On Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:46:14 -0400, Phisherman
wrote:

On Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:40:49 -0700 (PDT), David Johansen
wrote:

On Sep 24, 8:36*am, brooklyn1 wrote:
On Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:18:44 -0700 (PDT), David Johansen





wrote:
On Sep 23, 3:14*pm, brooklyn1 wrote:
On Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:17:10 -0700 (PDT), David Johansen

wrote:
On Sep 22, 6:38*pm, "David Hare-Scott" wrote:
David Johansen wrote:
This summer we laid sod in our backyard and we prepped/flattened the
sod underneath, but we were in a rush to try and finish some things up
before it started raining and I guess we walked on it too much before
it all settled because now the ground is fairly uneven and not as
flat/ level as I would like.

Is there a way to level the ground under the grass now that it's
established?

Thanks,
Dave

I assume you mean you want to smooth the surface making it even, *not make
it level. *Leveling (ie making horizontal) is hardly practical after you
have laid sod.

You could top dress it. *Using a friable loam, rake and drag it over the
grass, cover thinly overall with almost none on the high spots but *filling
up the hollows and cracks. A heavy log of wood pulled by a loop of rope will
give you a smooth surface and in time muscles too! * The grass will grow
through the dressing and form a smooth mat. *This is best done during the
growing season otherwise you can get erosion down the hollows before the
grass grows.

David

You're right and I probably did use the wrong term. I am interested in
making the ground "even" (no hills or valleys), and hopefully with all
of the tips I've gotten so far that will work.

Thanks,
Dave

It would help to advise knowing the size of the area.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

It's a little bigger than 15 feet by 25 feet.
Dave

It's small enough that you can even your lawn yourself with a hand
pushed roller... you can probably rent one but I think it's best to
have your own as you will likely need to roll your lawn a few times
each year: *http://tinyurl.com/ycrrapq

http://www.amazon.com/Agri-Fab-18-In...5-0267/dp/B000...

So would I just soak the ground to soften it up and then roll it? Or
is there anything special I need to do first?
Thanks,
Dave

Rolling compacts the soil. So you solve one problem for another.

One would thinks so but rolling does not compact soil, in fact it does
just the opposite, in flattening the ground rolling redistributes soil
particles making soil more porous thereby increasing its volume To a
degree rolling aerates (however not in a good way). To compact a
vibratory machine is used, which forces particles to interlock in such
a way that makes the soil more dense and lessens its volume. When
rolling lawns one needs to be careful not to roll with too much
weight and make too many passes or the soil will become so fluffy that
it breaks contact with the grass roots. Same when one mows close
around trees, it's best to use a push mower rather than a heavy garden
tractor. Landscapers and grounds keepers use rollers all the time, in
fact when mowing athletic fields/golf courses the anti scalping
rollers are adjusted to apply enough pressure to flatten the ruts made
by mower tires.

Road builders use rollers to compact, but they are very heavy (tons)
and they vibrate... they're used to compact the roadway sub base of
crushed stone and the blacktop, not garden soil. Vibrators won't
compact good organic garden soil... if your soil compacts from rolling
then it's very poor quality soil for growing a lawn (or anything) and
needs substantial ammending.... like how experienced farmers can judge
soil quality by grabbing a fistful and and applying pressure, if it
all clumps together it's not good farmland... good arable farmland
won't compact.