How to Level Soil Before Laying Turf: A Complete Guide

Laying turf is one of the quickest and most efficient ways to establish a lush green lawn. However proper ground preparation is crucial for the long-term success of your new turf lawn. One of the most important steps when preparing for turf is leveling and grading the soil. Laying turf on an uneven surface will lead to an uneven lawn that is prone to bare or thin patches. With some basic tools and techniques, leveling your soil before laying turf is a straightforward process.

When to Level the Soil

The ideal time to level soil in preparation for new turf is well in advance of the turf laying—at least a few weeks ahead of time. This allows the soil to settle completely so you can re-check for dips and bumps before laying the turf. Early fall is an optimal time for both leveling soil and laying new turf, as the ground is still warm, rain is more frequent, and weed pressure is lower. However, with proper watering and care, turf can be laid during most times of the year.

Grading vs Leveling

While the terms grading and leveling are sometimes used interchangeably, there is a difference. Grading refers to major reshaping of the ground’s contours, usually with heavy equipment. Leveling is done after grading to smooth out minor dips, bumps, and inconsistencies until the soil has a flat, even plane. For most residential turf projects, grading is not necessary, and soil leveling by itself provides the ideal smooth surface for laying turf.

Tools and Materials

Leveling soil for turf requires only a few simple tools:

• String line and stakes
• Measuring tape
• Shovel and/or rake
• Lawn roller or lute
• Topsoil or soil amendments
• Landscape rake
• Pre-turf starter fertilizer

A lawn roller, which is sometimes called a land roller, is a heavy cylinder that rolls over the ground and smooths and packs it down. A lute is a leveling tool that you can make yourself out of a straight board with a handle on one end. To help smooth and level the soil, these tools press down on high spots and fill in low ones.

How to Level Soil Step-by-Step

Follow these steps for leveling your soil before laying turf

1. Remove debris

Pick up and discard any sticks rocks roots or other debris from the area. Debris prevents proper leveling and causes bumps under the turf.

2. Set string lines

Drive stakes in around the perimeter of the area and pull taut string lines at your desired finished height. This is usually about 1 inch below the final turf height to allow for the turf thickness. The string lines act as guides for cutting high areas and filling low spots.

3. Loosen the soil

Use a shovel, tiller or cultivator to loosen the top 2-3 inches of soil to make leveling easier. Break up any hardened or compacted areas.

4. Grade high and low areas

Use a shovel or rake to get rid of soil that is too high in places so that you can reach the string line height. Move soil to low spots and use the back of a rake to press it down firmly.

5. Apply topsoil (if needed)

If there are still low spots after moving and tamping the soil, you can fill them in with topsoil to make the grade right.

6. Roll or lute the surface

Use a lawn roller or homemade lute to smooth out minor bumps, compress soil in filled areas, and settle the overall grade. Check string lines again and make adjustments as needed.

7. Rake lightly

To make the top 1/2 inch of soil smooth and fine, use a landscape rake to break it up. Pick up any new rocks or debris that are unearthed.

8. Apply starter fertilizer

Spread pre-turf starter fertilizer evenly according to package directions. This promotes root establishment after turf is laid.

9. Water lightly

Water the area just until the top few inches of soil are moistened. This settles the soil particles and creates a better contact surface for the new turf.

10. Install turf

Once the soil is properly leveled, graded, and moistened, you are ready to lay and install the new turf according to the supplier’s recommendations.

Tips for Effective Soil Leveling

• Allow enough time for adequate settling between soil leveling and laying turf—a week or two is ideal if possible.

• Level and grade the soil in several directions for the most uniform surface.

• To prevent dips around edges later, level soil 1-2 inches beyond the planned turf area.

• Use plenty of topsoil in low areas to allow for settling after watering and rolling.

• Roll or lute the surface repeatedly in different directions to catch all high and low spots.

• Avoid over-compacting soil when rolling or tamping. Stop once soil is uniformly firm.

• Make subtle adjustments over multiple passes rather than aggressive leveling in one attempt.

• Lay turf immediately after the final rolling and watering to prevent new dips and bumps.

With attention to detail and some laborious work wielding a shovel, rake, and lawn roller, you can level and smooth soil into the perfect base for a flawless turf lawn. By following the proper techniques and sequence of steps, you’ll avoid many of the frustrations and problems that come with laying turf over an uneven surface. Keep the guidelines above in mind, and don’t cut corners on ground preparation before your big turf installation day arrives.