Examine The Condition Of The Lawn
This is the step where you determine the real cause of the bumps on your lawn. Additionally, you get to evaluate the amount of thatch to determine whether dethatching is needed.
Thatch accumulation can prevent the grass from getting adequate water and air. If the thatch is about ½ an inch thick, it is advisable to remove it before you start leveling your yard.
Electric Powered Push Mower Rental Cost Chart
Since only one rental shop offers an electric model for rent, there is no need to include a chart.
There are two reasons why you cant find an electric model for rent:
Cost Of Seeding Your Lawn
Lawn seeding is another great way to improve and/or maintain the long-term health and vibrancy of your lawn. It depends on how large of a lawn you have, but the average cost of seeding your lawn is between $850 $1,700. The more area you need seeded the higher the price because it will take longer, and you will need more seed to finish the job.
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How Long Does It Take To Level A Yard
The amount of time it will take to level a yard will vary, depending on the amount of work that has to be done, the size of the yard, and more. It can take a few days or up to a week to level a yard. Minimal jobs can be done in as little time as one day.
For a large job, you should expect it to take a week. This includes filling holes, changing the grade to shed water, and more. The difficulty of the job can add more time to a yard leveling project, so keep that in mind.
You or the professional you have hired will need to take the time to do the job right. Do not cut any corners, as it could cause trouble down the line.
Important Things To Consider
Fill dirt can be yellow soil for fillings and topsoil for gardens.
If you are going to build something on level ground, it is important not to leave vegetation behind, to prevent it from rotting under the ground layers or retaining moisture, thus affecting the foundation of the building.
How to level a yard with topsoil
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Cost To Level And Sod Yard
The price to level a piece of land averages $1,500 to $2,600. However, in some cases, you might wish to both level the yard and add sod to it. Sodding the land creates a vibrant green lawn without the need to grow all the grass from a seed state. For the average yard, you can expect to pay about $5,800 to $7,200 for the sod itself. When you combine the price to level the yard, the final price ranges from $7,300 to $9,800. This is an excellent method of starting off a lawn for further landscaping.
Leveling A Moderately Uneven Lawn
If areas of the lawn have more moderate and numerous problems with low areas and higher spots, it will take a bit more work to bring it back in shape.
Keep the area moist while the grass seed germinates and takes root. Watering your growing grass the right way is key.
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How Can I Save Money
The best way to save money on a project like this is to do it by yourself. This way you will not have to pay for the labor costs. You can find online guides that will show you how to do it step by step.
Take into consideration renting the equipment locally if you have this possibility. In case you already have a tractor, for a scraper attachment you will have to pay anywhere between $60 and $90 per day, while for a small backhoe the costs will be anywhere between $110 and $260 per day, depending on the geographical location.
However, if you decide to hire a professional try to find more price offers and choose the one that is the most advantageous for you.
It is recommended by the Fixr.com to create a rain garden instead of re-sloping a yard. Such a garden is made to hold the water and reabsorb it into the ground. If you decide to build one, expect to pay for the materials anywhere between $6 and $9 per square feet.
Rent To Own Or Lease Options
Some companies offer payment plans for lawn mowers.
- You might call it rent to own, but in reality, its just a lease.
- You pay a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly fee and gain ownership of the lawn mower after one year.
- You end up spending somewhat more in the long run, but if you dont have the cash upfront, it can be a draw.
With Lowes rent to own program, you can spread your payments out over 12 months with no interest, but the catch is that you end up paying about $100 more for a $1,000 lawn mower.
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Hiring A Pro Vs Doing It Yourself
If the job is minimal, such as filling a few holes and planting a little bit of grass seed, then you may be able to do it yourself. However, if the job is large, it could take heavy-equipment and may need a professional to do it.
Doing it yourself will definitely save you money, but consider the time it will take, and how much work it will be. Some people can handle a lot of hard work, others may break under the pressure, and end up hiring a professional after they have started.
Either way, the most important thing is doing the job right. One of the biggest mistakes people make is not using quality products, or not knowing how to change the grade, so that water runs away from the foundation of the house.
