Is There an Easy Way to Lay Large Pavers Over Grass Without Digging It Out
Let's be honest – Every homeowner's dream is having a beautiful and smooth lawn in their yards…
But the truth is, this takes a lot of work. A natural lawn requires a lot of regular care to keep it looking lively and appealing.
Artificial grass is a great alternative, with many of the same benefits but much fewer maintenance requirements. The tricky part is laying them in between pavers…
Today, we're going to show you exactly how to do this. After installing artificial lawns in hundreds of households around the world, our team is now giving you the knowledge to do the same.
Installing an artificial lawn in place of a natural one can completely change the way you think of lawn care. While installation might be a bit tricky, your lawn will last for many years with minimal maintenance.
It's also a great choice because it is environmentally friendly, safe for the whole family, easy to care for, and non-slip. Because of its great aesthetics and functional capabilities, there's also a lot of versatility in how and where you can lay it.
Laying artificial grass between pavers is easy once you learn the specific techniques involved. Simply follow the steps laid out in this article, and you'll have a perfect lawn with pavers in no time!
- Can You Install Artificial Grass Between Pavers?
- How To Install Artificial Grass Between Pavers: The Complete Guide
- Strip Method Versus Cutting Around
- Step 1: Prepare The Ground For Drainage
- Step 2: Install Sub-Base
- Step 3: Roll Out And Lay The Artificial Grass
- Step 4: Nail The Grass Down
- Step 5: Cut Around The Pavers
- Step 6: Secure The Artificial Grass
- Step 7: Trim And Make The Joins
- Step 8: Install Infill And Brush
- Conclusion
Can You Install Artificial Grass Between Pavers?
Yes! It's possible to install artificial grass between pavers, but you have to take into account how to make space for the pavers to protrude through your artificial grass.
After the installation, however, life becomes a lot easier. Unlike natural grass, you don't have to worry about the delicate work of weeding, mowing, and maintaining the grass between the pavers. It can be very challenging having to do this in a very narrow space.
Any artificial lawn installation begins with ground work. For standard ground installation, the top layer of soil has to be excavated before a sub-base is laid on top. On concrete surfaces, you may have to drill drainage holes prior to laying the grass down.
Getting the installation done correctly is crucial so that there is no loss of strength, structure or drainage ability over time. It's well worth it to do this properly – A good installation can be enjoyed for around 20 years.
How To Install Artificial Grass Between Pavers: The Complete Guide
As we've mentioned above, the process of laying artificial grass between pavers is a bit trickier than normal. When combining artificial grass and pavers, there is more measurement and precision required, but the final results are worth the effort.
There are two methods to lay artificial grass between existing pavers. You can use the strip method or opt to cut around the pavers. Each of these has its pros and cons.
Strip Method Versus Cutting Around
Artificial grass comes in large rolls. The beauty of this is that it can be cut and shaped to match the existing landscape.
You can cut it into strips or make curved edges, as long as you use a sharp knife and do so carefully. It's this versatility of artificial lawn that makes it so easy to fit into existing yard designs.
When it comes to laying it in between pavers, you have two options:
The strip method involves cutting and gluing down strips in between the pavers. With this method, there is less wastage. You only use and cut exactly what you need.
The downside of the strip method is that it is a lot less secure, and usually ends up looking patchy since there are many joins to be made. Joining different pieces of artificial grass takes a lot of work, and you run the risk of having visible seams.
Unless the gaps in between the pavers are really small, we recommend using the cutting around method instead of the strip method.
For this, you start by laying a large piece of artificial grass across the pavers, and make careful cuts around the pavers to allow them to protrude through the grass layer.
It's the same method our team uses in our installations. Simply follow the steps below to do the same yourself:
Step 1: Prepare The Ground For Drainage
Before getting started, the first thing you need to do is check how well water drains between pavers. Good drainage is crucial in any type of artificial grass installation to prevent puddles and floods down the road.
Check what type of ground is in between the pavers. If it is just ground or soil, you can lay a sub-base as with a normal application. You will have to compact this manually with a hand tamp that fits in between the pavers.
On the other hand, if the ground between the pavers is concrete, cement, or rock, you must first check the grading on this surface. This refers to a slight slope built into the ground during construction to allow for water to run-off easily, and preventing it from accumulating on one spot.
If there is insufficient grading, you must either grade the concrete first or drill drainage holes through the concrete layer.
In any case, the best way to double check drainage ability is to spray water over the ground. Check to see if there are any pools or puddles that form – These are the areas in which you should focus on with drainage holes.
Finally, loosely pack any drainage holes made with pea shingle before proceeding.
Step 2: Install Sub-Base
Whether you find concrete or soil between your pavers, a sub-base layer is still recommended for optimal drainage and performance.
