Is there a way to prevent a depression in our lawn?

Question

We have a depression in our lawn with about a 3 to 4 feet diameter. We filled it in with dirt and put sod on top two years ago. It has gone back down, and we want to fix it this spring to prevent it from happening again. Is there anything different I can do this time?

Answer 1

Fill the hole with concrete rather than dirt, then cover the concrete with a thin layer of dirt, just enough to grow grass. No difference!

Answer 2

It sounds like this might have been a hole that was filled in when an old tree stump was removed. Do you see any evidence of this such as old roots when you dig in the area? In any event, the area isn't very large. Best advice is to add additional top soil and mound it a couple of inches higher than the surrounding soil. You can either tamp it down or let it settle naturally. If there are roots decomposing underground, or a deep hole was filled in at some time, settlement will continue to take place. I know it is not a quick fix, but eventually, it will become compact and stabilize. Just keep adding soil and eventually your problem will go away.

One other thing you might want to check if the house is old, is whether there is an old brick cistern or septic tank under the hole. Probing with a metal rod or digging in the middle of the depression with a post hole digger should answer this question. If one of these items is present, it could be partially collapsed thereby causing the area to slowly sink. Filling and compacting the void should solve the problem.

Good luck with your lawn problem.

Answer 3

I have a LARGE spot like this.

Years ago when our house was built, the clearing company buried a lot of compost-able materials. As time went on and the branches and leaves broke down into compost and it sunk about 2 feet below the level of the rest of the yard.

So you may need to investigate what is happening under that spot. Otherwise you will just keep doing what you have done.

Answer 4

dig out a circle of soil 1 foot wide by 1 ft deep. If you have a sprinkler system or other water line in this part of your yard, check to be sure it is not leaking. If it is, repair the leak otherwise, Place a flat stone, concrete paver, piece of ceramic tile, etc... into the bottom of the hole and cover with soil.