What to do with low spot in lawn?

Roxanne Clifton
by Roxanne Clifton

How to fill in low spots in lawn. Large tree was removed and left a large 1 foot deep sunken spot.


  12 answers
  • Pat Pat on Jul 21, 2021

    Fill it with dirt and plant grass. Or fill it with dirt and plant a bush or some flowers if it is a spot you want a flower bed. We filled ours with dirt and planted grass seed.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Jul 21, 2021

    Fill it in with dirt, tap the dirt down to make it more solid, keep the top layer loose then add grass seed and water daily.

    Birds may attempt to eat the grass seed, if you notice this, you can cover the area with straw until the grass grows.

    If you have a lawn with sod, you can purchase more and fill in with sod. Again water daily.

  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on Jul 21, 2021

    fill with dirt pack it down good and even some rocks in the bottom wouldn't hurt (gravel type) cover hole and pack down then you can plant on it

  • William William on Jul 21, 2021

    Sounds like most of the roots decomposed. It may continue sinking if there are any roots left. Fill the low spot with dirt. Then over seed with grass seed.


    Overseed the spots with grass seed and rake lightly to put the seed in direct contact with the soil.


    Apply more soil on top. Spreading it out until it is about 1/4-inch thick.


    Give the newly-seed area a good watering with a sprinkler and continue watering daily until the new grass is established.


    Keep an eye on it and if it sinks some more just add more soil being careful not to fully cover new grass.

  • GrandmasHouseDIY GrandmasHouseDIY on Jul 21, 2021

    Yep I agree to just fill it with dirt and replant grass. If you think it may have a tendency to wash out you could put pea gravel down first before put the dirt down - that will help it drain.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Jul 21, 2021

    Filling in with topsoil will work. Make sure to do it a couple of inches at a time and pack down. Then you can seed it

  • Chloe Crabtree Chloe Crabtree on Jul 21, 2021

    Fill the low spot in with good soil and plant grass on top of the soil.

  • We had to do this... we bought a big bag of top soil and patted it down so it was secure and firm. Plant with grass seed and cover with hay. Make sure you water.

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Jul 21, 2021

    Hello we have had the same situation and backfilled with soil and reseeded with grass seed. If all the roots were not removed sometimes sprouting might occur—after a while it will stop ….if area mowed.

  • Lindsay Aratari Lindsay Aratari on Jul 22, 2021

    Top soil then plant grass seed

  • Maura White Maura White on Jul 31, 2021

    You are going to have to get some soil to fill in the hole and add some grass seed on top of it.

  • Sounds like you're going to need some top soil to fill in.