[mark64]

I just bought a new home with new laid sod (Tifway (T-419) Bermuda.
Needless to say the finish grade leaves alot to be desired.
There are holes, gaps where the sod was laid wrong with over 2" gaps, rocks under the sod, sinking and general uneven grading. Not 1 sq yard is worth saying it is ok.

I want to do a top dress with good sifted top soil and some compaction.
Some small places will be more than 3"-4" covered with the new soil.
The yard is less than .5 acre and I figure about 10 cubic yards of dirt.
Hopefully this will fill in the holes and smooth out the yard.
But I have some questions.

When is the best time of the year to do this?
Will this damage the existing grass roots?
Will the new season grass grow through the new top soil?

Thanks for your help
Mark

[cklandscapingorlando]

Its recomended from IFAS that you dont place more than 1 in. of top dress over your sod.Do not compact it ever.You can use a lawn roller to smooth it.You could re-sod or top dress, grade,roll,and sod or seed the areas that need it.If the soils as bad as you say then I would put down about 3-4 in. of compost and till the whole property.Re-grade and sod the whole thing.If you have bad soil with rocks then you'll have real problems in the future.I hope the guys that did it first where the lowest bidders and not just idiots