Need to patch up yard area where a pool was

[TechBoyJK]

There's an approx 20ft x 20ft circular area next to the deck where a pool used to be. There's a lot of rock and weeds there now, plus it has a noticeable dip in height. Some spots it seems barely an inch below the rest of the yard, but some areas it's 2-3 inches.

I'm wanting to have some dirt hauled in to fill it in, as well as plant grass seed.

1) Can I just dump some topsoil over the existing area without removing any of the rocks or weeds? I could spray the weeds with weed killer if it matters.

2) What kind of dirt should I use? I'm assuming basic fill dirt might have too much rock and sand in it. Just regular topsoil?

3) Not sure how much I should ask for

4) What kind of grass should I plant?

Here's pics of the area

 

[NetWareHead]

Are you one of those super anal types about your lawn? Im asking because it seems like the pool has been gone for a while now and your lawn is doing a good job of recolonizing the bare area.

If you leave it alone, it will all grow back and fill in by itself. You will get some weeds as well that grow. Spend money and have the lawn you want,. Or leave it be and maybe after 2 years you wont even notice the bare spot anymore, provided you an live with some weeds here and there in the spot while it gets colonized.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Are you one of those super anal types about your lawn? Im asking because it seems like the pool has been gone for a while now and your lawn is doing a good job of recolonizing the bare area.

If you leave it alone, it will all grow back and fill in by itself. You will get some weeds as well that grow. Spend money and have the lawn you want,. Or leave it be and maybe after 2 years you wont even notice the bare spot anymore, provided you an live with some weeds here and there in the spot while it gets colonized.

well, it's unlevel and when it rains water pools up in the area. So we're going to dump dirt in there to level it off. So I'll have to replant grass or leave it a muddy mess.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Go get 5lbs of grass seed and 12 bags of triple mix from the skids in front of the grocery store. A small bag of starter fertilizer too if the seed does not have that included.

Spread half the seed on the area, then spread the soil over top 1/4-1/2" thick. A hard rake (the solid steel kind) is helpful for this. Spread the other half of the seed on top and give the whole thing a once over with a spring rake (fan rake if that's what you call it). Don't worry about all the seed disappearing or getting buried, this is what you want.

Water daily for two weeks, every other day for two weeks and every third day for two weeks and you should have something that is pretty close to the rest of the lawn for less than $50 spent. If you are a hot/dry sort of area, change the watering to twice per day /once per day / every second day / every third day each for two weeks to get things established.

It would help to pull or spray the weeds first. Also clean up any actual stones at surface level to save your mower later.

 

[3chordcharlie]

well, it's unlevel and when it rains water pools up in the area. So we're going to dump dirt in there to level it off. So I'll have to replant grass or leave it a muddy mess.

How un-level is it? at a little under 400sqft you would get 1" soil depth from a yard of soil, less if it has much compost or other compressible material.

Maybe check with a stringline in a couple of places to get an average depth then order about a yard per 1-1.25" grade change you need. Make sure you get a good average for this to avoid massive over-ordering.