How to Apply Fill Dirt

Filling holes in your yard can mean the difference between shoddy and beautiful. Even if you have a great lawn, holes that arent filled can translate into additional mowing time and even injury. Once you assess the type of soil to use as fill, youll need to determine how much to get. Then its a matter of deciding whether to do it at one go, or allow the grass to catch up to the new level of fill before adding more. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Mow the lawn, including the area that requires fill dirt. This will help you see any depressions and uneven areas that need treating.

2

Remove grass in depressions. If depressions are covered with grass, use a narrow-nose hand shovel to cut the grass all around the hole. Reach under the grass clump to cut and loosen the roots. Keep the clump intact for replacement later.

3

Fill your bucket or wheelbarrow with fill dirt to fill in depressions. Go to each depression and shovel dirt to loosely fill the hole.

4

Replace each grass-capped clump to its respective hole. Press the roots into the hole to attempt re-rooting. Shake a light layer of dirt on top of the clump. Use your hands to brush the dirt to force it between grass blades.

5

Put fill dirt in a broadcast spreader. Start at one end of the lawn and move through the yard up and down in rows. Adjust the spreader to convey a light layer of fill dirt to the lawn.

6

Inspect the lawn for low areas. Note any additional areas with small depressions. Fill those spots with fill dirt from your bucket. Loosely shake dirt onto those areas to add volume, and then brush dirt into the surrounding grass using your hands.

7

Water the lawn using a portable sprinkler or built-in sprinkler system. This should allow fill to settle out and lightly compact. Water for at least 10 minutes to get a good soaking.

8

Over the next one to two weeks, check how level the lawn is. Add fill dirt again to areas that are not level to your satisfaction. Apply the dirt loosely to allow healthy root growth and proper aeration.