Make sure you do a fair amount of planning, measuring, and estimating the costs of materials. This way you will know exactly what you are looking at, and whether or not you can handle it on your own.
When To Level A Yard
There are a few reasons you may need to level your yard. The first is having a brand new yard, once a house is built. There will usually be some large holes, debris, such as shrubs and trees, and other things you could come across.
All of these things must be worked on before the sod can be laid down. Most of the work is in leveling the grade and preparing the yard for sod.
You may also need the yard level if your yard has settled over time. This can cause holes in the yard as well as problems with water shedding. You may notice something is going wrong if your grass starts to die in patches, or if water starts pooling up.
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Is It Hard To Level A Yard
In reality, leveling an existing yard is not that difficult a job. Many people believe that leveling a yard is a very difficult task, and often end up procrastinating on the task or calling experts and wasting a substantial amount of money. In reality, leveling an existing yard is not that difficult a job.
The Amount Of Lawn Resloping Required
The cost is determined mainly by how much you need to shift the present slopes orientation. If your lawn has a steep downhill slope in one direction and you need to change the slope in the other substantially, it will take a lot more labor than if it only requires a minor resurfacing.
Steep slopes exacerbate erosion, and to achieve a flat region, areas with more profound and more extensive slopes require more re-sloping. The standard expenses for various types of slopes are listed below.
The slope is calculated by dividing the change in height by the distance traveled. It indicates that in every 30 feet of 100 feet is a slope of 30 percent.
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Can I Over Aerate My Lawn
When it comes to over aerating a lawn, yes, this can be bad for it. If you over aerate your lawn, it will kill your grass and cause drainage issues in your soil. Each time you aerate a lawn, you puncture holes into it, which leads to problems down the road.
The first thing you need to do is to make sure that you dont over-aerate the lawn. If you do, then youre going to end up with a lot of dead grass, which is not what you want to have on your property. So, the next thing to look at is the type of lawn you have.
If its the latter, it might be a good idea to add a little bit of fertilizer to the soil around the grass. This will help to keep it alive and healthy, and it will also help prevent it from dying off.
Finding A Landscape Grading Contractor
Excavation contractors handle land clearing, grading, and leveling projects. Some local landscapers take small grading jobs.
Before hiring a grading contractor, be sure to:
- Get at least three quotes to compare. Grading companies require an onsite visit to provide an accurate estimate.
- Choose a company with extensive residential land grading experience.
- Look for pros with Erosion and Sediment Control certification.
- Look at their reviews on HomeGuide, Google, and the Better Business Bureau .
- Select a company that is licensed, bonded, and insured.
- Request a comprehensive grading plan detailing the landscaping, elevation, and drainage.
- Get a detailed estimate, contract, and warranty in writing before the work begins.
- Avoid companies with the cheapest quotes as quality may suffer.
- Never pay in full before the project starts. Follow a payment plan instead.
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What Is Included In Land Grading
A land grading job includes:
- Measuring the area and establishing a level line or determining the ideal slope
- Digging and moving dirt to cut down high spots and fill low spots
- Hauling in and spreading new fill dirt or topsoil
- Leveling the area or creating the desired slope
- Compacting and raking the soil
Custom Calculators With Homewyse Lists
Service Professionals: create a reusable estimating app that is 100% customized to your business. Start with a template or build your own :
For a basic project in zip code 47474 with 500 square feet, the cost to Grade Landscaping starts at $0.85 – $1.11 per square foot*. Actual costs will depend on job size, conditions, and options.
To estimate costs for your project:
1. Set Project Zip Code Enter the Zip Code for the location where labor is hired and materials purchased.
2. Specify Project Size and Options Enter the number of “square feet” required for the project.
3. Re-calculate Click the “Update” button.
NOTE: *Input the total of the finished surface area AND the area of any openings enclosed by the finished area.
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Is It Possible To Level A Backyard
Lawn leveling may prevent major problems, although it isnt the most glamorous of tasks. It is possible to level a backyard, so long as you make sure no water ends up running toward your homes foundations.
Because of the water issues, you need to understand whats involved and why you may need to carry out this task.
