Ryan Knorr Lawn Care, what about sand and soil mix? Also, when you said that you'll have to use sand every time once you start using it, are you saying that I will have to keep using sand up until it's leveled, or would I have to keep using it even after it's leveled? Thanks for the info.
Youve heard it a thousand times im sure. The quality of your filming, the detailed content, and the audio is incredible. The work you put into this is incredible. Thank you Even the thank you falls short...
Awesome video. I have been wanting to do this for a long time. I just need to pull the trigger. It’s a big expense! The 50/50 mix (About $300 bucks) The Gorilla cart ($99) The level rake ($139) So happy you have it for less than Amazon, Thank you. I think I will buy it now, to get the ball rolling.
I'm so glad you posted this video! I never realized that sand capping was such a commitment; I thought I could do it once and that was it - count me out!
i still don't understand why you have to continue. i heard that you can't have organic material above sand because why? i just did a 50/50 sand/top soil leveling project. and i definitely don't plan to do that every year.
Hi Thanks for all the useful videos. I'm in UK and the lawn levellers here (called lutes BTW) have a stirrup fitting so you can turn the working surface over and get a higher or lower level of aggressiveness. This makes it easy to do fine final levelling and also hard at it for the big patches like you showed outside the church. A guy I taught was a groundsman for our local UK Premier league soccer team (later he became head groundsman). Each year at the end of the season, they would strip off the turf, regrade and refine the soil before resowing ready for the next season. Our city also had a world class Rugby team and they did more or less the same.
I’m watching this video while taking a shit… Ngl I’m in love now and actually motivated to start caring for my lawn. Thank you for the in depth analysis and such an awesome video
This is one of the best sand top dressing videos because Ryan really goes into detail how this is a commitment and not just a thrower down. Was that your Brinly spreader getting some action. Great video.
You should change the oil after running the mower with the brush on the sand. It gets everywhere and in everything. When you drive a car on the beach it's best for the car to change all the fluids afterwards. Great video my friend!
Appreciate the videos! Live in North Dallas and have Bermuda that was installed as sod - tons of peaks and valleys. Working on leveling the front yard recently and used an 80/20 (sand/organic) mix. Aiming to get it it much more level and ultimately shift into reel mowing. Keep up the great work!
I always used a combination of sand, peat loam and triple mix. I think just sand alone makes for more work down the road. The peat loam and triple mix add's to the soil base while the sand helps to carry the soil down to the roots. I always cored and detached first. I also mixed in grass seed with my mixture. Once I spread this, I used a green's rake to level it all off. Worked perfectly and new growth started fairly quickly. The rest was just cultural work...water, fertilizer, mowing. I really don't get this just sand treatment but I'm impressed very much by your efforts and information!
I’m gonna be leveling my my yard this fall, with my overseeding but gonna use soil. You already won me over last year using soil and the benefits. Also following another UA-cam’rs advise as well. Between you two guys and the results from your yards using soil. I would never use sand. Thanks for offering the tool.
Yes, I really like the idea of screening the soil. I followed his lead and although it's a lot of work it worked out well when I renovated my lawn last fall.
Last year when the Neibor was having his driveway paved , I gave a worker 50 bucks to go over my 5500 sq ft lawn with his massive roller . I turned out better than perfect . A week later after a heavy rain I used a core aerator to loosen things up & it’s beautiful
Really, Ryan and a Ryan working on a lawn. Update got the sprinklers in and they work great, only problem is wind but it goes the 35 ‘ I set it at most times.
I make a 50/50 topsoil sand mix when I level an area or fill in low spots. I dont know if its the right way but it works, it dries up the low areas up which is good but still has soil to hold nutrients
That is the way I would do it except I also added peat loam. The peat loam hold moisture, the soil is nutrients, the sand takes everything down once you rake it in/level it. It's a great combination. They do this on golf course greens.
Just ordered the leveling tool...my small yard has one side that needs leveling and my plan is to mix top soil with sand and add some compost...hopefully it will help to thicken the lawn (previous home owner neglected it) and help with drainage which is an issue for us. Big fan of your channel!!!
I experimented with growing grass in a pot of play sand. No soil, just pure sand. The only issue that I seen was the seeds took a long time to germinate and the grass took a long time to grow. The roots system did get long and healthy
Ryan, here in Ga. we use river sand, only draw back is it can cause weeds, some people use a mix of ERTH FOOD and river sand...I've used River sand by a topdressing company, used mason sand by myself and just used a rake, but on my emerald zoysia it didn't work as well to get my lawn level, smooth yes but level no.
