Watching your videos, bought the tools and have just done mine, turf up, relevel with topsoil using lute and screwfix landscapers rake, reseeded, compliments from the neighbours.
Just watched your video mate. Very educational and inspiring. I have a lawn that needs alot of my attention and will be using your videos for tips on how to get it exactly how i want. When would be the best time of the year to start a renovation from scratch? Thank you in advance. Keep up the good work.
Around about now is ideal. If you wait a couple of weeks, seed will germinate much faster as well have warmer temperatures, but starting now is fine 👍🏻
Some easy trick I saw for spreading compost or any topdress, is to use a crate, one with holes at the bottom like for fruit or whatever. Then you just shake it and it will fall out. I'm going to try that next time.
Thank you for the video. This is helpful to know how to get those bumps out and will be doing this soon on mine. Do you have a link for the special smoothing tool you used?
This is the one I bought: www.amazon.co.uk/Landzie-inch-Level-Garden-Levelling/dp/B09BFSFLXS It's a bit pricey, but definitely worth it for how easy it is to use. I used it on the back lawn last weekend and it was superb 👍🏻
Great video. I'm on the other side of the world in Tasmania, Australia but use exactly the same technique pretty much. Bags of topsoil leveled, stepped in for compaction, and raked for seed. Watching your video I was thinking you must have been half tempted to use the brick line to bring up that low spot? I'd have filled it up to a brick n half above the lowest bit (just below the vent) to make it a nice level surface from house corner to corner.
Cheers 👍🏻 I did consider levelling it so that it was flat all the way across, but the regulations for brick vents in the UK is 75mm above the ground. I didn't want to risk any issues with bringing the level up too much. It would have been better if I could have though!
@NoviceGardener what's your experience: can a scarifier remove small to medium rocks from the ground? I also have rocky filled clay land left from house build and it's full of rubbish so I'm searching the way to turn it into healthy lawn. Suggestions?
It won't pull any of the rocks out, you're best doing this by hand, or rotavating the area first. But your best bet is to get around 100mm of decent top soil down. It might be a bit expensive, but it's the best way to get yourself a cracking lawn!
Cheers 😁 It's something you should probably do before levelling. I didn't this year as I aerated quite heavily last summer. But if you haven't yet, I'd aerate and then get to levelling. Some of the new material with fill the spaces, but it won't cause any unnecessary compaction. Hope that helps!
Cheers 👍🏻 Some of it will die off with it being under too much top soil, but quite a bit will still come back through. The stuff that dies off will just recycle itself back into the soil. You shouldn't always smother it like I've done in this video, but it was only because it was so uneven!
Hello.. if you have lots of weeds can you still do this process or would it be best to totally dig up old grass and weeds etc... Great content.. thanks
Nice one! You can still use this method, but expect a lot of weeds to come back. I'm posting a video this morning of a lawn that started from scratch by first killing it off with a weed killer. It's taken time, but it was definitely worth it.
Lovely job mate 👍 Have to ask though.. How much interest do the birds shiw in this lawn seed? Or because you covered it with top soil they won't notice? Sorry if it's a silly question 😅
Cheers 👍🏻 We did have a few pigeons snacking throughout the day. I could see them on the Ring doorbell when I was at work which was frustrating! 🤣 Landscaping fabric is best. They don't go near it. But as long as you give all the seed a light covering of soil/compost, they shouldn't be able to eat too much!
Hi mate, Think your pretty local to me,could tell by the council on the Wheely bin😂. Starting a new lawn myself for the first time. Just wondering which garden centre you get your topsoil as that is a decent price I have been looking £6-8 per bag. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
The top soil is an absolute rip off in some places! It's quite a bit in the likes of B&Q. Your best bet is to just spend an afternoon bobbing from garden centre to garden centre. I've found that the smaller ones seem to have better prices. It's only £9 for two bags in a few places.
It’s just over 10 square metres. Not a huge space at all. If you’ve got quite a big space, a bulk bag of something would be handy. But it just entirely depends on how much you’re going to need to put down.
