- 1). Set a sod cutter to cut under your grass, about 1 inch into the top soil. Run the sod cutter across the yard and roll up the grass as you go. You will be left with just soil in the yard.
- 2). Roll the cut sod off the lawn until you are finished grading the lawn.
- 3). Pound wood stakes into the ground next to the exterior of your house with a rubber mallet. Then, pound another set of stakes near the street and parallel to the ones next to the house.
- 4). Wrap string between the stakes near the house and those next to the street. Use line levels to allow the string to drop 1 foot for every 50 feet.
- 5). Dump top soil into a wheelbarrow and spread it across the bare yard with a landscaping rake, making the grade or slope of the soil match the strings.
- 6). Smooth the newly shoveled top soil with 2-by-4-inch lumber, then remove the strings and stakes.
- 7). Roll your sod back over the newly graded lawn and water it regularly for the next two weeks. The water should absorb into the lawn and the excess should run-off.