[AJW]

We had lawn levelled, rotated and reseeded last year. It is still an ankle breaker with a lot of thistles. Before I weed and seed I was wondering if I got a steam roller would it level the lumps and bumps. Any ideas. Landscaper has been back, says he sees nothing wrong with it, which would not be an opinion shared by landscaper who now maintains the garden or anyone else who sees it, it is nowhere near a level lawn for the kids that was the brief. Area is over .6 acre. Thanks. Ajw

[michael brenock]

rolling leads to compaction, rolling under dry conditions breaks soil lumps. Are thistles really present, very early for them to appear. Wait for grass to appear and after first few mowings a butt will develop in lawn and grass will spread. It may need feeding.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

[inishindie]

Send in some pics AJW so we can have a nosey.....

[Greengage]

Whatever you do DO not use a steam roller unless you plan on putting down tarmacadam.

[James Kilkelly]

Lawn soil requires pores or spaces between the soil crumbs to allow the movement of air, water, and nutrients.
Using a steam roller or a bomag roller like one client of mine did will render your soil dead.
You may as well be growing grass in plasticine or marla such will be its consistency after this type of rolling.

I would spray off the thistles, top dress and level the area with a few inches of soil and reseed for real comfort.

[Sunny]

Using a roller on a lawn dosent get rid of dips, it just roles over the hard parts leaving soft soil in the dips.
I find a very effective way around this is to screed your lawn with a length of timber (like you would concrete, then get some volunteers in a line and' walk in' every inch of it with your boots. then, fill in any dips and walk them in aswell. Then give a light raking, seed and role, followed by a very light raking.
I know this might sound silly, I thought so first time someone showed it to me, but it dose work very well.