Lumpy Lawn? What to do about it
Does your lawn have a case of the lumps?
When you walk across your yard, do you feel the unevenness beneath your feet? If you have a riding mower, has mowing become a tooth-rattling experience? This season, let's do something about it!
Many people think that the cure for a lumpy lawn is to drag the roller out of the corner of the garage, fill it with water and get to work. Unfortunately, using a roller really won't have much effect on the lumps and bumps in your yard. Why? Because the soil is anchored in place by the roots from your lawn and other landscaping plants. It's a little like trying to shift concrete around. Rolling can push bare soil downward, but it is nearly ineffective when it comes to root bound soil.
Now the good news. There are three ways to alleviate lumpy lawn syndrome. The first two focus on placing soil in the low spots. You can accomplish this by adding soil (this is called top dressing) or through aeration. The third method is a more drastic, last resort for that lumpy lawn that may also have other problems.
Top dressing
When you add soil to even out your lawn, do so in small increments (a half inch layer or less at a time). Match the texture (particle size) of the soil you choose to what you already have in your yard, or choose a soil that has a larger particle size. For example, a clay soil has the smallest particle size, or finest texture. Don't place this finer-textured soil over a sandy loam soil. You can, on the other hand, place a sandy loam soil on top of your yard with a clay loam soil. Sand has a larger particle size and coarser texture than the clay. By following this rule, you will prevent problems from soil layering - a situation in which the soil types don't blend, making it difficult for water and oxygen to get in.
The challenge is to be able to spot the low areas beneath the grass. (Be careful when you are riding or walking over them!) You can apply the soil with a wheelbarrow and shovel or rent a top-dressing machine. This is a machine that will distribute the soil in an even layer, much like a rotary fertilizer spreader, but on a larger scale. No matter which method you use, top dress the entire area where unevenness is a problem. The soil will naturally move from high to low spots and gradually fill them in.
Aeration
Aeration can also help alleviate your problem. The core cultivator is a machine that removes plugs of soil, which end up on the surface of your lawn. Break up these soil plugs with a rake or, if you have a riding mower, with a drag. Once again, the soil will move to the low spots in the lawn over time. There is the immediate benefit of knowing you are eliminating soil compaction and helping your lawn stay healthy.
The drastic option - a total lawn makeover.
Your final option is foolproof, yet drastic. It requires total renovation - starting over from the ground up. It may seem like a lot of work, but the outcome is assured - you will have a yard that is smooth immediately after the job is complete, not two-to-three years down the road. You can also make any soil amendments at the same time, and address any drainage issues. Finally, you can even put in the turf grass of your choice - the right grass to meet your use, maintenance level and aesthetic desires.
If you are a new homeowner seeding your first lawn, do it right the first time. Be sure the yard is graded properly and the soil smoothed out before you seed or lay sod. This will prevent the lumpy lawn problem from occurring.
