[SCGrassMan]

So I had some sod repairs done after irrigation install (see my thread in Irrigation if interested) and I want to do some topdressing and leveling.

I am contemplating topsoil, or mushroom compost. I want to do about 1/4" all over, and using an online calculator I came up with roughly 2 cubic yards and some change to do 3,000 sq feet to that depth.

Does anybody have any input?

 

[MasterMech]

Man do I wish I only had 3k to tackle. My lawn looks like it was leveled by a glacier.

Eagerly awaiting other, more experienced input on your top dress material. Although I believe your soil is very different than my red clay.

 

[Ware]

It ultimately depends on your expectations, but I would use sand. I think the compost would eventually break down and leave you right back where you started. Here is a good thread on leveling and here are some videos I made of the leveling I did after my irrigation install...

 

[SCGrassMan]

My expectations are for it to look at least as good as yours, which is probably unreasonable

So I saw the fancy rake from R&R, but I also saw some other things I don't have as far as tools, like a riding mower, and a drag mat, etc.

Is this something I can do with regular rakes and the like? Or do I have to get one of those fancy leveling rakes? And how much sand is too much sand to where it will affect the grass underneath?

 

[Cory]

You could make a similar rake with a couple of straight 2x3's and some screws for less than $15 if you don't want to buy one of those fancy ones he's using in the video.

 

[Ware]

My expectations are for it to look at least as good as yours, which is probably unreasonable

If I can do, you can do it. :thumbup:

I've used a drag mat, a drag broom and the leveling rake. Dollar for dollar I think it is hard to beat the efficiency of the drag mat on a lawn that hasn't been leveled before. If I was only going to buy one, that would probably be it. For only 3k square feet, you could buy a smaller one that is designed to be pulled by hand.

I use a regular landscape rake to knock down the piles and distribute the sand, but for final smoothing I get much better results with any of the tools mentioned above. The landscape rake tends to want to bounce, if that makes sense.

I can't speak to how much sand is too much for zoysia, but a general rule of thumb for a decent first leveling project for bermuda is about 1 cubic yard per thousand.

 

[Reel Low Dad]

Adding my thoughts on a drag mat. I picked up a 5x3 and it is rather robust. I was originally going to get the 3x3 but figured the wider footprint would allow for better results. I haven't had a chance to try it out full scale yet but it is pullable but with a good bit of effort. For 3000 sqft I would look at the 3x3 and save some cash and soreness.

 

[Mightyquinn]

For 3K of lawn I would just get a Landscaping Rake and the Leveling Rake from R&R should be all you need as you could do it all in sections in one day. I see that you have Zoysia so I'm not too sure how heavy you can go with the sand when leveling. I will second what Ware said about using sand over compost as the compost will just leave back where you started after a year or two. I know for bermuda, I usually recommend about 1 cu/yd of sand per K but that might be too much for zoysia but I'm not 100% positive on that.

 

[gatormac2112]

I'm going to do 1/2 yard of sand per 1000 on my zoysia in June, I need to get a landscaping rake and drag mat. Can borrow a small riding mower to drag it around. This will be my first time too and don't want a beach for 3 months.

 

[SCGrassMan]

My expectations are for it to look at least as good as yours, which is probably unreasonable

If I can do, you can do it. :thumbup:

I've used a drag mat, a drag broom and the leveling rake. Dollar for dollar I think it is hard to beat the efficiency of the drag mat on a lawn that hasn't been leveled before. If I was only going to buy one, that would probably be it. For only 3k square feet, you could buy a smaller one that is designed to be pulled by hand.

I use a regular landscape rake to knock down the piles and distribute the sand, but for final smoothing I get much better results with any of the tools mentioned above. The landscape rake tends to want to bounce, if that makes sense.

I can't speak to how much sand is too much for zoysia, but a general rule of thumb for a decent first leveling project for bermuda is about 1 cubic yard per thousand.

I was gonna say, that green rake would be my one purchase. I could probably get a drag mat and borrow a tractor, but with my lawn being so small, I don't know how well I could manuever it. Maybe if I offer our HOA landscaping guy usage of the drag mat he will help me level?

 

[Colonel K0rn]

My expectations are for it to look at least as good as yours, which is probably unreasonable

If I can do, you can do it. :thumbup:

I've used a drag mat, a drag broom and the leveling rake. Dollar for dollar I think it is hard to beat the efficiency of the drag mat on a lawn that hasn't been leveled before. If I was only going to buy one, that would probably be it. For only 3k square feet, you could buy a smaller one that is designed to be pulled by hand.

