Leveling a bumpy yard/lawn in DFW, Texas
 

I wasn't brought up in these parts so I'm not altogether sure of the best
approach to this but I have a lot of bumps and hollows in my yard and I'd
like my lawn to be a lot smoother come next Spring.

Now, trying to excuse my ignorance of how to go about this ...

- I should do this in the Spring just as the grass is about to grow? or
before the frosts come?

- My soil is just normal Texas 'clay' with about 2 inches of sand that the
builders put down and then the 1-2 inches on the sod - should I be adding
topsoil to my entire yard if I can afford it? My Bermuda grass was fairly
good this year but a little patchy and very bumpy.

- Alternatively does a roller work well with repeated use?

- The important question - where does one get a few cubic yards of good
topsoil near Frisco, TX?

I saw them putting down some nice topsoil along side George Bush Turnpike
but I think they would notice me parked alongside the road. Actually, the
topsoil going down alongside the Turnpike is what made me thing if this is
the time of year to do such a thing.

Any advice welcome.

Regards,
PK

PK wrote:
I wasn't brought up in these parts so I'm not altogether sure of the best
approach to this but I have a lot of bumps and hollows in my yard and I'd
like my lawn to be a lot smoother come next Spring.

Now, trying to excuse my ignorance of how to go about this ...

- I should do this in the Spring just as the grass is about to grow? or
before the frosts come?

- My soil is just normal Texas 'clay' with about 2 inches of sand that the
builders put down and then the 1-2 inches on the sod - should I be adding
topsoil to my entire yard if I can afford it? My Bermuda grass was fairly
good this year but a little patchy and very bumpy.

- Alternatively does a roller work well with repeated use?

- The important question - where does one get a few cubic yards of good
topsoil near Frisco, TX?

I saw them putting down some nice topsoil along side George Bush Turnpike
but I think they would notice me parked alongside the road. Actually, the
topsoil going down alongside the Turnpike is what made me thing if this is
the time of year to do such a thing.

Any advice welcome.

Regards,
PK


My yard is bumpy, also. I've tried towing around a standard roller
filled with water, but it really doesn't help. Of course, if you have
tree roots causing the bumps, you'll have to get rid of them or cover
them every few years with soil. I'm trying raking topsoil and seed
over the low spots, but without scarifying the original surface. I
don't know how it will work.

"William W. Plummer" wrote in message
news:Spb9d.349109$Fg5.3157@attbi_s53...

snip

My yard is bumpy, also. I've tried towing around a standard roller
filled with water, but it really doesn't help. Of course, if you have
tree roots causing the bumps, you'll have to get rid of them or cover
them every few years with soil. I'm trying raking topsoil and seed
over the low spots, but without scarifying the original surface. I
don't know how it will work.


Now this has been *years* ago when I was in Jr. High, but I remember my dad
getting a dump truck load of sand (?). Then good ol' Chuck would have to
carry the sand to the back yard using a wheelbarrow and spread it with a
shovel.

From there my dad got a cross tie and if I remember right, he hammered some
large nails in the bottom of the cross tie with about 1 or 2 inches hanging
out from the bottom, acting as a rake (?) and attached a rope to both ends
of the cross tie.. Again, good ol' Chuck would then pull the cross tie
around the yard like a mule spreading and leveling the sand.

This seemed to do the trick because to this day, the yard is level, other
than where the city came in and dug a hole in the yard.






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In dfw.general Chuck wrote:
"William W. Plummer" wrote in message
news:Spb9d.349109$Fg5.3157@attbi_s53...

snip

My yard is bumpy, also. I've tried towing around a standard roller
filled with water, but it really doesn't help. Of course, if you have
tree roots causing the bumps, you'll have to get rid of them or cover
them every few years with soil. I'm trying raking topsoil and seed
over the low spots, but without scarifying the original surface. I
don't know how it will work.


Now this has been *years* ago when I was in Jr. High, but I remember my dad
getting a dump truck load of sand (?). Then good ol' Chuck would have to
carry the sand to the back yard using a wheelbarrow and spread it with a
shovel.

From there my dad got a cross tie and if I remember right, he hammered some
large nails in the bottom of the cross tie with about 1 or 2 inches hanging
out from the bottom, acting as a rake (?) and attached a rope to both ends
of the cross tie.. Again, good ol' Chuck would then pull the cross tie
around the yard like a mule spreading and leveling the sand.

This seemed to do the trick because to this day, the yard is level, other
than where the city came in and dug a hole in the yard.

I see. This sounds like a very effective technique. When can you
come over?

