A large part of our yard needs regrading, and also needs to be built up approximately 6-8 inches. This is an area that's about 60' x 30'. We have clay soil. In the lawn forum it discusses using a sod cutter to remove the sod and then lay sod over what remains. I haven't found anything that discusses building up the level of the soil.

If we were to add 6-8 inches of topsoil directly over the existing lawn, would it create problems? Would we get reasonable drainage on the top 6 inches and then have water pool where it meets the old compacted lawn and still end up with drainage problems? Or would it be advisable to remove the old lawn?

I've also wondered about only adding 6-8 inches on the first 15' or so near the house and having a small retaining wall type thing so that the mature trees on the remainder won't have their roots covered by too much soil all of a sudden. Opinions?

All thoughts, alternate ideas, and opinions are appreciated =:)

Sorry, can't post photos with this computer.

Eek! Kimmsr you're going to hate this. In answer to your questions, none, terrible, really well, probably none, old dirt, terrible. =:)

Anything we add will be an improvement.

However, my main concern is whether the compacted soil and existing sod will create a layer 6 inches under the new sod, that won't drain and create more problems than we have now, like massive puddles below the new lawn. Or, do you think the old sod below will help add organic matter and therefore help drainage? I can't decide whether to cover the old sod, or remove it first.

BTW I'm not at all concerned with the cost of doing this. Rather, doing it correctly the first time, is my main goal.

Thanks!

You cannot just cover the old sod with soil and expect good results. The sod will begin to break down, creating pockets and bumps on the surface of the soil.

Frankly, reconstruction like this requires deep tine tilling, probably before and after the addition of new soil. Demand a loam soil, not the compost and/or leaf mould suggested earlier. Those substances will soon disappear as they break down. Your new soil must be SOIL based (sand, silt, and clay) which you can then add organic components to. You only need a small proportion of organic substances to create a viable, living, working soil system.

If you simply layer your new soil on top of the old stuff, you may find that an impervious layer is created between the new and the old. Yes, it can make matters much worse. Combining the two can homogenize it, to so speak, allowing for natural infiltration, drainage, etc. Then, of course, it will have to be professionally graded.

Trying to maintain existing trees during such a construction process is rarely feasible.

Without actually seeing the site and having a better understanding of the scope of work, it's impossible to offer really good advice. Some jobs are best in the hands of educated, experienced professionals. It might be money well spent to find someone who can evaluate the drainage situation, the topography, has access to the right equipment for the job, knows where to obtain excellent, loamy top soil, etc.

Maybe I'm picturing a project bigger than it really is. Am I? ;-)

All of the trees are on the perimeter of the property. The two I'm primarily concerned with are on the front edge, and they are the reason I was thinking of having some type of decorative retaining wall of sorts, to prevent covering the roots and the trunks of the ash trees.

What I mean by the retaining wall, is to relandscape maybe the 25' deep x 60' wide area closest to the house, and then have the retaining wall, then the lower portion where the trees are which then has a sidewalk along the front of the property.

.........house.........

...tree............tree...

...s..i..d..e..w..a..l..k..

We will be hiring one or more professionals for all or most of this work. I really want to be as knowledgeable as possible before trying to hire someone, as we've had our fair share of really bad "professional jobs" done on our house.

I really should buy a newer computer so I could post pictures.