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Start by removing a sufficient quantity of earth so that the top of the slab is slightly higher that the adjacent ground. Remove all topsoil, vegetation, wood, large rocks, and any material that is loose or hard to compact. Then backfill with an appropriate material that will provide a uniform subgrade.
The soil is then levelled and compacted using a rammer or a heavy roller to obtain a homogenous density. Obviously these requirements are much more important for a driveway than for a sidewalk or a patio. Use of granular backfill materials such as sand, gravel, or broken stone will facilitate the precision of the levelling. If you are building on clay, you should drench the subgrade several days before pouring the concrete.
