You don't need to be well-versed in gardening or lawn maintenance to flatten your backyard. However, one of the most important steps is to contact your utility company to ensure you won't come across any crucial supply lines. Your newly-flattened yard will give you more space and even provide you with the opportunity to safely build a patio or deck.

1. Remove all vegetation. Dig up any plants you wish to save and transplant them into pots. Water the plants and place them in an area with filtered shade.

2. Contact your local utility companies and inform them of your intended digging. Wait for representatives to come to your yard.

3. Remove the entire layer of topsoil — comprises the top 8 inches of ground — using a mini track loader or a skid steer loader.

4. Add purchased subsoil to the bottom of the slope to build it up. Spread the soil over the ground to create a slight slope away from any nearby buildings. Distribute the soil to create a slope of 12 inches for every 50 square feet of ground.

5. Push a lawn roller back and forth over the ground.

6. Use a shovel to fill in any depressions with additional subsoil.

7. Lay an 8-foot-long 2-by-4 flat on the ground at the top of the slope. Position the board so that its length is running down the slope. Place a level on top of the board and lift the lower end of the board until the level indicates that the board is level. Measure the distance between the lifted end of the board and the ground below it using a measuring tape or ruler. If the distance is 2 inches then your grade is correct. Repeat this process down the entire length.

8. Replace a 4-inch layer of topsoil back onto the graded area.

9. Water the area thoroughly and deeply to further settle the soil. Allow the ground to dry completely and then check for any depressions or sunken areas. Fill these areas in with topsoil.

Have you been able to level out a sloped backyard? What advice do you have for the process?

Article Source: SF Gate