A bumpy lawn mows badly, holds puddles and twists ankles. Most yards don't need new sod to fix it. Leveling and top dressing fill the low spots and smooth the surface while your grass keeps growing.
Top dressing is a thin layer of sand, compost or a soil blend spread across the whole lawn and brushed down into the grass. It smooths small bumps, fills shallow dips and improves the soil over time.
Lawn leveling is for bigger problems: low spots several inches deep, ruts from vehicles, holes left by stumps or dogs, or ground that has settled near the foundation. Deep spots are filled in stages, or the sod is lifted, the soil is built up underneath, and the grass is put back.
| Material | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fine masonry sand | Bermuda and Zoysia lawns, smoothing bumps | Drains well and spreads evenly. A light layer at a time. |
| Screened topsoil | Filling deeper holes, thin patchy yards | Adds nutrients. Best under sod or in deeper fills. |
| Sand and soil blend | St. Augustine lawns, mixed problems | Levels while feeding the grass. |
| Compost | Tired, compacted soil | A thin layer after aeration builds healthier soil. |
How deep at once? About a quarter to half an inch per application, so the grass can grow through. Deeper fills are done in stages, or under lifted sod.
Leveling a typical Arlington yard runs typically from about $650, depending on the size of the area and how much material is needed. A whole-lawn top dressing is priced mostly by the cubic yards of material and the labor to spread it. As a rough guide, about one cubic yard covers 1,000 square feet at a little over a quarter inch. See our price guide for more numbers.
Warm-season grasses like Bermuda, St. Augustine and Zoysia recover fastest from late spring through summer, while they're actively growing. Core aeration first helps the material work into the soil. Already planning new sod? Leveling is part of every sod installation we do.
If you'd rather spread it yourself, we can deliver sand, topsoil or a blend to your driveway. See topsoil and sand delivery.
Usually a quarter to half an inch at a time. Thicker than that can smother the grass. Deep low spots are filled over a few applications, or the sod is lifted and the soil built up underneath.
Fine sand is easiest for smoothing Bermuda and Zoysia because it spreads evenly and drains well. Topsoil or a sand-soil blend is better for deeper fills and for St. Augustine. We'll recommend one after looking at your yard.
Yes, when it's spread thin and brushed into the grass during the growing season. Most lawns green through within a couple of weeks.
Yes. We build the soil back up so it slopes away from the house and water drains out to the yard instead of toward the slab.
Tell us your address, the rough size of the yard and what you want fixed. A photo of the problem area helps. We'll reply with a clear, itemized estimate.
