Lindsey from Bismarck, ND, has this question about her lawn:
We just moved into our home last fall. The previous owners planted the grass without leveling and flattening the ground. Our lawn has tire tracks, low spots, and is very uneven. Is there any way to flatten out the soil without starting from scratch with the grass? Is it possible to add dirt to the top and just add seed? What are our options?
Steve Sagaser, NDSU Extension Service Horticulturist, replies:
Yes you can add soil. However if you add more than one inch of soil at a time, you run the risk of killing the existing grass by “smothering” it. An option is to add an inch of soil, let the grass grow up through it and re-establish, then add another inch; this process can be done multiple times but it stretches out the time it will take for you to get your lawn re-leveled. Or, you can simply begin filling in and firming up the low spots, when you have an established grade, re-seed the grass; it will most likely have a patchy appearance from where the low spots were filled in with soil. Lightly rake the seed into the new soil then cover it with a thin layer of (1/4 – 1/2”) of grass clippings or some other biodegradable mulch. Then water it lightly for about three weeks. After the first three weeks, water it every other day for three more weeks. After the first six weeks your new grass will need some fertilizer.
Cut back on the frequency of the watering to no more than once or twice per week and make sure that your lawn gets about an inch total of water per week.
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