Cheers 👍🏻 This is the lawn lute I used to get it level. www.amazon.co.uk/Landzie-inch-Level-Garden-Levelling/dp/B09BFSFLXS The topsoil is just the Westland topsoil. You may be able to get it from a local garden centre. If not, you can pick it up from places like B&Q, but it's usually more expensive there.
Great video 👍 I recently had my lawn re turfed from a couple of lads who work for the new build industry and I am not happy whatsoever! Bumpy ! It’s really pissed me off as my old lawn was lovely, do you think you can give me an idea of a price to level it out pls
There seems to be quite a big problem with those that are doing new build lawns at the moment - whether it is lack of time, resources or money - who knows! The cost will entirely depend on the size of your lawn, but when I levelled my back lawn last year, it cost around £130 for the soil I think. Got about 5 tonnes from a local supplier dumped loose on the drive. It was a backbreaking task, but well worth it! Good luck with your project 👍🏻
Hi there. I’ve got a seriously lumpy lawn but it’s a bit too big for me to make it flat 300 sq mts. I’m trying to make the best of a bad situation so I’m planning on a little refresh. What’s the best order for me to follow…?? Scarify then weedol weed killer then fertilise?? Thanks.
@@NoviceGardenerI wasn’t planning on seeding this year just trying to get it in half decent condition with a plan to do something a bit more serious next year.
Thanks for the video, but i do have a question. If my grass is really nice, how would i level my lawn if I'm not planting new grass seed? How would i do this without killing off my grass by burying it?
If I was you, I'd build up the low spots slowly over time. Don't put too much down at once, just make sure that all your current grass is sticking out. Alternatively, you could do a heavy levelling job in late summer because the grass will bounce back quickly and seed will germinate in no time!
You don't need any fertiliser for seeding, the high P in them takes a long time to travel through the soil profile where the roots need them and is a waste of money. You are better off fertilising after your first mow with a granular homogenous fertiliser, 9-3-6 or 12-3-9 NPK ratio, no need for high P for grass. As you said, you have a clay based soil, the P is held in the clay based soil for a long period, those pre-seed fertilisers are really only needed in a bare soil where you incorporate it into the soil several inches down and then usually on sandy soils which can't hold the P for long, like golf courses.
Great video, really appreciate your channel 👌 Did you know your compost is peat based though? I’m not sure why anywhere is still allowed to sell it, peat bogs store twice as much carbon as forests..
I've just checked the bags that I have left over in the garage - I hadn't realised this! They're the ones that were suggested to me by the people in my local garden centre. I'll have to look at something different next time. Cheers for spotting! 👍🏻
I find this top soil not good. I was renovating my lawn, bought 3 bags and i found many weeds already germinated lol i love the lawn seeding soil. It contains seaweed and its just fine and amazing to spread!
What is the name of the levelling tool you talk about if it’s not a levelling rake? Your accent makes it hard to catch what you called it in the video. Great video by the way, I plan on using your info this year, so thanks for uploading this. You talk about it here between 2:10 and 2:15, I just can’t get what you called it
Yeah ive got a new build they (David wilson) chucked turf on top of bricks/chalk all kinds of rubble. Also poor quality soil that is riddled with leather jackets. Ive had to dig up the lot and start again
It would take me about 80 bags to raise my backyard to level. 3k sqft with an overall 2 inch gradient and holes 7x7 and 6 inches deep. I am looking for an easy way to level without adding more material since my lawn is already the highest in the neighborhood.
If I was you, I'd just kill the thing and start again! I'm midway through a project like that at the moment. There were more weeds than grass blades, it just needed killing! It takes longer as you need to wait for the weed killer to degenerate, but it will be worth it.
I did, but I wanted to build ip the organic layer first. There's a lot more maintenance that goes into a lawn that is levelled with a lot of sand. It can be difficult if you don't keep on top of it. But it is certainly something I'd look to do in the future.
Some will inevitable decompose, but it won't cause too much of a difference in the level. It will just need light levelling each year. Not as heavy as in this video!
@NoviceGardener All rye. Fast germination. Cool season. That's what warmer regions use to overseed in cooler season where warm season grasses go dormant. Temporarily, permanent grass. Dies off in warm, gets clumpy and ragged looking. Thanks for the information.