I use a regular landscape rake to knock down the piles and distribute the sand, but for final smoothing I get much better results with any of the tools mentioned above. The landscape rake tends to want to bounce, if that makes sense.

I can't speak to how much sand is too much for zoysia, but a general rule of thumb for a decent first leveling project for bermuda is about 1 cubic yard per thousand.

I was gonna say, that green rake would be my one purchase. I could probably get a drag mat and borrow a tractor, but with my lawn being so small, I don't know how well I could manuever it. Maybe if I offer our HOA landscaping guy usage of the drag mat he will help me level?

Depending on how good of a cook you are, I might know someone who would be willing to help a fellow TLF'er.

 

[SCGrassMan]

I'm a pretty good cook! Shrimp and grits, and then brown liquor!

 

[Darrell]

My Bermuda turf is very soft. Just walking across the lawn leaves indentions in the soil.

Will top dressing with sand make the turf firmer? I need to do so to level out some irregularities and am hoping it would toughen up the turf.

 

[Movingshrub]

I'm a pretty good cook! Shrimp and grits, and then brown liquor!

If I was still in Clemson I would absolutely road trip for that deal.

 

[SCGrassMan]

I'm a pretty good cook! Shrimp and grits, and then brown liquor!

If I was still in Clemson I would absolutely road trip for that deal.

As long as you like single malt scotch, and halfway decent bourbon!

Offer is open to anyone near Charleston, SC who ever wants to help.

 

[Colonel K0rn]

My Bermuda turf is very soft. Just walking across the lawn leaves indentions in the soil.

Will top dressing with sand make the turf firmer? I need to do so to level out some irregularities and am hoping it would toughen up the turf.

I'm quick to say yes, and you'll notice a benefit from sanding to level out those bumps as well. Good golf courses use sand to level and firm up the greens, but also the HOC that you're at plays a role in the firmness of your turf.

Offer is open to anyone near Charleston, SC who ever wants to help.

2 hour drive for me :shrug:

 

[SCGrassMan]

Offer is open to anyone near Charleston, SC who ever wants to help.

2 hour drive for me :shrug:

ONLY 2 hours

 

[Darrell]

My Bermuda turf is very soft. Just walking across the lawn leaves indentions in the soil.

Will top dressing with sand make the turf firmer? I need to do so to level out some irregularities and am hoping it would toughen up the turf.

I'm quick to say yes, and you'll notice a benefit from sanding to level out those bumps as well. Good golf courses use sand to level and firm up the greens, but also the HOC that you're at plays a role in the firmness of your turf.

Offer is open to anyone near Charleston, SC who ever wants to help.

2 hour drive for me :shrug:

HOC?

 

[Colonel K0rn]

My Bermuda turf is very soft. Just walking across the lawn leaves indentions in the soil.

Will top dressing with sand make the turf firmer? I need to do so to level out some irregularities and am hoping it would toughen up the turf.

I'm quick to say yes, and you'll notice a benefit from sanding to level out those bumps as well. Good golf courses use sand to level and firm up the greens, but also the HOC that you're at plays a role in the firmness of your turf.

Offer is open to anyone near Charleston, SC who ever wants to help.

2 hour drive for me :shrug:

HOC?

Height of Cut

This link will help you out if you see something you're not familiar with
Acronyms/Glossary

 

[Topcat]

My expectations are for it to look at least as good as yours, which is probably unreasonable

If I can do, you can do it. :thumbup:

I've used a drag mat, a drag broom and the leveling rake. Dollar for dollar I think it is hard to beat the efficiency of the drag mat on a lawn that hasn't been leveled before. If I was only going to buy one, that would probably be it. For only 3k square feet, you could buy a smaller one that is designed to be pulled by hand.

I use a regular landscape rake to knock down the piles and distribute the sand, but for final smoothing I get much better results with any of the tools mentioned above. The landscape rake tends to want to bounce, if that makes sense.

I can't speak to how much sand is too much for zoysia, but a general rule of thumb for a decent first leveling project for bermuda is about 1 cubic yard per thousand.

I was gonna say, that green rake would be my one purchase. I could probably get a drag mat and borrow a tractor, but with my lawn being so small, I don't know how well I could manuever it. Maybe if I offer our HOA landscaping guy usage of the drag mat he will help me level?

I have a drag mat that I pull by hand - works great. I will gladly come help as long as it is on a weekend that I am not working.

I plan on at least two level exercises this summer. I was very conservative the first time I leveled because I was leery of burying my bermuda under too much sand. I think I will just go for it this year. The worst that can happen is I'd have to re-sod with an exotic cultivar that I really want anyway.

Let me know...