I had my welders here at work attempt to make a leveling rake, it looks nice but weighs about 75 lbs. lol I just ordered one off your site. Thanks for the info and inspiration.
The natural growth of turf creates a thatch layer. Aeration and top dressing breaks down the thatch layer. A thin layer will keep from creating layers.USGA has some very useful info available on UA-cam and USGA website on how to perform this process. Their info will be on greens and fairways, but can be applied to home lawns as well. Ohio State University has a UA-cam video explaining the top dressing process. It’s narrated by Pam Sherratt very good video.
I was shopping around for a leveling tool today on various sites since they’re a little pricey. Including shipping, Ryan’s site has the best price. Didn’t even know he sold them. Obviously just started. Can’t wait to get it.
Nice presentation Ryan. It's important folks with clay soil lawns do research before adding sand. Maybe a very light application mixed with top soil would be okay. I think last year's leveling using a quality top soil on your lawn was a win/win solution. The results speak for itself. Bottom line, there are trade offs using sand ~ mike.
OK I just love watching these videos because there’s so much info to digest. I live in Kansas and my lawn is all fescue cut at 4 inches. I assume leveling will be the best done in the fall but how does one level with grass cut that tall? I know it’s going to be a long process because I’ve got quite a few sections in my yard where I’ve got big dips. Obviously those will take time to fill-in so I intend on using topsoil for those. But when the fall rolls around how do I begin leveling with grass that is that tall?
The heathier and less compacted your lawns soil is, the more often you need to add sand...but the layering problem is far less of a concern. Sand is much more dense than lawn soil that's why it works down past the grass for leveling so well. Combine that with smaller sized screened grains of sand and it will work its way down past anything but packed clay. Same reason behind panning for gold, its density man.
Another great video Ryan, love all the detail and time you take to include info for people in different regions. Good list of resources, thanks for including those!
Very nicely detailed! If I were you, leaning towards several, light applications throughout the year, I'd be investing in a topdressing machine. They work well. Perhaps you could go in together with a few of your lawn buddies.
Hey Ryan, I plan to do some top dressing, leveling and some seeding in the fall. I have some pretty extreme height variations (4-6" in some areas) and I'd like to get it mostly flat in one go. Is top soil the best option for me? 12k sq ft, a few trees with large surface roots but healthy turf for the most part. Central PA.
Started doing this today. This kicks the crap out of you. How many days do you think the blades can be covered before it becomes a problem? I have several spots that are deep and won't be able to get to them for a few days.
So just to get it straight: if you aerate your lawn, clean up the bits left over. But don't use sand because you only want sand on the top layer. Is that right?
@@ryanknorrlawncare In the end, I'm sure the results make the purchase totally worth it. I think I'll buy this leveling rake in a couple years. Right now I'm just starting to renovate my lawn. Leveling is the least important issue at the moment :)
@0:25 LOL my F150 does this but for the backlight and dome light. I'll be taking apart the dash cluster this summer to clean up the connectors and possibly have to re-solder.
Ryan, I leveled my lawn during spring break (mid march, Austin tx) used top soil mix with sand from a local place. Some parts ended up a bit heavy. I planned on having 1/2 inch. It was pretty bumpy. I have tifway Bermuda. What are the watering recommendations after leveling? I cant find clear instructions on that. How many days? When can, for example, my toddler go outside and use her playground? Grass was starting to green up when I added the topsoil. I know it was a bit earlier but it was the only period of time I had available to work on it. Let me know about the watering please, just cant find info about it. I watered everyday for about a week. Stopped when it rained, now doing every other day in the early morning. Not sure I am doing that correctly though. Your videos are super helpful. Looking fwd for your response. Thanks!
I don't know that there is an absolute set watering strategy but with bermuda you're definitely a little early on leveling work. I haven't found my sprinklers to be a heavy enough watering to do a whole lot to work it down but a good rainfall helps. It just needs time now to get warmer and to start waking up more so it can grow back in.
Hey! Someone told me you live in Iowa? I live in the Iowa City area. Any local place to buy good grass seed? I'm trying to get my neglected yard finally looking nice. Someone suggested buying TTTF? What are your thoughts?