Did you not think about spraying off the old lawn 1st with Round-up to kill off the weed grasses 1st then using scarification to remove most of the dead grass. They will inevitably come back through the new seed bed you have created as the new seeds grow along with the older lawn you had their originally. Good luck as that certainly took a great deal of time and effort to get level. You should have an amazing front lawn come the summer !
That was my original plan! The only reason I opted not to is because I want to completely renovate this lawn again towards the back end of August/early September. I found that when I renovated the lawns in the back last year, the lawn I renovated late in the season established so much faster than the one I did in the early spring. I've just killed off the grass on the sloped verge outside my house. Going to wait 2/3 weeks before reseeding it. That's my guinea pig to see if it works out well!
@@GeorgeAusters totally understand, as I dont want to kill them off, just reduce the worm casts. I went from flat lawn, to potential twisted ankle. You see these videos about removing worm casts and they are so cute. in a square meter I have about 60 worm casts size of my fist. So any advice on reducing them would be great.
Can't take it level against the bricks because of the air brick and the regulations around how far the ground needs to be. But the entire lawn has a smooth surface now.
SO what we have here is an amateur. He just puts a layer of soil and then spreads that with a swiffer. in order to get a lawn level you will need to ride over it with a roll, a heavy roll. Right away you will see where soil must be added. All that work for nothing. Ask any farmer how to level a meadow.
You're right about me being an amateur - Novice Gardener! 🤣 Using a roller is food for thought for my next project. I don't currently own one, hence having to dig my heels in for compaction, which granted, isn't perfect, but does the job really well.
@@NoviceGardener do you need to buy a roller? No. Take a leftover pallet put stones on it and jogg around in your garden. You will fast see were the elevations are.
Didn't know they sold soil at B&M? But, can't knock a good bargain! 🤣 It's decent stuff. The odd stone here and there, but much cheaper for a space this size.
That will look great in a months time giving the weather we have right now!
This is so therapeutic to watch especially the levelling part
Great video. Very useful and practical
Thanks! 👍🏻
Watching your videos, bought the tools and have just done mine, turf up, relevel with topsoil using lute and screwfix landscapers rake, reseeded, compliments from the neighbours.
Buzzing! I'm glad it worked out well! 😁
Just what i was looking for great video.
Glad it helped!
Great video. Thank you.
👍Nice work! I’m debating buying a lawn leveler rake but still not sure.
Nice work!
Thanks! 👍🏻
Looks great and makes me want to do mine in the summertime. How did you prevent local cats from using it as a toilet ?
good stuff
Just watched your video mate. Very educational and inspiring. I have a lawn that needs alot of my attention and will be using your videos for tips on how to get it exactly how i want. When would be the best time of the year to start a renovation from scratch? Thank you in advance. Keep up the good work.
Around about now is ideal. If you wait a couple of weeks, seed will germinate much faster as well have warmer temperatures, but starting now is fine 👍🏻
Some easy trick I saw for spreading compost or any topdress, is to use a crate, one with holes at the bottom like for fruit or whatever. Then you just shake it and it will fall out. I'm going to try that next time.
That's a good shout!
Thank you for the video. This is helpful to know how to get those bumps out and will be doing this soon on mine. Do you have a link for the special smoothing tool you used?
This is the one I bought:
www.amazon.co.uk/Landzie-inch-Level-Garden-Levelling/dp/B09BFSFLXS
It's a bit pricey, but definitely worth it for how easy it is to use. I used it on the back lawn last weekend and it was superb 👍🏻
Great video. I'm on the other side of the world in Tasmania, Australia but use exactly the same technique pretty much. Bags of topsoil leveled, stepped in for compaction, and raked for seed. Watching your video I was thinking you must have been half tempted to use the brick line to bring up that low spot? I'd have filled it up to a brick n half above the lowest bit (just below the vent) to make it a nice level surface from house corner to corner.
Cheers 👍🏻
I did consider levelling it so that it was flat all the way across, but the regulations for brick vents in the UK is 75mm above the ground. I didn't want to risk any issues with bringing the level up too much. It would have been better if I could have though!
