How to Level the Ground For a Driveway

Installing a driveway in a hilly yard is a challenging task. Whether the driveway will be gravel or pavement, a level surface makes it easier for vehicles to drive on and prevents water accumulation. While all driveways should be installed with a slight slope so water will run off toward the street, leveling the ground first ensures that the foundation will meet the minimum depth required for a long-lasting driveway.

Wooden pegs
Tape measure
Long string
Tarp
Flat shovel
Measuring stick
Tractor
Wood board
Carpenter’s level

Instructions

- 1
  Insert four wooden pegs in the ground at the four corners of the driveway site. Measure the width using a tape measure to check that it’s at least 10 feet for one car and 16 feet for two. Adjust the pegs if needed and connect them by tying a long string around the tops.
- 2
  Lay a tarp a few feet from the site and remove grass with a flat shovel. Dig out the topsoil and dump it on the tarp. Check the depth with a measuring stick and continue digging until the subsoil is 12 inches below ground level at every section of the driveway.
- 3
  Back a tractor to the end of the site near the house and affix a box scraper to the back. Lower the scraper so it digs 1 inch into the dirt, and set the angle for the blade at zero.
- 4
  Steer the tractor down the length of the driveway so the blades can loosen and level the top layer of dirt. Repeat this step until all mounds and low areas look level. Drive at a low speed so the blades can evenly distribute the dirt into low areas.
- 5
  Lay a wood board across the dirt and set a carpenter’s level on top to check that the bubble sits between the two center lines. Repeat this down the length of the driveway.
- 6
  Compact the loose dirt with a compactor machine or hand tamper.

How to Make a Paver Path

Laying Brick Beside a Driveway

Paving