Need Recommendation for a Lawn Leveling Contractor
 

Does anyone have a recommendation for a reputable contractor who provides a lawn leveling service? I have several low spots in my yard and would like to have it leveled out before I plant grass or install sod. I have a corner lot with a lot of grass, so I would prefer to not do it myself.

I can't recommend any of the landscapers that I have hired. Based on zero responses may be few others can either.

I'm sure you know this, but make sure your low spots aren't drains or otherwise part of the drainage system before filling them. All the low spots in my yard lead to drains.

Read the above twice. If you forget it, read it again. You can't just arbitrarily regrade your yard.

I agree with above, in general any landscaping needs ARC approval, look at your deed restrictions. If this is a new house, you could try calling home warranty to see if this was graded correctly and if not, maybe they will fix.

better consult with ARC and review the drainage prints

With no recommendations from the community, I’d recommend calling a local landscape / mulch / soil retailer like “Dirt Cheap”, Ringers” or “Southern Mulch” for recommendations.

To clarify what a Lawn Leveling Process does :

Lawn leveling is the process of creating a smooth, even surface on a lawn, eliminating dips and bumps. This can be achieved by filling low spots with a soil mixture and compacting it, or by using a leveling rake and top dressing to redistribute soil.

I doubt you need ARC approval.

"Lawn Leveling" = re-grading = changing drainage characteristics.

ARC Approval required.

[QUOTE=BrianL99;2443870]"Lawn Leveling" = re-grading = changing drainage characteristics.

ARC Approval


I think the key word here is “leveling” not regrading. You’re adding at most, an inch of sand to a “divot” in a lawn. It’s really no different that me going to Lowe’s to dump a bag of top soil on a “bald spot” in a lawn.

[QUOTE=Pondboy;2443875]
It sounds like you have a clue what you're talking about & generally I'd agree with you.

If it was as simple as dumping a bag of soil from Lowe's on the area, I suspect the poster would have just done that and not be seeking a "contractor".

Having more than a few years of experience in TV & on TOTV, the terminology used by non-professionals is open to a wide variety of interpretations.

What someone in TV and TOTV considers "leveling", is likely to be something I'd use a Cat D8 to do.

It's not regrading. I have a large corner lot and there are several random areas that, for one reason or another, e.g. poor lawn maintenance, weed control, inadequate irrigation, etc. is now lower than other parts of the yard. They are also not drains.

[QUOTE=BrianL99;2443893]I have a lot of areas and a bad back. That's why I was looking for someone to do it.

This is what it looks like. No machines, just sand, a laborer and a rake.

Yeah... I'm beginning to think that for it to get done, I'm going to have to be that laborer.

Have you tried these two?

Lili’s advertises here all the time…

No, I haven't. I'll give them a call. Thank you very much!!

Almost like people purposely misconstrue what you want done, seemed obvious to me.

Have seen many new homes needing leveling after the sod. Mostly due to poorly cut sod or sod that dried out and dropped some soil off the roots in handling.

Bag topsoil from Sparr is my recommendation as it is the only topsoil I found that does not bring in a ridiculous amount of weed seed. Still, watch the leveled areas for a week or three, and pull those weed sprouts early as possible.

I have leveled 100s of lawns over the years. I now only level lawns at homes where I am doing a decent amount of landscape work and try to limit that to 1 or 2 a year.
You don't need Michelangelo to paint your bathroom one color, but you can bet he would do a great job if you paid him what he's worth.

Thank you!!! Excellent information! Just what I need if I'm going to end up doing it myself.

We used Tom at Oxford Lawn 352-446-3497.

Thank you! I'll contact him.