@@NoviceGardener ahh gotchya! Good move to not do that then!
Belting work mate 👍 subbed! Deffo looking forward to the finished article...
I need one of them leveling tools ASAP 😂
Nice one! I'm hoping to be able to cut it for the first time this week - that's if the rain holds off though!
The lawn lute is a cracking bit of kit!
Turn the rake upside down haha
Are there issues with water settling at the low point of the lawn? Looks like the low point is closest the home?
Surprisingly no. If anything, this lawn stays quite dry throughout the year.
what's the weed remover you are using?
@NoviceGardener what's your experience: can a scarifier remove small to medium rocks from the ground? I also have rocky filled clay land left from house build and it's full of rubbish so I'm searching the way to turn it into healthy lawn. Suggestions?
It won't pull any of the rocks out, you're best doing this by hand, or rotavating the area first. But your best bet is to get around 100mm of decent top soil down. It might be a bit expensive, but it's the best way to get yourself a cracking lawn!
Great vid! When do you advise aerating after levelling?
Cheers 😁
It's something you should probably do before levelling. I didn't this year as I aerated quite heavily last summer. But if you haven't yet, I'd aerate and then get to levelling. Some of the new material with fill the spaces, but it won't cause any unnecessary compaction. Hope that helps!
Will the grass die underneath topsoil and then cause a problem when it decomposes? nice work on the back garden by the way
Cheers 👍🏻
Some of it will die off with it being under too much top soil, but quite a bit will still come back through. The stuff that dies off will just recycle itself back into the soil. You shouldn't always smother it like I've done in this video, but it was only because it was so uneven!
Hello.. if you have lots of weeds can you still do this process or would it be best to totally dig up old grass and weeds etc... Great content.. thanks
Nice one!
You can still use this method, but expect a lot of weeds to come back. I'm posting a video this morning of a lawn that started from scratch by first killing it off with a weed killer. It's taken time, but it was definitely worth it.
Lovely job mate 👍
Have to ask though.. How much interest do the birds shiw in this lawn seed? Or because you covered it with top soil they won't notice? Sorry if it's a silly question 😅
You should find very little bird interest.
Cheers 👍🏻
We did have a few pigeons snacking throughout the day. I could see them on the Ring doorbell when I was at work which was frustrating! 🤣
Landscaping fabric is best. They don't go near it. But as long as you give all the seed a light covering of soil/compost, they shouldn't be able to eat too much!
@@NoviceGardener cheers 👍
I will also put some helium balloons around 😀
Big up from tyldesley
Hi mate,
Think your pretty local to me,could tell by the council on the Wheely bin😂. Starting a new lawn myself for the first time. Just wondering which garden centre you get your topsoil as that is a decent price I have been looking £6-8 per bag. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
The top soil is an absolute rip off in some places! It's quite a bit in the likes of B&Q. Your best bet is to just spend an afternoon bobbing from garden centre to garden centre. I've found that the smaller ones seem to have better prices. It's only £9 for two bags in a few places.
Roughly how many square metres is this lawn? Just thinking about about how much too soil and compost I might need
It’s just over 10 square metres. Not a huge space at all. If you’ve got quite a big space, a bulk bag of something would be handy. But it just entirely depends on how much you’re going to need to put down.
Great video. Can you post a link to the tool you used to level the top soil, and the lawn seed. Thanks
Cheers 👍🏻
This is the lawn lute I used to get it level.
www.amazon.co.uk/Landzie-inch-Level-Garden-Levelling/dp/B09BFSFLXS
The topsoil is just the Westland topsoil. You may be able to get it from a local garden centre. If not, you can pick it up from places like B&Q, but it's usually more expensive there.
@@NoviceGardener thanks so much.
Great video 👍 I recently had my lawn re turfed from a couple of lads who work for the new build industry and I am not happy whatsoever! Bumpy ! It’s really pissed me off as my old lawn was lovely, do you think you can give me an idea of a price to level it out pls
There seems to be quite a big problem with those that are doing new build lawns at the moment - whether it is lack of time, resources or money - who knows!
