I've got a large lawn that used to have hedges, and it's pretty uneven. I'm planning to level it out and lay new turf this October. I'm considering hiring a turf cutter and then using a good rotavator, but I'm unsure about the best method to level the ground once I've stirred it up. The area is over 250 square meters, and while I've got a landscaping rake, that seems like a lot for such a big space. Any suggestions?
4 Answers
I’m in the same situation with a long garden of about 5m x 50m! I’ve already cut the grass and done some rotavating. I raked everything out, but there are still some lumps. My next step is to mix in topsoil with gypsum since we're on clay soil. After that, I'll be laying down the turf.
Rotovate your lawn until the soil is really fine, then rake it flat. I suggest foot-treading it to compact it lightly, rake again, and repeat a few times. Once you’re satisfied with the level, seed it and lightly water it without flooding.
I used a plank of wood to spread topsoil and level my lawn. It was tough on my knees, but it did the trick!
Apply topsoil, level it out, then use top dressing, level again, seed, and do one more top dressing—don’t forget the fleece afterwards to protect the seeds!
You might want to use a lute to get those final levels right after raking and treading. Also, remember to create a slight slope to help with drainage so water doesn’t pool. Setting some pegs in every few meters will help maintain a consistent grade.