Sand will not turn your lawn into concrete.

Conner Ward has put at least 100 tonnes of sand on his lawn and it still looks pretty good.

For minor levelling, sand is your best bet. But it's an annual process. It isn't a one and done deal.

Soil and compost alone are always going to settle over time and you'll end up close to where you started.

I've done minor levelling with sand and had good success. I've also used soil alone, and the rest of the season the lawn was flat. But after a winter and frozen ground, I was back to where I started.

 

For deeper ruts, you ideally want topsoil that matches what is already in your lawn. For minor leveling (1/4-1/2 inch), you want sand.

 

Thanks guys, this makes a lot of sense. I do have some ruts deeper than 1/2" so I'll see about using top soil for that, and then use sand for minor leveling.

Curious to know why leveling would be an annual process. If I've leveled off an area with sand, wouldn't it stay in place and negate the need to do it every year? Unless frost heaves have an impact over the winter.

 

Thanks guys, this makes a lot of sense. I do have some ruts deeper than 1/2" so I'll see about using top soil for that, and then use sand for minor leveling.

Curious to know why leveling would be an annual process. If I've leveled off an area with sand, wouldn't it stay in place and negate the need to do it every year? Unless frost heaves have an impact over the winter.

Because the chances of you levelling your lawn to pool table flat in one year is zero (not that it's ever going to get that perfectly flat). There are always going to be spots that get missed or need to be brought higher. When working with sand, you only want to put down 1/4 to 1/2" at a time.

Lawn care is a game for the obsessed. We are never happy. The lawn is never dark enough, dense enough or level enough.

Sand can also help with drainage (unless you are already have sandy soil, in which case, don't level with sand).

 

Thanks for starting this thread - I have some low spots and needed some clarity on this as well.

For TTTF, I'm assuming I'd have to bury the crown(s) of the plant to start filling in low spots right? Or is that too aggressive and I can only build the layers up a 0.5" at a time or so?

If it's OK to burying the crowns, about how deep can you bury the crowns in new topsoil (with blades sticking out) without concern of killing the plant? Ideally, how many inches of blade should be above the new layer of topsoil?

Lots of good info out there on Youtube but we need a place to validate/discuss away from the noise of the Youtube comments section.

 

So wouldn't a mix of the two be ideal especially if the ground is really uneven? upping the sand % the flatter you get it over the years, and eventually going to 100% sand when there are only minor dips left

 

So wouldn't a mix of the two be ideal especially if the ground is really uneven? upping the sand % the flatter you get it over the years, and eventually going to 100% sand when there are only minor dips left

As with most everything else in lawn care, there is more than one way to achieve a similar result. Yes, a mix will work well too. Is it better than just sand or just soil alone? I don't know. I haven't seen anyone test different methods.

There are pros and cons to each method. My advice above is based on what I would do. But that doesn't mean a mix won't work.

I watch Conner's videos because I think he has one of the best lawns on YT - my opinion. He is the reason I bought a reel mower. I've watched him bring in truck loads of sand and his lawn appears to be fairly level. Might he achieved a similar results with a mix? Maybe.

I don't think there are concrete definitive answers to a question like this. And that's okay.

 

Agreed

Connor, LCN and others mention that since sand does not "break down" it's better to use when leveling is the objective. Sand will "seek" the low spots also so leveling with no sand would not be ideal IMO.

However in the event you have more than 1.5-2 inches worth of a rut a mix might work better?

 

Agreed

Connor, LCN and others mention that since sand does not "break down" it's better to use when leveling is the objective. Sand will "seek" the low spots also so leveling with no sand would not be ideal IMO.

However in the event you have more than 1.5-2 inches worth of a rut a mix might work better?

Soil or a soil sand mix with the understanding that this might take multiple apps.

For example, when I moved in December, my old man was driving the truck. He took a bit of a detour on part of the strip between me and my neighbour. It's a good 2" lower over a distance of about 10 feet and the width of a tire. I'm leaving it for now with the plan that next year I'll throw soil down and overseed that area.

 

Agreed

Connor, LCN and others mention that since sand does not "break down" it's better to use when leveling is the objective. Sand will "seek" the low spots also so leveling with no sand would not be ideal IMO.

However in the event you have more than 1.5-2 inches worth of a rut a mix might work better?

Soil or a soil sand mix with the understanding that this might take multiple apps.

For example, when I moved in December, my old man was driving the truck. He took a bit of a detour on part of the strip between me and my neighbour. It's a good 2" lower over a distance of about 10 feet and the width of a tire. I'm leaving it for now with the plan that next year I'll throw soil down and overseed that area.

You can improve tire ruts significantly by driving a pitchfork under the compacted area and levering up the compacted soil.

 

I had a few spots that needed to come up a couple inches last fall. I used sand a la the lawn rebel and spread it pretty evenly everywhere then the few spots that were really low I just called it on. The grass got smothered and didn't grow through it which I kind of expected. I mixed a handful of compost into this spots and threw down some seed. The areas that my kid left alone did fine. The rest got plugs from the pro plugger and still have a bit to grow in.

It probably would have been better to do those spots a little at a time but I am not a patient man. I and working on my neighbor's lawn with some real bad dips too and am planning to take the little but frequent route with sand. In fact I'm going to throw some down as soon as my kid falls asleep ...

I say just figure out what works for you and how long you're willing to work. I went extra thick because my reel mower was getting hung up in those spots because they were all right next to the sidewalks. They are ugly now but mowing with the reel is easier for me now. I'm okay with my decision.

 

I was planning on starting a levelling project on my yard using soil:sand:compost in 1:1:1 ratio. Needs ~5-7 cubic yards. Its been too wet lately, and I am distracted on a chimney project, so its on hold. I got plenty of small bumps and dips, nothing extreme. The yard is usually at 3.5" HOC, so you don't see it being unlevel. I have my R&R rake. I bought enough material to do 200 sq ft test area first, just in case it is too taxing to do whole lawn, I can quit there. With summer coming, maybe this gets pushed to the fall prior to overseed. I'll post my test area when done.