Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Level Uneven Sod
How to Level Uneven Sod. Homeowners sink a lot of money into properly installing a sod lawn. Unfortunately, lawns sometimes appear bumpy even after a new sod installation. A number of factors contribute to uneven sod -- improper site preparation, overly moist conditions on the day of the installation, frost heaves and more can cause bumps to appear...
Homeowners sink a lot of money into properly installing a sod lawn. Unfortunately, lawns sometimes appear bumpy even after a new sod installation. A number of factors contribute to uneven sod -- improper site preparation, overly moist conditions on the day of the installation, frost heaves and more can cause bumps to appear in sod. You can level uneven sod in several different ways, depending on how soon you notice the bumps after installation.
Things You'll Need
Lawn roller
Shovel
Aerator
Power rake
Leaf rake
Topsoil
Grass seed
Fertilizer
Smooth out sod immediately after installation to even it out, removing air pockets and ensuring tight contact with the soil. Fill a lawn roller halfway with water and pace back-and-forth over the sod in neat, controlled lines. Do not apply any extra downward force to the lawn roller, which may overly compress sod.
Lift out panels of newly laid sod to correct any unevenness if the grass has yet to take root in the soil underneath. Remove or add soil as needed to the ground underneath the sod. Replace the sod quickly, tamp the panel back down with your foot and moisten the top 3 to 4 inches of soil.
Aerate the lawn if the sod is firmly established in the soil and bumps appear. Work the sod thoroughly with a power rake after aeration, which will remove accumulated thatch and hopefully loosen any small bumps in the yard. Rake away the thatch and loosened soil afterward.
Add topsoil as desired to fill in any depressions or slight holes. Sprinkle grass seed of the same strain as the sod over the new soil. Rake the area to level out the soil and work in seeds into the ground. Keep the seeds moistened for three to four weeks, until sprouts begin to show.
Maintain a healthy, full lawn to minimize the visual variations caused by uneven sod that cannot be repaired. Apply fertilizer four to five weeks after installation, when the grass is firmly rooted, at a target rate of 1 lb. of nitrogen for every 1,000 square feet of sod. Fertilize the sod regularly, using a schedule appropriate for your region and the type of grass.
Tips & Warnings
Reseed in late summer to early fall.
Proper site preparation prior to installing sod will prevent most leveling issues.