Laying and compacting sub-base in between pavers is tricky: Generally, a plate compactor will not fit between the pavers, while a hand tamp will not give you a sufficient degree of compaction.
Instead, we recommend manually compacting it with a brick: Fit the brick between the pavers, and compact the sub-base underneath by striking it with a heavy hammer.
Step 3: Roll Out And Lay The Artificial Grass
After the ground is prepared, roll out the artificial grass on top of the pavers. Rest it there on a sunny day for at least 4 hours before installing – This will allow the fibers to stand up again, and the grass backing to mold and form around the pavers.
You can also walk in between the pavers to help the grass backing conform around the shape of the pavers. This will make the installation a lot easier later.
Ideally, you want to have the fibers naturally point towards the house for the best viewing angle. Each section should also have the fibers lined up and facing the same direction.
We recommend leaving a good amount of excess grass in between your panels – This will give you room for error when making joins between these pieces.
Step 4: Nail The Grass Down
Once the grass is laid out and rested, it is time to fix it to the ground. You can do this by nailing the grass down centered in between the pavers, around 1 inch apart.
Doing this stops the grass from shifting around when you're actually making your cuts.
These nails are temporary, and you will have to remove them later, so avoid hammering them down all the way.
For harder surfaces like concrete and stone, you may simply skip this step. Instead, hold the grass down with your own weight and be careful not to shift the lawn around.
Step 5: Cut Around The Pavers
Now comes the most important step as far as the final appearance is concerned. Cutting between the pavers properly gives a beautiful clean-cut look to your yard. Do it badly, however, and you will end up with uneven and unpleasant gaps around your pavers.
Start with a small cut at the edge of the paver. The key to cutting around the pavers is to have the tip of the blade pressed on the hard edge of the paver, riding along the perimeter as you cut the grass.
Be sure to cut in small increments. Keep the excess grass rolled and pulled backward with your empty hand, and cut with an "up and back" motion to avoid damaging the grass fibers.
A standard utility blade or box cutter is fine for this job. However, you should switch out the blades frequently to keep the knife sharp and fresh.
The ideal end result is a small gap of about 1/8 inch between the paver and the grass. The grass blades will cover up this gap naturally.
You want to avoid making the gap too small because this causes the grass to compact and bunch up along the paver edge.
On the other hand, if the gap between the artificial grass and pavers is too wide, it is going to be visible, making the lawn look patchy and unprofessional.
Step 6: Secure The Artificial Grass
After the cutting is done, it's time to permanently secure the artificial grass to the ground. The best way to do this is with nails, as it will ensure good drainage through the grass backing.
Place 5 inch galvanized nails in the corners of each paver, and 3 ½ inch nails centered in between the pavers spaced 4 inches apart. Once this is done, you can remove the temporary spikes from Step 3.
For hard surfaces like concrete and stone, you will have to secure the grass using glue. Be sure to clean the surface first, and use an adhesive made specifically for artificial grass.
In such cases, we recommend using the glue sparingly to avoid blocking drainage into the ground.
Step 7: Trim And Make The Joins
Finally, it is time to go back and make any necessary joins between the panels of artificial grass.
Joins are a crucial part of your lawn, and must be made carefully so that you have a strong seam. They must also remain invisible when the installation is done.
Start by trimming the grass and preparing the joins first. A minimum of three rows of grass blades should be removed from either side to ensure an invisible join.
You want these to be close enough for a seamless join but not too close to bunch up the grass fibers.
The best way to secure the joins is to use joining tape and glue. Once that is done, you should allow the glue to dry before moving on to the next stage.
We recommend checking out our complete artificial grass joining guide for detailed instructions on this step.
Step 8: Install Infill And Brush
After all the cutting, securing, trimming, and joining is done, all that's left is to install the infill and make some final touches.
The infill is made up of various materials in form of a fine sediment, such as sand, rubber, or cork.
Infill serves a number of purposes, including keeping the grass blades upright, cooling the lawn, and ensuring good drainage. When it comes to artificial grass maintenance and longevity, infill is a must.
It is important to add the infill slowly by hand since the strips of grass are narrower than in a typical installation. Once that step is done, you can give the grass a good brushing to fluff up the grass fibers and finish the job.
Conclusion
Artificial grass is a great addition to any yard. It makes lawn care a breeze and brings a whole range of unique benefits. A good installation is durable and easy to care for.
If you already have a detailed landscape, including pavers on your yard or driveway, it's no reason to avoid artificial grass! Simply follow the steps above, and you'll be able to lay artificial grass in between the paving stones.
After all the hard work is done, you have a revamped yard with a beautiful new layout that requires minimal attention, and will last for many years to come.
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Source: https://www.almostgrass.com/artificial-grass-between-pavers/