I've never heard that you shouldn't mix sands until this video. I did a layer of courser sand last year. Does that make masonry sand a bad idea for this season??
Darren McCloskey usually play sand is rounded and doesn’t lock into place as well as USGA or masonry sand. It also isn’t usually screened to as consistent of a size.
It's a very very fine material and the point of the sand on top is proper drainage which means you need space between the particles and a mixture of particle sizes within a certain specification
Great video! Planning on leveling, top dressing and overseeding lawn in the fall (Midwest Illinois). Would it be better to level now with a little overseeding and then do the major seeding in the fall or should I do it all at once?
I do little league baseball and I make my own drags... made about 5 now and they're amazing to use... sand is the problem down here though. We have hard-packed clay, 4" down. How would I get the grass to grown down deep enough or do I just add more sand over time to grow up through?
Ryan, Ryan Ryan, love your content great as always but some viewers ask questions and I don't see you answer them. I guess we have to wait on the question and answer video?
Would you use the same formula if you used topsoil or black dirt instead of sand? I’d like to add some more nutrients to my sandy soil I have after aerating?
I was looking into getting the 36 inch levelawn because it is only 10 dollars more than the 30 inch version? Is there a downside to having a bigger model. I have a small yard now but I plan on having a larger yard in our next home. I love your videos! Keep up the great work.
What’s wrong with play sand? I’ve just got a spot against my sidewalk where the grass gets overrun whenever it rains and I just want to fill in around it to keep the water from taking away the topsoil over and over. A few lb of plays and should work fine, right?
Hello Ryan, so glad you did this video, it answered a lot of questions for me. One thing I’m not sure about is cutting my tall fescue prior to leveling. If I level with soil in the Fall when it is cooler, can I cut the tall fescue shorter than the recommended 3-4” HOC? I’m concerned those long grass blades may get ripped up by the leveler, and the soil might have a harder time getting through all that grass. I was wondering what HOC prior to leveling would be best, if it’s a one time deal (or once a year)? Also, I took your advice and got the Skil angle grinder and sanding disc. It should be here any day. Looking forward to sharpening my own blades, especially now with this shelter in place! Thanks for all your research and great advice!
Yeah you won't have much luck trying to spread it very well on longer grass. A one time shock to it will be ok and overseeing after you level also helps
What is the best thing to use to fill in divots and trails left over from voles? I don't know if I would be adding too much sand to the ground (which is mostly clay soil) using it to fill all of the holes and trails.
I;ve been trying to buy the lawn leveling tool for awhile now, but it's not available for shipping to Canada. Would be great if you had this an option for us Canadians who are passionate with #lawngoals.
Was wondering if I can do this with peat moss and topsoil mix? Backyard has come out great but recently have encountered a ground mole. The mole has made the level yard into bumpy road . Not sure if I could do it on my new perennial ryegrass? Or what do you recommend? 😎
Thanks for your you tube videos. I really enjoy them. Question. I am in the beginning stages of reworking my lawn. I decided to do a compost and dirt mix initially to get the levels better and condition lawn. I also dethatched and arriated prior. After adding I seeded and rolled. My thought is to do a light compost and dirt again in fall and start sanding process in spring of next year. My question is after sanding yard am I ever able to add compost over sand in future treatments? I know you talk about layers? I also purchased a eco 250 because I am old. Ha!
Ryan, I'm going to be doing a full renovation in my 3800 sq ft back yard this fall and I'm planning to do sand leveling (in addition to a DIY sprinkler system install). I live about 2 hours away, want to help?
Hey Ryan thanks for all the info. I have just started leveling my lawn with 50 50vtop soil compost. Have you ever thought about taking on a project yard and limiting your time. Both my wife and I are essential workers and we have 2 kids 4 months and 5 years old. As much as I would love to have hours a week to work on the yard, I simply do not have the time. Can you help me prioritize my overall lawn care routine to maximize results.
Can you ship to Canada? I can't find that tool anywhere. I have a newer lawn in the back and it's really bumpy. It's going to take a few years to level it.
13-13-13 analysis, 1lbs nitrogen per 1000 square foot 4 times this year. Some monthly treatments of the bio stimulant pack from N-Ext made by Green County Fertilizer sold on the Lawn Care Nut website would help also.
