You might be wondering if you can just lay down artificial grass on top of natural grass. Simply put, the answer is, yes. However, just like any other shortcut, there are pros and cons.
“You might be wondering if you can just lay down artificial grass on top of natural grass. Simply put, the answer is, yes. However, just like any other shortcut, there are pros and cons.”
Pros
Saving time: Removing the existing grass can be time intensive, especially if you do it yourself. Laying down turf on your current lawn can be a shortcut if you don’t have the time or resources for a DIY removal.
Save money (short term): Preparing the ground prior to laying down artificial grass can be expensive after adding up the costs of drain rock, weed barrier fabric, and infill sand.
Cons
Improper drainage: One of the main issues with foregoing the removal of your existing lawn is the lack of drainage underneath. Normally, water from sprinklers and rain will quickly drain, dry, or evaporate, but in skipping the removal step, this moisture often has nowhere to go and can accumulate into puddles that deteriorate the turf over time.
Weed problems: If you install artificial grass over natural grass without a good weed barrier, there’s a high likelihood that you’ll start seeing weeds pop up through the artificial grass over time.
Uneven surfaces: Most of your existing grass will die once you lay down turf on top and with that, the dead lawn will compact causing uneven surfaces which can’t be resolved by itself. Not only does this look visually unappealing, but it can also lead to tripping hazards.
Decreased longevity: Artificial grass is a long-term investment and will not perform as well as turf that has been installed properly.
Now that you’ve weighed the pros and cons, it’s likely that you’ll choose to remove your existing lawn and prepare the ground for artificial grass. See our next DIY article that will outline the necessary installation tools, materials and steps for how to install synthetic grass properly both on a soil base and on a concrete one