Level Your Lawn Like a Pro - All the Steps for a Smoother Yard
Simple Steps for a Smoother Yard – Level Your Lawn Like a Pro
Do you want a lawn as smooth as glass? Or maybe the mower's scalping some spots and gliding over others, or water's pooling where it shouldn't. An uneven lawn can be a real pain, but levelling it doesn't have to be a big job.
In this guide, I'll show you simple steps to get your lawn looking neat, smooth, and properly level. There's also a lot of confusion about the best materials to use for levelling, so we'll cover that throughout this series of videos.
This guide covers minor levelling and topdressing. If you have a seriously bumpy lawn with deep hollows, you'll need a more aggressive approach — but start here to understand the fundamentals.
What You'll Learn
- Why Sports Sand is Best for Levelling
- Common Questions About Lawn Levelling Answered
- Complete Renovation: Aerate, Scarify & Level
- When to Use Soil Instead of Sand
- Classic Sand Topdressing Technique
- Working with Bulk Topsoil Bags
- Testing the Compost Roller Method
- Creating a Perfectly Level Putting Green
- Extreme Makeover: One-Day Transformation
- Building a New Lawn From Scratch
- Every Tool You Need for DIY Levelling
Why You Should Use Sports Sand to Level Your Lawn
This is one of the most important videos in the series because it addresses a prominent misconception: not all sand is created equal. You'll see why sports sand (also called rootzone or topdressing sand) is the right choice for lawn levelling, and why plastering sand or sharp sand will cause you problems down the line.
Sports sand has the perfect particle size to work through grass without smothering it; it drains well and doesn't compact like other sands. This video breaks down the science in plain English so you understand precisely what you're buying and why it matters. It's an older video, but the information is gold and still completely relevant today.
The Secret to a Perfectly Smooth Lawn
This is the updated, comprehensive version that answers every question I've been asked about using sand for levelling. You'll see recent examples, detailed explanations of the process, and honest answers to concerns like "won't sand kill my grass?" or "is this just for golf courses?"
The video covers application rates, how much sand you need, what happens to the grass after application, and realistic timescales for results. If you watch just one video about topdressing with sand, make it this one — it's packed with practical advice based on years of experience and hundreds of lawns.
Complete Lawn Renovation: Aerate, Scarify & Level
This is a full old-fashioned lawn renovation that shows the complete process from start to finish. You'll see how aerating and scarifying work together with levelling to transform a tired, bumpy lawn. The levelling happens toward the end, but the earlier steps are just as crucial for getting professional results.
What makes this video valuable is seeing how all the renovation steps connect — you can't just dump sand on a compacted, thatchy lawn and expect miracles. Aeration relieves compaction, scarification removes dead material, and levelling sand can then work its way down to where it needs to be. There is much to learn here about proper lawn renovation techniques.
Topdressing a Shaded Lawn With Soil
Not every lawn needs sand — sometimes soil is the better choice, especially in shaded areas or when you're working with specific grass types. This video shows a complete topdressing project using soil instead of sand, with before-and-after results so you can see exactly what's possible.
You'll learn when soil makes more sense than sand, how to apply it without smothering the grass, and what kind of soil works best for topdressing. The shade factor is essential here because shaded lawns often have drainage issues, so the material you choose matters. This is a great alternative approach when sand isn't the correct answer for your situation.
Classic Lawn Topdressing With Sports Sand
This is a golden oldie that shows the classic technique for topdressing a lawn with a sports sand mix. (It's one of my early videos.)
It's a straightforward lawn renovation that demonstrates the fundamental method you'll use on most levelling jobs. The techniques shown here are timeless and work just as well today.
You'll see the application process step by step, how to spread the sand evenly, how to work it into the grass, and what the lawn looks like immediately after versus a few weeks later. It's the kind of renovation most DIY homeowners will be doing — not extreme makeovers, just steady improvement using proven methods. Perfect for understanding the standard approach.
Levelling Using Ton Bags of Topsoil
This video was filmed during lockdown, when obtaining suitable materials was challenging. We ended up using bulk topsoil bags instead of the usual sports sand. While it wasn't the ideal material, it shows how to make the best of what's available when your first choice isn't an option.
Sometimes you've got to work with what you can get, and this video proves you can still get results even when conditions aren't perfect. You'll see the challenges of working with heavier, less-than-ideal material, and the techniques we used to make it work. It's honest, practical advice for real-world situations where the textbook solution isn't always possible.
Testing a Compost Roller for Spreading Sand
Can you use a compost roller to spread sand instead of doing it by hand with a rake and lute? This video addresses that question and provides an honest answer. We also pack in several bonus DIY levelling tips that'll save you time and effort on your own project.
The compost roller test is interesting because these tools are marketed for spreading materials, but do they actually work for topdressing sand? You'll see the results firsthand what works, what doesn't, and whether it's worth buying or hiring. Plus, the additional tips make this video valuable even if you're not interested in the roller itself.
Levelling a Backyard Putting Green
Putting greens need to be incredibly level and smooth — far more precise than a regular lawn. This video shows the detailed process of levelling a backyard putting green with sand, demonstrating the extra care and technique required for this kind of precision work.
It's a tight, focused project that shows how the same basic sand-levelling principles apply but with much more attention to detail. Even if you're not building a putting green, you'll learn valuable techniques about achieving really smooth, level surfaces. The methods shown here will help you get better results on any levelling project where you want a glass-smooth finish.
Transform a Lawn in Just One Day
Some lawns are beyond minor fixes — they need a complete transformation. This video shows how we used screened topsoil to totally revive a seriously rough lawn in just one day. It's a dramatic before-and-after that proves what's possible when you tackle a big job properly.
The key here is screened topsoil — it's been processed to remove stones, debris, and lumps, giving you clean material that spreads smoothly and works well. You'll see the entire process from preparation through to final results, including the techniques that make such a dramatic transformation possible in a single day. If your lawn is really struggling, this shows what a full reset can achieve.
Building a Complete Lawn From Scratch in One Day
This one's a bit cheeky to include in a levelling guide because it's technically a new lawn installation, but it's brilliant for showing the fundamentals of creating a perfectly level surface from scratch. This is actually my home lawn, so you're seeing real results I live with every day. We used an old crate for the levelling work — fast, effective, and impressive.
Even if you're not starting from bare ground, this video teaches you loads about creating level surfaces, working with soil, and the preparation that makes everything else easier. The techniques for getting a surface dead level apply whether you're building new or renovating existing turf. Plus it's satisfying to watch a complete transformation happen so quickly.
Every Tool You Need for DIY Lawn Levelling
This is a crowd favourite and for good reason — it walks through every single tool you'll need if you're tackling DIY lawn levelling from start to finish. No fluff, no expensive kit you don't need, just the practical tools that actually get the job done.
We cover everything from basic spreading tools to measuring equipment, showing you what each tool does and why you need it. Some tools are essential, others are nice-to-have, and we're clear about which is which so you don't waste money on stuff that sits in the shed. If you're planning a levelling project and want to know exactly what to buy or hire, start here.
