How to Change the Grading of Soil

Drive a stake into the ground at the base of your foundation, or at the high point of your soil away from which you want the soil to grade. Measure 8 feet out from this first stake in the direction in which you want the grade to run and drive another stake on the same line as the first.

Tie off a string to the top of the first stake. Run the string to the second stake, and use a line level to ensure that the string runs completely level between the two stakes. When the string is level, tie off to the second stake.

Measure along the length of the string and attach a piece of tape, dangling down toward the soil, every 12 inches along. Once the string is marked at every foot along the way, measure the distance between the string and soil and record all measurements on a piece of paper. Record all measurements in inches.

Study the measurements you made.The Rock Valley Natural Stone company says the ideal grade of your soil away from your home or fixture is 3/4 inch per horizontal foot. So if the distance between the first tape mark and the soil is 6 inches, the distance between the second tape mark and the soil should be 5 1/4 inches. Starting with the stake, calculate what each measurement should be and compare that to the measurements you took.

Add or remove soil as necessary to achieve your desired measurements. Use a garden rake, shovel or hoe to flatten areas that are too high or to dig out excess soil. Add soil to low areas to achieve the desired measurements. As you work, measure continually until you achieve the proper measurements.

Work in sections of your soil, measuring, adding and removing soil as necessary until the entire area is at a uniform grade. Once all soil is in its proper place, gently tamp down all of the soil with a hand tamper. Use only one or two strikes with the tamper at each area; if you over-tamp, you could make the soil too dense to grow anything.

Run a grading rake down the slope from the top to the bottom, and remove any rocks or debris. This will also flatten the soil, which makes it easier for any planting you will do.