What is a garden lawn roller used for?

A lawn roller is used to flatten or even out a lawn. It is also an important tool when putting in new sod or grass seeds, either for a complete lawn or to replace damaged or dead patches. Many professionally-maintained golf courses and athletic fields regularly aerated and smoothed by a lawn roller. A level grass turf mows more easily and uniformly, giving a nice crisp and even look to the lawn.

Are there different types of lawn rollers?

In general, rollers all look similar but have differences in size, weight and construction materials. They are typically made from steel or polyethylene, but can be made from concrete. Typically the drum of the smaller ones has an 18-inch diameter and the large ones are around 24 inches. The length varies from as short as 2 feet to around 6 feet. Filled with water (sand is another common filler and soil can be used as well), the smallest weigh about 200 pounds, but the larger ones weigh in at over 1000 pounds. Manual rollers are the smallest ones, which also include some that will convert to being pulled behind a lawn mower. A tractor is need to tow the larger sizes.

How to use a garden lawn roller?

Begin by following the instructions on how to properly fill and attach the roller. It is best to use the material recommended by the manufacturer. Water is a favorite since it is so easy to remove when you are done rolling. Always be sure to empty the barrel because it can be damaged if the contents freeze in there.

If it is a tow roller, tow the roller over the ground in long and straight rows, checking to make sure that everything is evening out. If you are just working on a few bumps or depressions in a lawn, it is best to use a hand roller with short strokes over the top. Particularly large bumps may need to be watered and then re-rolled. You can also dig around them to remove dirt to make the smoothing process work better in an established lawn. Holes can be filled in a similar way before rolling. After laying seed or sod, roll the new grass to create good connections between the soil and the seeds or roots to promote quicker growth and deeper roots.

Should I do it myself or hire a professional?

That is entirely up to you and your project. Garden lawn rollers are not hard to use, but if you do not have a tractor to pull one or it is a bigger job than you want to tackle, hiring a professional makes sense. Call around to get several estimates.

If you are interested in buying one, small hand rollers range in price from about $100-$130. The larger ones will be around $500 with the medium-sized, 3-4 foot range, from $200-$300. Renting a medium roller is about $20 for a day or $60 for a week. If you plan to use the soil roller a lot, purchasing one makes a lot of sense. Get a hand roller if you will mostly be doing touch-ups. Go for a larger one for bigger projects and if you already have the something to tow it with.

You may also be interested in a lawn aerator. or lawn aeration.

Lawn rollers are made of steel, polyethylene or concrete. The cylindrical drum is filled (usually with water or sand) for additional weight before it is rolled across the ground. They have a rod extension that attaches to either a lawn mower or tractor or to a handle for manual use.

Why Use a Lawn Roller

Lawn rollers or soil rollers are most frequently used when seeding or laying sod, but are also helpful for removing bumps and dips in an established lawn. It is common for lawns to get uneven over time due to frost-heaving (when the ground freezes then thaws, expanding and contracting) or from rodents. With smoother ground, a lawn mower can cut the grass more precisely, giving the entire lawn a crisp, even finish. Water drainage also improves as there will be less spots where water will collect and pool. When rows are rolled with a non-weighted roller in opposite directions, the grass will become striped light and dark green like what is commonly seen on athletic fields.

How to Choose Good Yard Rollers

Start by determining the size and type of lawn roller needed . Smaller ones are typically only 2 feet long with a cylinder about 18 inches wide and weigh a little over 200 pounds when weighted with water. They get bigger from there until they are around 6 feet long with a 2 foot diameter, weighing over 1000 pounds when filled. Most of the smaller ones are designed to be pushed by hand, but some will convert to a lawn mower attachment. The largest ones are so heavy they need to be pulled by a tractor.

Prices start around $100 for a small manual roller and go up to $500 or so for the larger towed rollers. Renting a medium-sized roller will cost around $20 for a day and $50-$60 for a week. Call around to find what is available because most rental centers do not have a wide range of different sizes.

How to Use a Lawn Roller

To even out the surface of an existing lawn, begin by digging about 3-4 inches around each large bump. Pull back the grass and remove the extra soil until it is just about even with the rest of the lawn. Replace the grass back on top. You can also fix depressions or holes by adding soil this way instead of removing it.

Once the lawn has been prepped, remove the cap and fill the lawn roller until it is the desired weight. The amount and substance of what is used to fill it vary, depending mostly on how heavy it needs to be. Water and sand are the common recommendations; however, soil works too. Keep in mind that water is the easiest to remove after rolling, but should never be left to freeze inside.

Use quick, short strokes over the grass where holes were filled or bumps flattened. Roll until the area is completely smooth. This will leave it even and also help reestablish the connection between the grass roots and soil. Be sure to water these areas well. Since this process does compress the soil, consider aerating after the grass is thriving again, especially if much of the lawn was rolled.

When laying new sod or seed, first roll the entire area in straight lines until the ground is smooth and even. For large areas, this is best done with a lawn roller than can be towed by a tractor or pulled by a mower. Then place the sod or seeds down, re-rolling everything again. The second time pushes the sod or seeds into the ground so they grow more quickly and more securely in the ground as well as making sure the sod is even. You can use this same process when replacing a section of lawn with new sod or re-seeding it. Water the area frequently until the grass is well-established.