How to level grass to match the concrete pathway level?

Nas2025

Hi folks

i recently got concrete pathway done around the house  which has created an imbalance with the rest of the grass level ( see photos) . Any DIY suggestions? Also how to fill up the gap between the fence and concrete pathway ( see photo 3 )

Grateful for any assistance .

JacobZ

Hi @Nas2025,

Thank you for your question about how to increase the level of your lawn and address the gap between the concrete and your fence.

There are two main options when it comes to increasing the level of your lawn. Both would be best done after winter has ended and the temperatures start to rise, as your grass will not be actively growing during the colder months.

The first option is to simply bring in new soil, dump it over the existing lawn, level it and then plant new grass either from seed or using turf slabs. This would be a quicker process than the alternative, but it would mean you would have to put the effort into establishing the new lawn.

The alternative, which would not be quick, is to add topsoil over the existing grass over the course of multiple seasons, alllowing the grass to grow up through the soil as the level slowly rises. This would be a slower process, but the lawn would remain intact throughout.

Either option will work, with the priority being in different areas. 

You might like to check out How To Topdress Your Lawn and How To Lay Turf for some examples of these processes.

For the gap between the concrete and the fence, you would need to create a barrier against the fence to prevent anything from pressing against it. This is because the timber of your fence is not designed for retaining soil or stones, and it is not treated for direct contact with soil, so it would rot prematurely.

To combat this, you could install a very basic retaining structure using a row of timber sleepers set in place with sleeper pegs. 

Once the sleepers are in place, you could fill the gap with soil and add plants of your choice to the space. Alternatively, if you didn't want plants, you could fill the space with something like decorative stones or mulch.

Let me know what you think and if you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob