeks... mow it then you are fine to redo the patches 😊👍
@@LawnRight thanks so much for advice 😀
Can I put top soil on my existing lawn and re, seed ?
Hi.. yes.. but try not to smother existing grasses... also.. if it's quite thatchy already and you've not scarified the roots will struggle to push down.. so ideally you should rake it first for best results so the soil can clearly be seen in grooves along the lawn
1:24 None of the rental yards around me rent the Lawn Leveling Loop, I am surprised and they are mystified that I want one, they should have a Seeding DIY Equipment set, the rolling screen for peat moss, the round rubber drum for compacting the landscape rake and the Lawn Leveling Loop, they think I have a hole in my head when I ask for it.
Yeah I find that a lot.. the diy lawncare industry isnt super catered for in the rental markets
@@LawnRight 500 dollar investment 40 dollars for 2 days rental it will pay for itself quickly
Hi, may garden soil is quite sandy. Could I lay turf straight on top?
Hi if the soil is suitably prepped.. levelled.. large stones removed and gently raked to rough it up and provide a key then yes 😊
Thanks for the video 👍🏻. Can I ask... I didn't see you use the "Field 4" compost on this job... Did you use it? Or did you mention it as a possible alternative to the verve etc? Thanks.
Hi.. I'm waiting on a new delivery of field no 4.. so had to get some from wickes.. other places had sold out sadly
@@LawnRight Ah, right, so if can get some, the number 4 goes over the seed... Thanks 👍🏻
Hi Shaun,
Thank you for the video. I have tried to level out my own garden but obviously it is nothing like yours! Since I last attempted leveling out the lawn, grass has inevitably grown. What should I do regarding the current lawn? Should I cut the grass first then start to level out the garden once again or should I completely get rid of the old lawn before hand? Carry on the good work!
Hi if you are happy to do things slowly then level areas an inch at a time.. put soil in the dips and use a brush or rake to move the soil into the right area but try not to smother the grass.. then itll grow up through and you will now be an inch higher in that section.. you can repeat every week or so in this manner.. if you were going the whole lawn then maybe a full redo is the way forward
@@LawnRight Thanks for the tip. Would the same tip be appropriate if the garden is on a slope?
@@TWongeh06 I'd have thought it would be fine as long as the soil isnt falling down the slope with it being steep. Of course you're always at the mercy of any rain 😥
@@LawnRight The garden is slightly sloped so there wouldn't be any problem, the garden is not too big as well so I don't see it being an issue. So I should put the top soil at the bottom of the slope and rake it towards the top part of the slope?
@@TWongeh06 hi I dont think it matters where you start.. the main thing is to just add up fo an inch in any dips.. use the back of a rake or brush so it works down in and among the blades of grass to ground level 😊
I live in Lincolnshire, very clay soil here, can I spread topsoil mix right on top of clay ?
Yes but I'd look to aerate the clay first then pop a little gypsum on
@@LawnRightoh wow, you actually replied! Thank you ever so much! New subscriber here ! 😊
Hi Shaun, had a really bad mossy garden with big sods everywhere, got a guy to to skim about 4/5 inches off so it’s better but still stoney and poor quality soil... was going to top soil then lay turf on top.. any benefit to just seeding it like you do? Also is it ok to lay in autumn
Hi sounds good.. if you seed you get to choose the exact seed type you want.. plus its considerably cheaper than sod.. on the flipside sod gives you the instant appeal and just needs watering to establish..
@@LawnRight forgot to mention the garden backs up to some woods so gets dry and sun can be an issue.. might go for seed then..
Hi
I desperately need to level my existing lawn. I've recently killed a section to start again and need to level. I was thinking of using dried kiln sand. Would this work?
Thanks
Hi there no nutritional value in sand. Golf courses use it for playability. Their sub soil is also very sandy. most domestic lawns are soil and my advice would be to choose a sandy soil
whats the purpose of roller. I dont have one can i skip it, thanks
For firming down the soil..if you've alot of soil it will sink in places over time otherwise
How much did you charge for this job cause i got ripped off by a guy that charged me £640 and i had voids to fill in due to taking up a patio area that was to be turned into part of the lawn and he used peat and sand to fill it raked it about abit didn't compact it down then just layed turf on top it has sunk in areas and its bumpy and uneven everywhere and he's trying to say its because i have a crap lawn mower. For £640 i expected to have the old sandy soil raked across to the voided area then fresh top soil spreaded evenly . Because the one side was filled in with peat it grows twice as quick on one side. Also one of the grass species is yellow is this due to my lawn now being too acidic as it was already very sandy and now its had peat and more sand added to it. The guy travelled to york and paid £3.50 m2 for the turf and i had 36m2 and im guessing used about 2-3 tons of peat/sand combined so is £640 acceptable for this job? Everytime i call him i get the excuse of torrential rain so 3 months on of this excuse im guessing we'd be part of the sea by now 😂
Hi.. our pricing is based on lawn size and how much soil is needed.. I would have used mainly topsoil for the sub layers.. compacting each layer every inch or 2 so its firm bee that wont sink. The final few inches can be more sandy and some compost if needed.. it's hard do say if his price is fair or not..
Hi Shaun , that did look like a hard days graft mate but worth it. Funny thing with grass seed, I put down an expensive seed on my main lawn 3 weeks ago and it is just about starting to show. I have a small lawn and just threw some seed I got from Wilko and guess what, that’s come up strong and a deep green colour 🙄Go figure that one . Great video 👍
Yep, I've said for years just go get a cheap box of seed for most domestic lawns. Easy and inexpensive and easy to buy more when needed.
What is the dimension of the backyard
Sorry I can't remember this was 2.5 years ago. They've since moved house so I've not been back
Where do you get the roller?
You can buy them anywhere these days.. This one was given to me by an old customer
Great job
A 'levelling lute' ? Where I live, the tractor man uses an old wrought Iron gate and drives it around the field. LOL
An update please??? How does the law look now?
nice!! id pay to see that! yep i actually went back there last week.. heres the video: ua-cam.com/video/uXGmWN0np88/v-deo.html
Hello guys I wonder if anyone can help me out with this question ??
I've just constructed a circular lawn which is 22 metres round, how many Square metres is it all in all ??
Please could someone calculate it for me ? I'm old and stupid. 😅 The wife told me too write the last bit 😢
Hi.. try this www.countcalculate.com/geometry/area-circle dont tell the wife the right answer , then give her the answer and you'll have the upper hand
It looks like your lawn was invaded by about 30 separate ant colonies. 😂
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I voted 🗳 Mike twelvepoint 🗳
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Do you have enough time to work between your vids? 🧐 😂
Just... as for family no.... lol 🤣
Brilliant video & step by step guide, thanks Shaun 💯
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