I have a small suburban yard that's about 0.17 acres, and it's gotten pretty bumpy after some major backyard renovations, including building a deck, fence, and planting garden beds. My partner thinks we need a huge roller to smooth it out, but I'm not so sure. From what I've read, using a smaller roller along with a leveling rake and the right soil mix might be more effective. I'm looking for advice on how to properly level a small yard like mine. Any tips?
3 Answers
From what I've gathered, the best way to level a bumpy lawn is to spread topsoil over the grass and then level it out with a drag bar or manually using a rake. If there are ruts, soaking the area before you level can help. I lost some big trees in a yard similar to yours, creating low spots, and I'll be filling those with topsoil and overseeding. I only expect to tamp down the highest spots.
Honestly, rollers don't really do as much as people believe. They mainly smooth out minor bumps you can feel underfoot, like clumps of grass, but if you have bigger issues like 3-inch lumps, a roller won’t help much with that. Rolling can enhance water absorption and make mowing easier, but you should watch for soil compaction, especially if you have thin topsoil. Still, after rolling, I've noticed tons of worm castings that help with lawn health.
A practical approach is to just dump some dirt on those bumps and use a leveling rake to spread it out evenly. It worked wonders for me in the past!