Hey Ryan, what do you recommend if peat moss gets blown off a bare spot making the seed still exposed to the surface from heavy winds along with rain. Would I just re apply peat moss or pick another type of covering to cover the spot. Thanks and keep up the great content👍.
Great video. I leave in South Florida and have St-Augustine grass. I just bought Play sand to mix with Black Kow to top dress my lawn. At the end of the video, you mentioned not to buy Play sand, why is the reason please? Thanks 😊
im assuming if my yard is pretty bumpy it would be a good idea to mix some screened soil and sand together till its more or less flatter then transition to all sand?
Well, I guess those bags of play sand I bought last year are going in the trash. Or, maybe I just mix it with some soil? Our soil here in the valley is very fine. It will almost never make a ball when compressed together, even when wet. It’s pretty much a beachy, sandy soil. So, for me, the play sand seems to be a good mix. I used some last year and I personally didn’t see any I’ll effects from it. However, putting a bit of soil with it will actually help to hold a bit more moisture for me, which is crucial in our drought times. Which is pretty much now, till October.
Lawn Leveling Tool - ryanknorrlawncare.com/product/lawn-level/
Ryan Knorr Lawn Care why so much money. Aye!
Ryan Knorr Lawn Care, what about sand and soil mix? Also, when you said that you'll have to use sand every time once you start using it, are you saying that I will have to keep using sand up until it's leveled, or would I have to keep using it even after it's leveled?
Thanks for the info.
Post this again when you have a 50% off coupon code. 🙂
You would have to keep removing organic matter and adding sand year after year
Ryan Knorr Lawn Care So if we don’t want to level year after year, should we stick with soil instead?
I made my own soil spreader/leveling tool from 2"X2"s and a long pole. It works like a charm...
diito
Youve heard it a thousand times im sure. The quality of your filming, the detailed content, and the audio is incredible.
The work you put into this is incredible. Thank you
Even the thank you falls short...
Glad you enjoyed it!
Awesome video. I have been wanting to do this for a long time. I just need to pull the trigger. It’s a big expense! The 50/50 mix (About $300 bucks) The Gorilla cart ($99) The level rake ($139) So happy you have it for less than Amazon, Thank you. I think I will buy it now, to get the ball rolling.
As tim mentioned in his article, once you start sand capping its important you don't stop. Sand capping is a big commitment.
I'm so glad you posted this video! I never realized that sand capping was such a commitment; I thought I could do it once and that was it - count me out!
i still don't understand why you have to continue. i heard that you can't have organic material above sand because why? i just did a 50/50 sand/top soil leveling project. and i definitely don't plan to do that every year.
Since i started using youtube, i've never seen a single video with lot of gold nuggets as this. Wow!!👏🏿am impressed.
Hi Thanks for all the useful videos.
I'm in UK and the lawn levellers here (called lutes BTW) have a stirrup fitting so you can turn the working surface over and get a higher or lower level of aggressiveness. This makes it easy to do fine final levelling and also hard at it for the big patches like you showed outside the church.
A guy I taught was a groundsman for our local UK Premier league soccer team (later he became head groundsman). Each year at the end of the season, they would strip off the turf, regrade and refine the soil before resowing ready for the next season.
Our city also had a world class Rugby team and they did more or less the same.
I’m watching this video while taking a shit… Ngl I’m in love now and actually motivated to start caring for my lawn. Thank you for the in depth analysis and such an awesome video
This is one of the best sand top dressing videos because Ryan really goes into detail how this is a commitment and not just a thrower down. Was that your Brinly spreader getting some action. Great video.
I wanted to try using it spread sand but it was too wet
You should change the oil after running the mower with the brush on the sand. It gets everywhere and in everything. When you drive a car on the beach it's best for the car to change all the fluids afterwards. Great video my friend!
Appreciate the videos! Live in North Dallas and have Bermuda that was installed as sod - tons of peaks and valleys. Working on leveling the front yard recently and used an 80/20 (sand/organic) mix. Aiming to get it it much more level and ultimately shift into reel mowing. Keep up the great work!
Tom I am in north Texas as well. Where did you get your sand and what did you order.
Nick Laubhan,
I used AMA Landscape who applied the first layer.
I always used a combination of sand, peat loam and triple mix. I think just sand alone makes for more work down the road. The peat loam and triple mix add's to the soil base while the sand helps to carry the soil down to the roots. I always cored and detached first. I also mixed in grass seed with my mixture. Once I spread this, I used a green's rake to level it all off. Worked perfectly and new growth started fairly quickly. The rest was just cultural work...water, fertilizer, mowing. I really don't get this just sand treatment but I'm impressed very much by your efforts and information!