The cost will entirely depend on the size of your lawn, but when I levelled my back lawn last year, it cost around £130 for the soil I think. Got about 5 tonnes from a local supplier dumped loose on the drive. It was a backbreaking task, but well worth it!
Good luck with your project 👍🏻
Hi there. I’ve got a seriously lumpy lawn but it’s a bit too big for me to make it flat 300 sq mts. I’m trying to make the best of a bad situation so I’m planning on a little refresh. What’s the best order for me to follow…?? Scarify then weedol weed killer then fertilise?? Thanks.
If you’re going to be seeding, I’d hold off on using Weedol until later in the year
@@NoviceGardenerI wasn’t planning on seeding this year just trying to get it in half decent condition with a plan to do something a bit more serious next year.
Thanks for the video, but i do have a question.
If my grass is really nice, how would i level my lawn if I'm not planting new grass seed? How would i do this without killing off my grass by burying it?
If I was you, I'd build up the low spots slowly over time. Don't put too much down at once, just make sure that all your current grass is sticking out.
Alternatively, you could do a heavy levelling job in late summer because the grass will bounce back quickly and seed will germinate in no time!
Question. How many bags of soil did you use? What is the measurements of the lawn?
I think it was 11 if I'm remembering right, maybe more. It's around about 10 square metres in total.
@@NoviceGardener perfect. Thank you
What’s that green tool you are using to level the dirt?
It’s called a lute. The one used in the vid is from landzie
You don't need any fertiliser for seeding, the high P in them takes a long time to travel through the soil profile where the roots need them and is a waste of money. You are better off fertilising after your first mow with a granular homogenous fertiliser, 9-3-6 or 12-3-9 NPK ratio, no need for high P for grass. As you said, you have a clay based soil, the P is held in the clay based soil for a long period, those pre-seed fertilisers are really only needed in a bare soil where you incorporate it into the soil several inches down and then usually on sandy soils which can't hold the P for long, like golf courses.
Cheers - I'll take this on board for when I'm next over seeding, which will hopefully be tomorrow 👍🏻
Great video, really appreciate your channel 👌 Did you know your compost is peat based though? I’m not sure why anywhere is still allowed to sell it, peat bogs store twice as much carbon as forests..
I've just checked the bags that I have left over in the garage - I hadn't realised this! They're the ones that were suggested to me by the people in my local garden centre. I'll have to look at something different next time. Cheers for spotting! 👍🏻
I find this top soil not good. I was renovating my lawn, bought 3 bags and i found many weeds already germinated lol i love the lawn seeding soil. It contains seaweed and its just fine and amazing to spread!
What is the name of the levelling tool you talk about if it’s not a levelling rake? Your accent makes it hard to catch what you called it in the video. Great video by the way, I plan on using your info this year, so thanks for uploading this.
You talk about it here between 2:10 and 2:15, I just can’t get what you called it
It's a lawn lute - made by Landzie.
Superb bit of kit!
Yeah ive got a new build they (David wilson) chucked turf on top of bricks/chalk all kinds of rubble. Also poor quality soil that is riddled with leather jackets. Ive had to dig up the lot and start again
It would take me about 80 bags to raise my backyard to level. 3k sqft with an overall 2 inch gradient and holes 7x7 and 6 inches deep. I am looking for an easy way to level without adding more material since my lawn is already the highest in the neighborhood.
You're best to try and find your low spots and only fill them in. Otherwise it will cost you an arm and a leg - and your back!
How many bags did you use?
I think it was around 11 or 12. I used a similar amount on the back lawn, but the space was much bigger - not as many low spots.
Do you recommend to do this or just totally removing the old lawn? Mine's worse than yours its bumpy like a mountain 🤣😂
If I was you, I'd just kill the thing and start again! I'm midway through a project like that at the moment. There were more weeds than grass blades, it just needed killing! It takes longer as you need to wait for the weed killer to degenerate, but it will be worth it.
Wish my garden was as dry as that.. Literally a mud bath at the moment!
It can be a nightmare at this time of year with some of the rain we have!
