How can I level off a very uneven backyard surface?

Question

When we moved in, the yard was overgrown with all kinds of random plants. We dug out many of them which left lots of dips in some spots and mounds in others. We are filling one place with grass clippings and leaves, but there's so much more that needs to be done.

Answer 1

With a lot of hard work - digging out and scraping off the high points, using the soil to fill in the low points.

Filling in low points with plant material will work eventually, but since they decompose, it will be a long long time before the spot is filled in with earth.  Fill in the low spots with soil.  If there aren't enough high spots to use, but a scoop of bulk topsoil, and spread it where you need it, tamping it in as you go.

Answer 2

Probably the easiest way would be to rent a tiller and till it, then rake it smooth with a landscape rake. Here is a picture of a landscape rake:

http://www.drpower.com/prdSell.aspx?p1Na...