I have a great deal of respect for any man who drives a truck with an 8 foot box.
Good you mention that type of sand matters. A lot of builder types of sands can really turn hard.
Love the narration overlay with the work performed in the video😎
You helped me make up my mind about leveling since I mechanically areate twice a year I'm going to shy away from sand leveling
Agree with you...No sand for me...topsoil for my clay soil alway. Sand made my clay soil worse.
I’m gonna be leveling my my yard this fall, with my overseeding but gonna use soil. You already won me over last year using soil and the benefits. Also following another UA-cam’rs advise as well. Between you two guys and the results from your yards using soil. I would never use sand. Thanks for offering the tool.
Yes, I really like the idea of screening the soil. I followed his lead and although it's a lot of work it worked out well when I renovated my lawn last fall.
The further screening on mine made it fantastic for spreading and topdressing...I think people get frustrated with topsoil because it's often clumpy
Last year when the Neibor was having his driveway paved , I gave a worker 50 bucks to go over my 5500 sq ft lawn with his massive roller . I turned out better than perfect . A week later after a heavy rain I used a core aerator to loosen things up & it’s beautiful
Really, Ryan and a Ryan working on a lawn. Update got the sprinklers in and they work great, only problem is wind but it goes the 35 ‘ I set it at most times.
I remember helping my brother do this last year on his Bermuda lawn. It was about 90° out...so much fun! ;-)
I make a 50/50 topsoil sand mix when I level an area or fill in low spots. I dont know if its the right way but it works, it dries up the low areas up which is good but still has soil to hold nutrients
That is the way I would do it except I also added peat loam. The peat loam hold moisture, the soil is nutrients, the sand takes everything down once you rake it in/level it. It's a great combination. They do this on golf course greens.
Hi Ryan, thank you for the upload, perfect timing, gotta do a sand leveling this weeknd ! All the best ! cheers from Austria
Just ordered the leveling tool...my small yard has one side that needs leveling and my plan is to mix top soil with sand and add some compost...hopefully it will help to thicken the lawn (previous home owner neglected it) and help with drainage which is an issue for us. Big fan of your channel!!!
I experimented with growing grass in a pot of play sand. No soil, just pure sand. The only issue that I seen was the seeds took a long time to germinate and the grass took a long time to grow. The roots system did get long and healthy
You saw, NOT SEEN!!!!
Thanks finally found answer to question on best time to do this for cool season lawns! You have the best looking lawn broh!
Ryan, here in Ga. we use river sand, only draw back is it can cause weeds, some people use a mix of ERTH FOOD and river sand...I've used River sand by a topdressing company, used mason sand by myself and just used a rake, but on my emerald zoysia it didn't work as well to get my lawn level, smooth yes but level no.
Need to get with that company about the rakes and see if they will offer larger ones, around 48 inches would be great
I appreciate the time you take to research the info you share. 👌
Dude! You are at 106k followers & almost 20 million views! Congratulations!!
I had my welders here at work attempt to make a leveling rake, it looks nice but weighs about 75 lbs. lol I just ordered one off your site. Thanks for the info and inspiration.
"Best level of success" good one!
Wasn't even planned!
Just bought the leveling tool from your store, nice price on them, better than amazon and ebay for sure.
I just put 5 cubic yards of USGA sand on my lawn this weekend. The Levellawn works great.
:)
You can fix the gear lcd by taking out the cluster and resoldering one of the pins. It’s super easy.
The natural growth of turf creates a thatch layer. Aeration and top dressing breaks down the thatch layer. A thin layer will keep from creating layers.USGA has some very useful info available on UA-cam and USGA website on how to perform this process. Their info will be on greens and fairways, but can be applied to home lawns as well. Ohio State University has a UA-cam video explaining the top dressing process. It’s narrated by Pam Sherratt very good video.
Just ordered the lawn leveling tool!!! Thanks for added this tool to your website.
I was shopping around for a leveling tool today on various sites since they’re a little pricey. Including shipping, Ryan’s site has the best price. Didn’t even know he sold them. Obviously just started. Can’t wait to get it.
Just got my levelling tool from your site. Plan on using soil since I have some significant undulations of 2 inches.
