Everything to Know About Pouring Concrete Over Grass
If only it were that easy—don't worry, it’s still pretty simple
Highlights
Pouring concrete over grass is possible, but it’s not ideal.
If you decide to pour concrete over grass, you must prepare it first.
Limestone in concrete neutralizes soil pH levels, which can damage more than just grass.
Swift action can prevent long-term damage to grass if you accidentally spill concrete.
You're installing a patio in your backyard, and you've scouted the ideal spot along the side of the house—a nice patch of relatively level grass that would be perfect as an outdoor living space. Seems like an easy enough project—you only have to mix concrete, block off a perimeter, and then pour, right?
Not so fast. Pouring concrete directly over grass isn't recommended for several reasons. While it's technically possible, there are far better ways to set a structure and protect your lawn.
In this guide, you’ll learn why pouring concrete over grass can cause issues—and better alternatives you can use.
Can You Pour Concrete Over Grass?
Technically you can, but you really shouldn't pour concrete over grass.
To maintain its tensile strength, concrete needs to be laid on a firm, even, and dry foundation. Grass and soil will naturally channel moisture into the concrete from below, which will likely result in it cracking over time.
Another reason concrete isn't ideal has to do with drainage. If you don't properly prepare grass or soil for concrete, water may pool after periods of heavy rain, damaging your concrete and potentially even causing stagnant water to sit underneath your outdoor living structures.
Concrete foundation repair costs as much as $25 per square foot. Laying a foundation directly over grass only increases the chance that you'll need to hire a concrete repair contractor to fix the damage.
What's the Best Base for Pouring Concrete?
Opting for gravel as a concrete base is ideal for the reasons outlined above. Fine rocks compact down and sit firmly to establish a base for your concrete. They also allow for adequate drainage through the soil and prevent pools of water from forming.
Will Concrete Kill Grass?
Yes, concrete will quickly kill grass—within three days.
Here's why: grass, just like any other plant, thrives at a certain pH level in soil—between 6 and 7 in most climates. Concrete makes grass far, far more alkaline.
That's because limestone, or calcium carbonate, is one of the common ingredients in concrete. It's actually sometimes used to reduce acidity in soils, such as when grass struggles to grow underneath pine trees, due to its neutralizing effects.
It's easy to forget that soil is a living organism full of minerals, organic matter, and water. Long-term exposure to concrete can damage soil's microbial activity permanently, making it very difficult to re-grow grass in that area later should you try again.
How to Pour Concrete Over Grass For a Foundation
Like many things in life, preparation is key to replacing grass with soil for a foundation, walkway, or patio.
If you're planning to build an outdoor living structure over a grassy area, you should:
Dig into the soil at least two to three inches.
Remove branches, roots, and any other debris.
Lay down at least two inches of sand or gravel.
Firmly press it down with a compacting tool.
From there, you're free to lay a foundation with concrete or hire a contractor to help with your concrete driveway or patio. Fast-drying, frost-protected, slab-on-grade, and self-leveling concrete will all work well on this type of foundation.
Disposing of Concrete on Grass
Alternatively, maybe you've found yourself in a situation where you (or a contractor) accidentally spilled fresh concrete on grass.
Here's what you need to know about this situation:
A small amount of concrete or concrete dust spilled on grass won't necessarily kill it.
Still, wet concrete should be removed immediately with a shovel.
Grass growing around the perimeter of a new concrete structure should be just fine.
If you spill a lot of concrete on grass and there's no hope of removing it all, use a shovel to dig four inches below the surface of the affected area before the concrete hardens. Your best bet is to simply start all over again. Lay down fertilizer, water, and grass seed.
Is this a little disheartening? Sure. But swift action can prevent the soil in the area from becoming seriously damaged. A large patch of "dead" soil with no microbial activity can make it hard for nearby soils and grass to grow, too.
Can You Lay Concrete Over Dirt?
You technically can, but it's not ideal for most types of concrete. Ideally, you will create a barrier of gravel or sand on top of the dirt to help keep the concrete dry and allow water to drain underneath. Laying concrete over dirt could make the foundation unstable or lead to cracks in just a few months or years, as opposed to your new concrete slab lasting for a decade or more.
Ben Kissam contributed to this piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
While most of the grass below newly poured concrete will die, some will grow through the cracks and around its edges with ease. Some grasses and weeds can even widen hairline cracks in your foundation, particularly the inevitable concrete cracks that form during the curing process. This is just one of the reasons it's best to remove grass before laying concrete.
The ideal base for concrete is even, firm, and permeable to encourage drainage. Depending on your project's weight requirements, a combination of gravel, sand, or other aggregates is best. While you can technically pour concrete over grass, dirt, or an old piece of concrete, you risk threatening the concrete's stability.
Yes, you can lay fake grass over concrete in a few situations. Concrete that is both stable and has proper drainage is an ideal base for artificial grass and is even a great DIY project. In fact, it's an excellent low-maintenance and eco-friendly alternative to tearing up your concrete patio and planting grass or ground cover plants.