Improving flat lawn with some roll

Bucko7 – posted 07 September 2010 07:32

We have Zorro, maintained with a McLean, 25″, 10 knives, front roller not wheels, at 7/16″. The sod was run out on a very flat base and now resembles a golf tee or grass tennis court. Boring.

I have been thinking about building a couple of rolling berms to give it more of a fairway look, a little variety. 3, 4 inches max change in elevation, gentle slope.

I have the geometry figured out, but I have no idea how to build it up. I really do not want to take out a lot of sod, build it up, and then put it back and have been thinking about just top dressing with sand and build it from the top down. Sand is no problem, we’re on a barrier island in NC and the base for the lawn is just native sand.

Complicating the whole thing is that we have a Netafim underground irrigation system and the roots are presently well down in the drip zone. If I have to pull the sod up I’ll have to raise the system and reestablish the root zone. Something I am definitely not interested in doing.

My question is, can you completely bury Zorro and expect it to push back up? I know that I can put about 1/2″ of sand on it and it will come through. Just wondering how deep I may be able to get away with.

Thanks for suggestions and recommendations.

Bucko