Need to make lawn SMOOTH and Ideas???

[brian22]

I have heard several ideas on how to smooth out a lawn....I need more input. First of all the lawn don't need to be perfect...(It seems to me when crab grass, weeds, and others are mowed...it generaly looks good) I have about 1 1/2 acres that needs to be smoothed out...the bumps are killing me...and seems where I don't ever plan on moving..I want to get it right! Where I would be making it smooth it would be impossible for mulch hay (i would need 100 bales) and I wouldnt be able to get water to it!.. I have heard that tilling smooths things out...and I dont have a problem reseeding..I have heard from one source just to till and the grass will grow back fine..but I dont know this to be true???? but the biggest things are the dips and bumps. If anyone has any ideas I would appreciate it...Memorial weekend looks like a good time to do this project and I would like to get my ducks in a row...thanks for any suggestions... (by the way I have a 2720JD to help with the work..but would be willing to rent additional equitment)

 

[SouthernConservative]

Take a box blade drag off the high spots - then use a landscape rake to rough things up and break up any clumps - should "level" the yard - it also would be great to add three-four loads of topsoil as you spead it with the box blade it will help fill in the humps.

 

[brian22]

Will a box blade brake up the grass??/ its pretty much all lawn...will a box blade break up the lawn

 

[framer]

Box blade over Grass doesn't work well by experience.Must use rippers.
Rotatilling is a good way to level out and take bumps out. Till then rake or
drag.Grass will come back plus some weeds but will work.Reseeding would
be good at that time.Good luck . Framer.

 

[kennyd]

I think I would rent a RockHound and a SkidSteer.

 

[myyaz33]

how about filling in the low spots with a shovel and some soil. Then topdress the whole lawn with soil or compost. Then pull a small section of fence without much weight around a few times to distribute and level some. This should not tear things up too much and may need to be repeated if not smooth enough to your liking.

If you are talking significant high spots you might as well do a complete renovation.

 

[flusher]

I have heard several ideas on how to smooth out a lawn....I need more input. First of all the lawn don't need to be perfect...(It seems to me when crab grass, weeds, and others are mowed...it generaly looks good) I have about 1 1/2 acres that needs to be smoothed out...the bumps are killing me...and seems where I don't ever plan on moving..I want to get it right! Where I would be making it smooth it would be impossible for mulch hay (i would need 100 bales) and I wouldnt be able to get water to it!.. I have heard that tilling smooths things out...and I dont have a problem reseeding..I have heard from one source just to till and the grass will grow back fine..but I dont know this to be true???? but the biggest things are the dips and bumps. If anyone has any ideas I would appreciate it...Memorial weekend looks like a good time to do this project and I would like to get my ducks in a row...thanks for any suggestions... (by the way I have a 2720JD to help with the work..but would be willing to rent additional equitment)

Rototilling would definitely get you what you want. When I landscaped my new yard in 2006, I used my 21 hp (engine) Kubota B7510HST with a middle buster followed by rototilling with my pre-owned Yanmar 1200 tiller (48" wide).

Then I used my Huskee 18 hp riding mower with a tire drag to smooth out the soil lumps left after rototilling.

I found that a simple carpet drag gave me the smooth surface I wanted.

 

[ChuckinNH]

I have the same problem on a larger scale. I think I am going to try just adding a bit of sandy soil to the low spots a little at a time, and let the grass grow up through it. I'm going to try some small areas with a box blade, but mostly because the grass is pretty thin this spring in those areas. I think I can dribble some dirt from the loader, and then go over it lightly with a landscape rake to smooth things out. I'm a bit afraid of making a mess that would be a real problem to get right! My soil is so rocky that I hate the thought of dropping a tiller into it so that is a real consideration for me too.

 

[jas67]

how about filling in the low spots with a shovel and some soil. Then topdress the whole lawn with soil or compost. Then pull a small section of fence without much weight around a few times to distribute and level some. This should not tear things up too much and may need to be repeated if not smooth enough to your liking.

If you are talking significant high spots you might as well do a complete renovation.

Pardon my ignorance, but would someone explain "topdress"?

 

[Tig]

I would wait until at least mid August to do this. Nights will be cooler and wet weather is just around the corner. If you try to plant grass now you will have to nurse it through the summer heat.