It's a workout but worth it in the end!
Awesome info! I would have to do little by little anyway. Have a large yard and I'm not as young as I once was.
Nice presentation Ryan. It's important folks with clay soil lawns do research before adding sand. Maybe a very light application mixed with top soil would be okay. I think last year's leveling using a quality top soil on your lawn was a win/win solution. The results speak for itself. Bottom line, there are trade offs using sand ~ mike.
Yeah i'm very happy with my lawn...it's not absolutely 100% level but it's still fun to reel mow
I'm loving the research and effort put into this, great job!
Damn, they’ve got literally everything on UA-cam!👍👍
OK I just love watching these videos because there’s so much info to digest. I live in Kansas and my lawn is all fescue cut at 4 inches. I assume leveling will be the best done in the fall but how does one level with grass cut that tall? I know it’s going to be a long process because I’ve got quite a few sections in my yard where I’ve got big dips. Obviously those will take time to fill-in so I intend on using topsoil for those. But when the fall rolls around how do I begin leveling with grass that is that tall?
After leveling, when should we water and how much water? I live in North Salt Lake, UT so it’s very dry here. Thanks!
Can you imagine putting play sand all over your lawn? That would be f***** up. All the best Ryan.
When you start sand leveling can you then never use soil? Even if you are aerating/top dressing/overseeding?
The heathier and less compacted your lawns soil is, the more often you need to add sand...but the layering problem is far less of a concern.
Sand is much more dense than lawn soil that's why it works down past the grass for leveling so well. Combine that with smaller sized screened grains of sand and it will work its way down past anything but packed clay. Same reason behind panning for gold, its density man.
Great information Ryan, I have fescue and is planning to do this in the fall. Thank you much
I heard the best way to sand level is with a mini ATV and a handlebar mustache.
Lmao 🤣
😆
😆😆😆
😂🤣😂🤣😂
That's true. Somebody you know is very informed.
Another right to the point video with great information. You do a great job. Thanks
Another great video Ryan, love all the detail and time you take to include info for people in different regions. Good list of resources, thanks for including those!
Your lawn just leveled up.
Very nicely detailed! If I were you, leaning towards several, light applications throughout the year, I'd be investing in a topdressing machine. They work well. Perhaps you could go in together with a few of your lawn buddies.
I have the same truck...several videos on UA-cam with the fix...an easy solder project!!
Hey Ryan, I plan to do some top dressing, leveling and some seeding in the fall. I have some pretty extreme height variations (4-6" in some areas) and I'd like to get it mostly flat in one go. Is top soil the best option for me? 12k sq ft, a few trees with large surface roots but healthy turf for the most part. Central PA.
Yes I think it is
Started doing this today. This kicks the crap out of you. How many days do you think the blades can be covered before it becomes a problem? I have several spots that are deep and won't be able to get to them for a few days.
So just to get it straight: if you aerate your lawn, clean up the bits left over. But don't use sand because you only want sand on the top layer. Is that right?
We need a gofundme to build cheaper versions of those leveling rakes.
Yeah that price is absurd!
Once you do a whole yard it's totally worth it
@@constellationmma I will let you know this weekend. I just built on from PVC pipe today.
Elijah McNeish There are a couple on UA-cam that I have seen. I have the same concern, about how they compare.
@@ryanknorrlawncare In the end, I'm sure the results make the purchase totally worth it. I think I'll buy this leveling rake in a couple years. Right now I'm just starting to renovate my lawn. Leveling is the least important issue at the moment :)
Very thoroughly explained video man. Loved it!
@0:25 LOL my F150 does this but for the backlight and dome light. I'll be taking apart the dash cluster this summer to clean up the connectors and possibly have to re-solder.
I'm sure mine is a loose connection
Ryan, I leveled my lawn during spring break (mid march, Austin tx) used top soil mix with sand from a local place. Some parts ended up a bit heavy. I planned on having 1/2 inch. It was pretty bumpy. I have tifway Bermuda. What are the watering recommendations after leveling? I cant find clear instructions on that. How many days? When can, for example, my toddler go outside and use her playground? Grass was starting to green up when I added the topsoil. I know it was a bit earlier but it was the only period of time I had available to work on it. Let me know about the watering please, just cant find info about it. I watered everyday for about a week. Stopped when it rained, now doing every other day in the early morning. Not sure I am doing that correctly though. Your videos are super helpful. Looking fwd for your response. Thanks!
