[Greenguy1236]

Hello everyone,

I am new to the forum and looking for some advice on my Lawn. I own a fertilization and weed control business but am very new to areas like leveling a lawn, etc. My Lawn is about two years old and when the sod was laid it was poorly graded leaving many bumps and uneven spots (some as mush as 1-2" bumps). My grass is waking up but there are many low areas where my mower leaves behind some of last seasons dead grass (see pics). I ha move tried using a rake to clear out the dead stuff but it just passes between the tines. Any tips on how to clear out these low areas and how to level the uneven areas without smothering the grass?








Current highs range from the upper 70's to lower 90's and I am in Central Texas.

Thanks!

 

[gijoe4500]

Masonry sand is what is commonly used for leveling. Bermuda is a hell of a grass and will grow up through a lot. There are a couple threads here about lawn leveling.

As far as removing the dead stuff, scalping your lawn will take care of that. The whole long may look crappy for a week while it grows back in, but it's effective.

 

[Colonel K0rn]

Welcome to TLF! :thumbup: We have quite a few Texans on the board, so you'll be in good company. Be sure to update your profile with your equipment list, so we can see what you're working with, and make appropriate suggestions.

Don't worry about "smothering" bermuda when you attempt levelling your lawn. No doubt you've seen it growing in piles of dirt in the median of an intersection. It will grow anywhere, that's why our cold weather compatriots on the board refer to it as a weed.

@gijoe4500 was correct for the first step of green up during the spring. We scalp the dead material off of the top, and this promotes faster green up, and denser growth. It will also allow you to adjust the HOC (height of cut) for your own lawn that you plan to maintain throughout the year. It appears on a few of the pictures that the bare areas are where the sod just hasn't grown into. With proper fertilization and irrigation, your spots will fill in in no time. An alternative to this is plugging those areas with donor plugs from sections that are already established.

 

[Mightyquinn]

Welcome to TLF! :thumbup:

Have you read Bermuda Bible: The New Testament

 

[gijoe4500]

Also, hello neighbor. You're less than an hour away from a few of us. There are at least 3 members in West San Antonio

 

[Greenguy1236]

Thanks everyone for the input! Working on getting the lawn into good shape. Shoddy dirt brought in by the builder and poorly prepped before sodding is making this quote the challenge! I appreciate the input

 

[Rockinar]

Thanks everyone for the input! Working on getting the lawn into good shape. Shoddy dirt brought in by the builder and poorly prepped before sodding is making this quote the challenge! I appreciate the input

Thats pretty much every new house. My back yard had holes so deep that the home inspector twisted his ankle while inspecting the irrigation, and was pretty pissed about it.

Just wait till it warms up more and you can level or spot fill with sand. It will fill in quick.