How to Fix Lawn Depressions

Get rid of unsightly divots and protect your family from tripping hazards

Couple having breakfast in the yard
Photo: AzmanL / E+ / Getty Images
Couple having breakfast in the yard
Photo: AzmanL / E+ / Getty Images
Kat Brancato
Written by Kat Brancato
Contributing Writer
Updated Sep 5, 2023
SKILL LEVEL
Intermediate
COMPLETION TIME
1 day
COST
$195—$325
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What you'll need:
TOOLS
  • Aerator
  • Rake
  • Shovel
  • Spreader
SUPPLIES
  • Topsoil
  • Grass seed

What starts out as a pristine lawn can slowly end up as a crater-filled headache. And it can happen so gradually that you don't even notice until one day you're mowing and suddenly the blade snags on a divot you had no idea was there. This is your sign that it’s time to learn how to fix lawn depressions. Our seven-step guide will show you how.

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  1. Mow the Lawn

    Before you start fixing lawn depressions, you need to prepare by mowing your grass. You won’t be able to mow again for at least a couple of weeks; you’ll need to allow the soil to settle and new grass seed to sprout first.

  2. Aerate the Depression

    Aerating your lawn is the next step you’ll need to take to prepare it for fixing depressions and reseeding. Aeration allows for good drainage and promotes the healthy growth of new grass. Use a spike aerator, plug/core aerator, or liquid aerator to get the job done.

  3. Overfill the Depression

    Buy topsoil that's screened and free of weeds so you don't introduce new problems to your lawn. Use this topsoil to overfill any depressions with a shovel. Rake the soil across the depressions, but be sure to leave a little extra soil on top, as the topsoil will sink as it settles. Aim to build up the topsoil 2 to 3 inches above the yard line.

  4. Gently Compact the Soil

    Walk over the area or use a tamper tool if you have one to gently compact the soil. 

  5. Add a Layer of Loose Topsoil

    If you want to grow healthy grass, the top layer of soil should stay loose to allow easy root growth. After compacting the area, add about three inches of new topsoil above the yard line. Don’t compact this top layer; it will settle after a week or two.

  6. Water Thoroughly

    Water freshly filled depressions with a sprinkler to help the topsoil settle and to remove air pockets. 

    Watering also helps encourage nutrients from your old soil to mix with the new soil. If the topsoil immediately settles below the level of the rest of the lawn, add more topsoil.

  7. Leave It Alone for a While

    Black and white puppy digging holes in the yard
    Photo: Emma Loades / EyeEm / Getty Images

    Leave the bare patch for two weeks to let it settle fully. If it's still level with the rest of the lawn after that time, you can apply grass seed using a spreader. Otherwise, you will need to repeat the process until the soil is even with the rest of the yard.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

If you have only a few lawn depressions to fix, then doing it yourself is possible. It will be less expensive if you already have most of the supplies you need. However, for really deep depressions, or if your yard has steep slopes that need attention, you should hire a professional lawn specialist near you to do the job. 

Renting equipment to do it yourself can get expensive, and the job can become very labor-intensive depending on the number of lawn depressions you have. Plus, if you aren’t experienced with this type of work, you could accidentally create a lawn grading problem or other issue that will end up requiring a pro to fix.

Allie Ogletree contributed to this piece.

Frequently Asked Questions

Many factors can cause your yard to have lawn depressions. Here are the most common reasons: 

  • Heavy rainfall 

  • Wild animals such as moles, voles, and groundhogs that burrow and tunnel

  • Poor drainage

  • Buried items such as pipes that break down

  • Decaying tree roots or stumps

  • Soil that has compacted

  • Improper mowing techniques

  • Driving heavy equipment and vehicles through the yard

Not only are lawn depressions unsightly, they also cause your yard to be uneven and have divots, which can be a tripping hazard. Lawn depressions also make mowing more difficult and can potentially cause damage to your mower.

It’s best to fix lawn depressions during late spring. You want to wait until after your last frost date and when the yard is not too wet. This also allows ample time for new grass growth once you reseed.

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Learn more about our contributor
Kat Brancato
Written by Kat Brancato
Contributing Writer
Kat has spent over 10 years sharing her knowledge on home ownership, finance, and inexpensive ways to do things yourself. Her work can be found in publications like Better Homes & Gardens and Real Simple where she writes tips on organizing, cleaning, gardening.

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