How to Fix Yard Ruts

Cutting a wet lawn with a riding mower or driving across the lawn after a rain sometimes leaves behind unsightly ruts. The ruts occur due to the centralized weight on top of wet soil. People commonly just add soil to the rut and reseed. Unfortunately, this remedy seldom brings good results. Fixing yard ruts correctly depends on the depth of the rut. Repairing the rut involves fixing the compaction under the sod.

Pitchfork
Lawn edger
Spade shovel
Bag of topsoil (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Insert a pitchfork on the outside edge of the rut at a 45-degree angle, if the rut is less than 4 inches deep. The tines of the fork should be under the rut when fully inserted.
- 2
  Push down on the pitchfork handle to lift up the rut from underneath. Lift the rut until it is 2 inches above the yard level. Pull the pitchfork out of the ground and allow the rut to settle over time.
- 3
  Cut along the outside edge of the rut with a lawn edger or spade shovel, if the rut is deeper than 4 inches. Cut along the entire length of one side of the rut.
- 4
  Insert the pitchfork under the rut from the cut side, and flip the sod over. Loosen the soil under the rut area with a shovel.
- 5
  Add more soil to the rut area if necessary so that the rut area is 2 inches higher than the undisturbed soil. Turn the top of the sod back over and gently press on it with your foot. Water the area and continue pressing the sod into place as necessary.

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