I don't know that there is an absolute set watering strategy but with bermuda you're definitely a little early on leveling work. I haven't found my sprinklers to be a heavy enough watering to do a whole lot to work it down but a good rainfall helps. It just needs time now to get warmer and to start waking up more so it can grow back in.
Hey! Someone told me you live in Iowa? I live in the Iowa City area. Any local place to buy good grass seed? I'm trying to get my neglected yard finally looking nice. Someone suggested buying TTTF? What are your thoughts?
I've never heard that you shouldn't mix sands until this video. I did a layer of courser sand last year. Does that make masonry sand a bad idea for this season??
So when do you use sand vs soil. I need to bring a lawn up at least an inch to two inches so that water drains away.
What's wrong with using play sand? I usually hear it recommended.
Darren McCloskey, I caught that message to at the very end. What’s wrong with play sand?
Darren McCloskey usually play sand is rounded and doesn’t lock into place as well as USGA or masonry sand. It also isn’t usually screened to as consistent of a size.
Yea I'd like to know as well.
It's a very very fine material and the point of the sand on top is proper drainage which means you need space between the particles and a mixture of particle sizes within a certain specification
@W Jack thanks jack I'll give play sand a go
Great video! Planning on leveling, top dressing and overseeding lawn in the fall (Midwest Illinois). Would it be better to level now with a little overseeding and then do the major seeding in the fall or should I do it all at once?
I do little league baseball and I make my own drags... made about 5 now and they're amazing to use... sand is the problem down here though. We have hard-packed clay, 4" down. How would I get the grass to grown down deep enough or do I just add more sand over time to grow up through?
Ryan, Ryan Ryan, love your content great as always but some viewers ask questions and I don't see you answer them. I guess we have to wait on the question and answer video?
I do my best....I'm one person answering all comments, all instagram messages, all my email which is hundreds a day
What brand kind of sand do you recommend? I heard that medium Sand is Best? Please advise. Thanks
Thanks for the great video! Wanted to do some leveling in the future and was trying to figure it out myself. Now just need to win that Swardman mower!
Good luck!
Would you use the same formula if you used topsoil or black dirt instead of sand? I’d like to add some more nutrients to my sandy soil I have after aerating?
I was looking into getting the 36 inch levelawn because it is only 10 dollars more than the 30 inch version? Is there a downside to having a bigger model. I have a small yard now but I plan on having a larger yard in our next home. I love your videos! Keep up the great work.
What’s wrong with play sand? I’ve just got a spot against my sidewalk where the grass gets overrun whenever it rains and I just want to fill in around it to keep the water from taking away the topsoil over and over. A few lb of plays and should work fine, right?
Hello Ryan, so glad you did this video, it answered a lot of questions for me. One thing I’m not sure about is cutting my tall fescue prior to leveling. If I level with soil in the Fall when it is cooler, can I cut the tall fescue shorter than the recommended 3-4” HOC? I’m concerned those long grass blades may get ripped up by the leveler, and the soil might have a harder time getting through all that grass. I was wondering what HOC prior to leveling would be best, if it’s a one time deal (or once a year)?
Also, I took your advice and got the Skil angle grinder and sanding disc. It should be here any day. Looking forward to sharpening my own blades, especially now with this shelter in place!
Thanks for all your research and great advice!
Yeah you won't have much luck trying to spread it very well on longer grass. A one time shock to it will be ok and overseeing after you level also helps
Ryan Knorr Lawn Care Thanks, Ryan. Do you think 2” HOC would work for soil leveling, or should I go lower?
What is the best thing to use to fill in divots and trails left over from voles? I don't know if I would be adding too much sand to the ground (which is mostly clay soil) using it to fill all of the holes and trails.
Can you share what type of sprinklers you were using at the 2:03 mark ?
I;ve been trying to buy the lawn leveling tool for awhile now, but it's not available for shipping to Canada. Would be great if you had this an option for us Canadians who are passionate with #lawngoals.
I will try to work on that
What's a good price for the Mason sand? Quoted 500 bucks for 12 cubic yards. Is that in the ballpark.
It's crazy when you think for a second that we do all this for our neighbors' benefit 😂 and for bragging rights 😅
Excellent video. One nit: flattened, not leveled. Flattened ...
