How to Grade Dirt

Locate the natural drainage end point on your property, by observing the direction of water flow, to determine the best slope for your yard.

Drive a stake into the ground one foot away from your house foundation and another stake at the natural drainage end point. Spray paint these two stakes the same color to mark the starting and ending stakes for the slope.

Hammer a stake into the ground every 4 feet between the beginning and ending stakes.

Tie the string to the stake next to the house foundation. Mark the place where the string is. Place a string level on the string and run it to the next stake. Raise or lower the string until you get a level reading. Draw a line at that point on the stake.

Run a string line from the second to the third stake, starting at the line you drew on the second stake. Adjust the string line until you get a level reading and mark the third stake at that point. Repeat this process with each successive stake until you reach the end stake.

Starting with the second stake from the foundation, mark a line 1/2-inch down from the level line you drew on it. Move to the next stake and make a line on that stake 1 inch down from the level line. Repeat this process, adding 1/2-inch with each successive stake, until you reach the end point stake. This will create the proper grade line for the property.

Measure the distance between the ground and the line on the stake closest to the house. Record the measurement.

Remove or add dirt, as appropriate, at the next successive wood stake, so the soil level at that position is the same distance from the adjusted pencil line as the recorded measurement. Repeat this process at each stake until you reach the end stake. You are creating a gentle slope of 1/2 inch every 4 feet as you go.

Rake the ground until the dirt has a smooth slope.