I recently removed some old artificial turf and discovered there's a concrete slab underneath instead of soil. The good news is that the slab is sloped away from my house and sits about 18 inches lower than my patio. I want to know if I can plant real grass here and if my plan makes sense: framing the area with treated wood, using fabric to keep the soil from mixing with the concrete, adding crushed rocks for drainage, and then layering topsoil with sand. Is this a viable solution, or should I consider other options? I'd prefer to avoid tearing out the slab if possible.
3 Answers
What if instead of trying to plant grass over the slab, you just paint it or put a nice pergola on top? You could chip out a small section for grass and use the rest for a seating area that won’t get muddy. But if you really want grass everywhere, then yeah, consider removing that slab entirely!
I’d recommend skipping the crushed rock altogether. The soil tends to filter down into it, and trust me, you'll regret it. Again, I’d lean towards demoing that concrete.
Thank you for the insight!
Honestly, I would just demo the slab. If you don't have good ground contact, it can lead to issues with moisture retention and healthy soil life. Removing the concrete is the best way to ensure your grass grows well.
Thank you for the insight!
Thanks! We have another concrete area with a pergola already. Sounds like I'd be better off demoing the slab. I'll look into getting some quotes for that!