I'll likely be ordering one of the leveling tools soon. Great info Ryan! 👍
Was wondering if I can do this with peat moss and topsoil mix? Backyard has come out great but recently have encountered a ground mole. The mole has made the level yard into bumpy road . Not sure if I could do it on my new perennial ryegrass? Or what do you recommend? 😎
How do we overseed if we have used sand once ? You mentioned no change of materials once sand has been used on the surface ?
glad you finally got over 100k subscribers
Thanks!
Thanks for your you tube videos. I really enjoy them. Question. I am in the beginning stages of reworking my lawn. I decided to do a compost and dirt mix initially to get the levels better and condition lawn. I also dethatched and arriated prior. After adding I seeded and rolled. My thought is to do a light compost and dirt again in fall and start sanding process in spring of next year. My question is after sanding yard am I ever able to add compost over sand in future treatments? I know you talk about layers? I also purchased a eco 250 because I am old. Ha!
Additional is covering grass seed with peat moss that bad? I read bad reviews. Acidic! Should i add lime pellets after?
Sand always has to stay on top after that so no more compost over it
Ryan, I'm going to be doing a full renovation in my 3800 sq ft back yard this fall and I'm planning to do sand leveling (in addition to a DIY sprinkler system install). I live about 2 hours away, want to help?
My cousin was a coach for Iowa State with Coach Campbell
Hey Ryan thanks for all the info. I have just started leveling my lawn with 50 50vtop soil compost. Have you ever thought about taking on a project yard and limiting your time. Both my wife and I are essential workers and we have 2 kids 4 months and 5 years old. As much as I would love to have hours a week to work on the yard, I simply do not have the time. Can you help me prioritize my overall lawn care routine to maximize results.
Oh Lord, i had to clean my eyes just to make sure i was seeing right. That tool is expensive. Way overpriced. I guess there is no competition for it.
You can build yours with some wood. Is cheaper and not bad at all !
Would this method not be recommended for already sandy soil?
Can you ship to Canada? I can't find that tool anywhere. I have a newer lawn in the back and it's really bumpy. It's going to take a few years to level it.
I'm checking into the possibilities
Did you get one?
I installed root grass instead of seeds. But that is growing very slowly. If you could please guide little for that ..
13-13-13 analysis, 1lbs nitrogen per 1000 square foot 4 times this year. Some monthly treatments of the bio stimulant pack from N-Ext made by Green County Fertilizer sold on the Lawn Care Nut website would help also.
Most Florida lawns have sand in it. My lawn is sizzled to a crisp. Dead, fried, crunchy. Need to replace it with soil.
Hey Ryan, what do you recommend if peat moss gets blown off a bare spot making the seed still exposed to the surface from heavy winds along with rain. Would I just re apply peat moss or pick another type of covering to cover the spot. Thanks and keep up the great content👍.
Just reapply and you will be fine
Hey Ryan - how many yards of soil did you use for your lawn renovation last fall?
I think i got 5
I know it will never give the golf course look, but I have to ask. Can you use sand leveling on a clover fescue lawn?
I wouldn't because it will need ongoing maintenance like more sand topdressing and core aeration in the future
Great video. I leave in South Florida and have St-Augustine grass. I just bought Play sand to mix with Black Kow to top dress my lawn. At the end of the video, you mentioned not to buy Play sand, why is the reason please? Thanks 😊
It depends a lot on existing soil but play sand is very fine and you always want a more coarse material on top
@@ryanknorrlawncare Thank you for clarifying.
what is the best season to do leveling? I have zoysa grass. I have some dry spots (not enough top soil). Is it ok to do leveling in August, September?
im assuming if my yard is pretty bumpy it would be a good idea to mix some screened soil and sand together till its more or less flatter then transition to all sand?
I just go all soil (or whatever is closest to matching my current soil profile) and that has worked well to get it close.
Ryan Knorr Lawn Care Thank you Ryan, I had the same question 😊
Well, I guess those bags of play sand I bought last year are going in the trash. Or, maybe I just mix it with some soil? Our soil here in the valley is very fine. It will almost never make a ball when compressed together, even when wet. It’s pretty much a beachy, sandy soil. So, for me, the play sand seems to be a good mix. I used some last year and I personally didn’t see any I’ll effects from it. However, putting a bit of soil with it will actually help to hold a bit more moisture for me, which is crucial in our drought times. Which is pretty much now, till October.