Did You Know?                   How to Grade Your Landscape

Grading your yard is time consuming, but can be done yourself.  The basic steps for a typical grading project first required that you spread a 4" to 6" layer of topsoil over the area to be graded.  You will need to have a grading rake, a line level, 2 wooden or metal stakes approximately 18 inches long, string, masking tape and a hand tamp. 

1. Drive one of the stakes into the ground close to the foundation of your house. 

2. Drive the other stake into the ground at least 8-10 feet away from the foundation.

3. Attach one end of the string to the stake near the foundation and the other end to the second stake.  Attach your line level to the string and adjust the string so that it is level.

4. With your tape, mark the string from the foundation outward at 1 foot intervals.  Beginning with the tape marker closest to the foundation, measure the distance between the ground and the string and write that measurement on the first tape marker.  Then, moving to the next tape marker, add 3/4 inches to the measurement of the first tape marker and mark that on the second tape marker.  For instance, if the first tape marker measured at 1 foot, the second tape marker should be 1 foot, 3/4 inches and the third tape marker should be 1 foot, 1 1/2 inches and so on until you reach the last tape marker.  This will give you the desired depth at each 1 foot marker to guide you.

5. Using your grading rake, begin at the foundation and begin moving the top soil so that it measures correctly the depth at each tape marker.

6. After the proper grade is attained, use your hand tamp to compact the soil.  Do not over tamp the area as this will cause problems for your plants and/or grass to grow properly. 

7. Finally, use your grading rake to smooth out the area removing any rocks, clumps or debris. You can now move the stake, string and tape to adjacent areas to be graded until the entire area is completed.