@@NoviceGardener Yeah especially when I’m trying to make things work with clay soil 😅
A expensive way buying bags of top soil do you not have any body who supplies loose +delivery?
Guess that's one way of doing it
You need to invest in a roller.. will make flattening alot easier
That’s true, it’s on my list!
@@NoviceGardener alternatively you could hire 1 for £8
Did you not fancy going down the route of using sand to level your lawn ?
That's the best option for sure. Any organix material will break down and become uneven.
I did, but I wanted to build ip the organic layer first. There's a lot more maintenance that goes into a lawn that is levelled with a lot of sand. It can be difficult if you don't keep on top of it. But it is certainly something I'd look to do in the future.
Negative slop towards the house 😢
Nothing I can do about that unfortunately - nature of the beast
Bagged topsoil isn’t real soil. It is mostly organic matter that will decompose. Yard will show the unevenness again.
Good luck.
Some will inevitable decompose, but it won't cause too much of a difference in the level. It will just need light levelling each year. Not as heavy as in this video!
Mentioned only seed. What kind of seed? Tall, dwarf Fescue, blue grass, etc....what?
This is the mix:
40% Tetraploid Dwarf Amenity Ryegrass.
40% Dwarf Amenity Ryegrass.
20% Dwarf Amenity Ryegrass.
@NoviceGardener All rye. Fast germination. Cool season. That's what warmer regions use to overseed in cooler season where warm season grasses go dormant. Temporarily, permanent grass. Dies off in warm, gets clumpy and ragged looking. Thanks for the information.
Did you not think about spraying off the old lawn 1st with Round-up to kill off the weed grasses 1st then using scarification to remove most of the dead grass. They will inevitably come back through the new seed bed you have created as the new seeds grow along with the older lawn you had their originally. Good luck as that certainly took a great deal of time and effort to get level. You should have an amazing front lawn come the summer !
That was my original plan! The only reason I opted not to is because I want to completely renovate this lawn again towards the back end of August/early September. I found that when I renovated the lawns in the back last year, the lawn I renovated late in the season established so much faster than the one I did in the early spring.
I've just killed off the grass on the sloped verge outside my house. Going to wait 2/3 weeks before reseeding it. That's my guinea pig to see if it works out well!
@@NoviceGardener - good luck with the renovation as hopefully it’s now warmed up a little so will help the soil temperatures.
I did this, then winter came, and worms destroyed it, back to bumpy lawn
Nightmare! It’s always an ongoing task with levelling!
Worms destroyed your lawn?! They are the best thing for your soil!
@@GeorgeAusters totally understand, as I dont want to kill them off, just reduce the worm casts. I went from flat lawn, to potential twisted ankle. You see these videos about removing worm casts and they are so cute. in a square meter I have about 60 worm casts size of my fist. So any advice on reducing them would be great.
Promo>SM
Freakin me out that you didn't go right to to the paving flags .. Why
Dude's gardening in ultraboosts.
🤣
They were relegated to the garden once they got a hole in them!
I feel like easily might be the wrong word here...
It's not as bad as you think!
Thats not level..courses of brick show you its not level..use a long ladder and drag it
Can't take it level against the bricks because of the air brick and the regulations around how far the ground needs to be. But the entire lawn has a smooth surface now.
SO what we have here is an amateur. He just puts a layer of soil and then spreads that with a swiffer. in order to get a lawn level you will need to ride over it with a roll, a heavy roll. Right away you will see where soil must be added. All that work for nothing. Ask any farmer how to level a meadow.
You're right about me being an amateur - Novice Gardener! 🤣
Using a roller is food for thought for my next project. I don't currently own one, hence having to dig my heels in for compaction, which granted, isn't perfect, but does the job really well.
@@NoviceGardener do you need to buy a roller? No. Take a leftover pallet put stones on it and jogg around in your garden. You will fast see were the elevations are.
Can believe you havent seived that b&m soil🫢
Didn't know they sold soil at B&M? But, can't knock a good bargain! 🤣
It's decent stuff. The odd stone here and there, but much cheaper for a space this size.