Hey everyone! My wife and I just bought our first home, which used to be a two-family rental before it was renovated. We recently discovered that a large part of our backyard has an old driveway sitting about 3-4 inches below the surface. We noticed from Google Maps that there used to be a driveway back there, but we thought they removed it during the renovations. Is this something that happens often? Should we consider digging it out, and how thick are typical asphalt driveways? I've been renting for a long time, so I'm not sure if this is a big deal or just an inconvenience.
5 Answers
Finding an old driveway isn't typical, but it can happen. While 3-4 inches of soil could support some plants, it's not ideal. If it were concrete, I'd suggest a slow removal process, but since it's asphalt, you might want to think about digging it out sooner rather than later. However, if you just want grass, you should be fine leaving it as is!
If you're thinking about growing food crops, it's definitely better to remove the driveway. It’d be like trying to plant over an oil spill! Three to four inches of soil might be okay for grass, but for anything more demanding, you might need to pile on another foot of soil. Or better yet, consider raised beds—going at least 2 feet deep could work wonders.
I'd say leave it as it is and just go for a raised bed garden. It's a nice way to utilize the space without the hassle of removing it all.
Totally agree! Raised beds can make it work without extra digging.
It's not common to find driveways hidden like that. It seems like they opted for a cheaper fix by covering it instead of removing it. Typically, asphalt is about 4 inches thick and easier to take out compared to concrete. If you plan to plant something, calling a demolition company to remove it could be a worthwhile option, especially if it's just dirt on top or if there's grass already.
It's a bit annoying having the driveway under there, but if you're just after grass, you'll be fine. I had a similar situation with a sidewalk covered in dirt; it was a pain to remove part of it, but I managed! If it's not bothering you much, you might want to just leave it be.
Yeah, if you're just going for grass, the driveway shouldn't cause any major issues!