S For How To Level A Yard
Step 1: Mow the Lawn
Yard leveling begins with mowing your lawn. Make sure to cut it short but not too short where the blade stems are visible, or your grass may dry out.
Step 2: Dethatch the Lawn
Prepare the lawn for grading by checking grass for thatch. Thatch is a mix of living and dead plant material on the grass stems where it meets the soil. Thatch thicker than 1/4 to 1/2 inch stops grass from getting water and air. Over 1/2-inch, then dethatch.
On small lawns, you can use a thatch rake, and larger lawns use a dethatching machine.
Step 3: Dig up grass in sunken areas
Check around your yard for divots or low spots that are deeper than 2-3 inches.
Remove grass from these by putting the shovel blade on the outer edge of a low spot. Drive it in the soil for 2 inches and make sure you are under the roots of the grass. Remove the sod by lifting the grass with the shovel.
Step 4: Make Soil Mix:
Here, you need to make your top-dressing mix. Go around and fill any area beneath sunken grass in the lawn.
- 2 parts topsoil & 2 parts sand
The soil and compost give nutrients, and the sand prevents it from being compacted too much.
Step 5: Fill Sunken Areas with Soil
Any holes you made in Step 3 can now be filled with your mix. Once you do this, place your grass back on top, or you can add seed if needed.
Step 6: Level the Lawn
In this stage, and after you have filled all the holes, use a shovel to cover all your lawn with 1/4 to 1/2 inch of this mix.
Step 7: Water the Area
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How Much Does Instant Lawn Cost
When someone is planning to landscape a backyard for their house the first dilemma is choosing between seeded lawn or instant lawn and that choice depends on a lot of variables. People tend to analyze not only initial price but also long-term costs and how much effort and work they need to put into the lawn.
The costs of instant lawn can be higher when compared with seeded lawn but you can see the results much faster and maintaining them can be a lot easier.
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Gently Compacting The Soil
You can fill deep uneven sections of your lawn by compacting the soil gently and watering the section as you fill up the uneven areas. By piling loose dirt, the soil will settle without killing the grass. You can compact the soil by walking on it regularly.
Whichever way you choose to level your lawn without killing the grass, the best time to undertake the process is during spring. The mild conditions during spring gives your lawn a chance to regain its shape before the harsh conditions of summer.
Contact us for professional advice on how to level your lawn without killing the grass.
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Cost Of Grass Seed And Supplies
Here are itemized costs for the most common seed varieties and other materials and tools needed to overseed a lawn. Grass seed prices are based on 25lb and 50lb bags.
Recommended seeding rates are 200 to 500 square feet per pound depending on the variety, current thickness of your lawn and how quickly you want visible results.
- $1.50 $6.50 per Pound | Perennial Ryegrass Seed
- $4.25 $7.00 per Pound | Fescue Seed
- $4.85 $8.00 per Pound | Bahia Seed
- $5.50 $7.50 per Pound | Kentucky Bluegrass Seed
- $5.25 $7.50 per Pound | Bermuda or Bermudagrass Seed
- $6.00 $7.75 per Pound | Northern Sunny Mix
- $14.00 $20.00 per Pound | Bentgrass Seed
- $20.00 $40.00 per Pound | Zoysia or Zoysiagrass Seed
- $30.00 $45.00 per Pound | Centipede Seed
- N/A | St. Augustine Seed This variety is sold in plugs and sod, rarely in bulk seed to homeowners because it is very difficult to grow.
If youre doing the reseeding, rather than hiring a landscaper, you might be interested in these prices.
- $40 $70 per Day | Powered Aerator Rental
- $60 $115 | Non-powered Push Spike Aerator
- $18 $30 per Cubic Yard or $3 to $6 per Bag | Mulch for Bare Spots
The seed prices listed above are up to date, and like everything else, prices have gone up significantly the last couple of years.
Should I Level Or Aerate First
Re: Mechanically Aerate BEFORE Level? Yes but if you leave them, they’ll break down and eventually your soil will be exactly the same as it was before aeration. Removing and filling will sand will allow the aeration to be a more permanent solution for water and nutrient infiltration deeper into the root zone.
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