Best way to level ground for turfing???

Hi, I'm having a nightmare trying to level my ground for turfing. We removed all the grass and weeds a couple of weeks ago, raked it and walked over it (to compact it) but it's so lumpy and bumpy. Its quite compac now as we've had a lot of rain, just went out and tried to rake it but its no use :( anyone know a good way to level it? I will be putting a little bit of sharp sand down before the turf. I was hoping to turf it tomorrow but thats unlikely now :(
Thanks

 

How about putting topsoil over it rake and firm. It will give a good start for the turf having good soil and you'll have a level lawn.

 

Yep, it's a very difficult job to get it firm and level.

 

Get a piece of rigid board about 24"x24", fix a pole to the middle of it then use it like a pogo stick. Rake the high bits into the low areas then pogo over it again. Keep doing this until you are happy and it looks and feels level. Rake over gently after each pass.

Its hard work but think of how fit you'll be by the end of it.

 

I've not tried this myself but a friend once told me to drag a ladder over the area that needs to be levelled then compact and repeat.

 

I guess you need a good eye for making the lawn surface flat but after you manage to fill the valleys and reduce the mountains rake the area a couple of times in opposite directions. Ie north to south - tred - east to west - tred - etc.

The tredding needs to be done toe to heel so every part is trodden on. Finish with the shallowest of raking.

eventually you will get a good tilth.

 

You need to rotovate first to give yourself any chance at all