How to Level a Lawn with Topsoil (Without Killing the Grass)
Step-by-step: how to fill low spots and level a bumpy lawn with screened topsoil, how much to use, and the best time of year to do it in Metro Vancouver.
When to do it
In the Lower Mainland the best windows are spring (April–May) and early fall (September to mid-October), when the grass is actively growing and there's enough rain to settle the soil without a hose running every day.
Step by step
- Mow the lawn short and rake out thatch so the new topsoil reaches the ground, not a mat of dead grass.
- For shallow dips (under 1"), spread screened topsoil straight over the grass and work it in with the back of a rake until the grass blades poke through.
- For deeper holes, cut and lift the turf, fill underneath with topsoil, tamp it firm, and lay the turf back down.
- Never bury grass under more than about ½–1" at a time. For deeper low spots, repeat every few weeks as the grass grows through.
- Overseed thin areas, keep the soil damp for two to three weeks, and stay off it while seed germinates.
Why screened topsoil
Levelling only works if the material spreads thinly and evenly. Unscreened soil leaves clumps and stones that smother grass in patches. Screened topsoil drags out smooth with a rake or a levelling tool.
For a typical bumpy backyard, two to four yards is enough for a full topdressing plus filling the worst dips — check your area with the calculator.