--

That's News To Me!

wrote in message
news:wHj9d.141038$wV.14522@attbi_s54...
In dfw.general Chuck wrote:
"William W. Plummer" wrote in message
news:Spb9d.349109$Fg5.3157@attbi_s53...

snip

My yard is bumpy, also. I've tried towing around a standard roller
filled with water, but it really doesn't help. Of course, if you have
tree roots causing the bumps, you'll have to get rid of them or cover
them every few years with soil. I'm trying raking topsoil and seed
over the low spots, but without scarifying the original surface. I
don't know how it will work.


Now this has been *years* ago when I was in Jr. High, but I remember my
dad
getting a dump truck load of sand (?). Then good ol' Chuck would have to
carry the sand to the back yard using a wheelbarrow and spread it with a
shovel.

From there my dad got a cross tie and if I remember right, he hammered
some
large nails in the bottom of the cross tie with about 1 or 2 inches
hanging
out from the bottom, acting as a rake (?) and attached a rope to both
ends
of the cross tie.. Again, good ol' Chuck would then pull the cross tie
around the yard like a mule spreading and leveling the sand.

This seemed to do the trick because to this day, the yard is level,
other
than where the city came in and dug a hole in the yard.

I see. This sounds like a very effective technique. When can you
come over?



Like I said, I was in Jr High and didn't have a choice. You may want to
contact Juan though. He may be able to help.


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"PK" wrote in message
...
I wasn't brought up in these parts so I'm not altogether sure of the best
approach to this but I have a lot of bumps and hollows in my yard and I'd
like my lawn to be a lot smoother come next Spring.

Now, trying to excuse my ignorance of how to go about this ...

- I should do this in the Spring just as the grass is about to grow? or
before the frosts come?

- My soil is just normal Texas 'clay' with about 2 inches of sand that the
builders put down and then the 1-2 inches on the sod - should I be adding
topsoil to my entire yard if I can afford it? My Bermuda grass was fairly
good this year but a little patchy and very bumpy.

- Alternatively does a roller work well with repeated use?

- The important question - where does one get a few cubic yards of good
topsoil near Frisco, TX?


I'd try the original builer - who knows, he might just dump you a load. I
dump dirt on low spots all the time and don't bother with seed - the grass
just comes back up through the dirt.

your bottom posting and spelling is something to check into

William W. Plummer wrote:


My yard is bumpy, also. I've tried towing around a standard roller
filled with water, but it really doesn't help. Of course, if you have
tree roots causing the bumps, you'll have to get rid of them or cover
them every few years with soil. I'm trying raking topsoil and seed
over the low spots, but without scarifying the original surface. I
don't know how it will work.

"benzette" wrote in message
news:wX2ad.220369$D%.148733@attbi_s51...
your bottom posting and spelling is something to check into

William W. Plummer wrote:


My yard is bumpy, also. I've tried towing around a standard roller
filled with water, but it really doesn't help. Of course, if you have
tree roots causing the bumps, you'll have to get rid of them or cover
them every few years with soil. I'm trying raking topsoil and seed
over the low spots, but without scarifying the original surface. I
don't know how it will work.


Ummm... bottom posting is the preferred method here (dfw.general)...


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benzette wrote:
your bottom posting and spelling is something to check into

William W. Plummer wrote:


My yard is bumpy, also. I've tried towing around a standard roller
filled with water, but it really doesn't help. Of course, if you
have tree roots causing the bumps, you'll have to get rid of them or
cover them every few years with soil. I'm trying raking topsoil and
seed over the low spots, but without scarifying the original
surface. I don't know how it will work.


That's inane. I just use the Mozilla default. Please add a rule to
delete posts from me and everyone else that your don't approve of.

Chuck wrote:


"benzette" wrote in message
news:wX2ad.220369$D%.148733@attbi_s51...
your bottom posting and spelling is something to check into

William W. Plummer wrote:


My yard is bumpy, also. I've tried towing around a standard roller
filled with water, but it really doesn't help. Of course, if you have
tree roots causing the bumps, you'll have to get rid of them or cover
them every few years with soil. I'm trying raking topsoil and seed
over the low spots, but without scarifying the original surface. I
don't know how it will work.


Ummm... bottom posting is the preferred method here (dfw.general)...

True but the problem with bottom posting is that you must always scroll down
to read posts. with top posting you can work your way through the entire
thread from start to finish without being forced to scroll,scroll,scoll.
IMHO top posting makes much more sense.
Eric

"PK" wrote in message
...
I wasn't brought up in these parts so I'm not altogether sure of the best
approach to this but I have a lot of bumps and hollows in my yard and I'd
like my lawn to be a lot smoother come next Spring.


...snip...

Any advice welcome.

Regards,
PK


Thank y'all for the advice. I'll get the aerator going (someone just did it
a few doors down) and then get some decent soil in.

PK