Level Dirt
In order to level dirt it is important to understand that not all dirt is the same. In addition, depending on the reason you want to level dirt, the process will change. For example, if you want to level dirt for a clay tennis court, you should hire professionals. If you want to level dirt for the bottom of a swimming pool, you will need big equipment. However, you can learn how to level dirt effectively if you just want to fix spots in your lawn, to prepare a vegetable garden, or to prepare the lawn for sod.
Contents
Steps
Know your dirt.
- Analyze the composition of your local soil and secure a soil sample from a laboratory.
- Dirt is a natural resource composed of decomposed rock that has been changed over time by environmental influences.
- It may contain soils blown onto it from a distance by the winds, chemicals brought to your area by waters that have disappeared long ago, and organic material from plant, animal, and insect life.
- Dirt generally includes water, oxygen, silicate, aluminum, and iron, but these elements occur in different proportions that influence the soil's color and texture.
- Add soil that is comparable in composition when leveling the soil.
Level small areas such as bare spots or depressions in lawn soil.
- Use a spade to dig out and set aside 10 (25.4 cm) to 12 inches (30.48 cm) of soil.
- Use a D-fork (a short shaft pitchfork) or gardener's fork to loosen an additional 10 inches (25.4 cm).
- Mix the soil set aside with additional soil that includes about 50% compost.
- Refill the hole and rake the top of the soil into the surrounding soil with a levelheaded rake.
- Water the area including the leveled area, and as dirt settles, fill the area with quality topsoil that you rake into the surrounding area.
Level larger areas, for example, where you would place a patio, path, vegetable garden, or lawn.
- Draw a plan because "level" does not just mean "flat and smooth."
- "Level" means "on a horizontal plane" with no spot higher or lower than the rest.
- Mark the outline of the plan on the surface to be leveled.
- Remove all vegetation, stones, rocks, or debris in the way.
- Use a power tiller to break up the soil.
- A power tiller can be rented purchased at a reasonable and will save a lot of hard work breaking up and blending the soil, sifting out stones and rocks, and pulling up deep roots.
- Stake out the corners of the plan with 2 feet (0.6096 m) X 2 inches (50.8 mm) X 2 inches (50.8 mm) stakes (wood, metal, or plastic) and, then, stake every 2 feet (0.9144 m)in a straight line between the corners.
- Use a carpenter's bubble level to align tops of stakes at desired height.
- Connect tops of stakes with taught string or light strips of wood.
- Prepare soil additives according to your plan; for example, you want stability in your lawn and under your patio, but your garden will need more nutrients.
- For example, additional sand will increase the ability of the mixture to settle whereas the addition of decomposed stone will add body.
- Mix purchased topsoil and place it carefully into plan frame up to leveled string or wooden markers.
- Water this area thoroughly and allow dirt to settle.
- Repeat the process of adding soil, watering, and settling until soil generally levels off at about 1 inch (25.4 mm) below tops of stake markers.
- Top off soil with sand or decomposed stone if you wish to support a stable area, such as a patio or path, or with quality topsoil mixed with compost (50/50).
- Use square front rake to pull soil back and forth onto level plane for a lawn or garden.
- Tamp soil to level plane for patio or path.
- Remove stakes and markers.
- Use carpenter's level atop a wooden plank to confirm the level plant at various points in the plot, and use square rake to fix areas that are off the level.
Things You'll Need
- Gardener's string
- Carpenter's bubble level
- D-handled spade for additional leverage
- Gardener's fork
- Stakes
- Soil additives, such as sand, decomposed rock, compost, etc.
- Power tiller
- Tamper
