How to Repair Lawn Damage After Construction

In this video, This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook saves a badly rutted lawn without replacing the grass.

Repairing lawn damage

1. Run a gas-powered sod cutter along the tire ruts in the lawn to slice the sod free from the soil.
2. Cut the severed strips of sod into 12-inch-long pieces using a manual lawn edger.
3. Remove the sod pieces with straight-blade shovel, and set them off to the side.
4. Dig a trench for the water line with a shovel.
5. Once all the sod has been removed use a rotary tiller to break up and loosen the compacted soil in the tire ruts.
6. Rake the tilled soil smooth and level.
7. Set the sod pieces back into place, making sure they fit tightly together. Then immediately water the area.
8. If there are other damaged lawn sections, use a shovel and rake to remove gravel, rocks, stone dust and other debris. Then fill the area with topsoil and compost.
9. Till the topsoil and compost, and rake the area smooth.
10. If there’s a wellhead or other obstruction in the lawn, conceal it with a fake boulder.
11. Spread about 2 inches of bark mulch over the entire area and rake it smooth.

Tools

If you have a large lawn, cosider renting a sod cutter and a rotary tiller.