Question about laying concrete pavers...

[phoenics]

I want to lay down concrete pavers (18" square or so) in my backyard area so I can have more space to put in lawn furniture. When you exit from my back patio doors, there is a large concrete slab that extends about 3-4 feet and then there is just bare ground for about 3 feet after that to the fence (I have a condo in CA).

The land does slope off down away from the home, but unless I put a deck or something there, it's kind of unusable.

Anyway, I want to lay the concrete pavers on a diagonal and space them about 4 inches apart. In the spaces between them, I want to lay down sod (you know, the grass with the attached soil). My work colleague says that I should put down a weed barrier (something about foil?) under the pavers AND the sod.

Will the grass be okay with the weed barrier underneath it?

[MrsBeckyLP]

I did decorative landscaping for a summer in college and DH and I have done a decent amount of landscaping around our house. I know enough, but take my advice FWIW ...

I've never heard of a foil weed barrier. Around here we use a black landscape fabric under decorative stones or whatever. My dad put down cement pavers in their back yard two summers ago, and he didn't put landscape fabric down first. He laid down some sort of pea gravel (it had something to do with keeping it level). I'm not sure exactly how he did it or what he used, but I can ask him if you'd like.

I've never seen cement pavers with a space between them like you describe (I think it sounds nice!), but I can't imagine the sod would live if there were a barrier between it and the regular ground. In order for the sod to take and continue to grow, its roots need to be anchored to soil in the ground. The only thing I can think of that might work would be to put down the landscape fabric (or foil barrier?), put the pavers on top, lay down some black dirt in the spaces, and actually plant grass. Of course you won't get the look you're going for right away, but I can't imagine sod taking too well the other way. (This is what I'd probably do.)

Your other option would be to just put the stuff down without any landscape fabric or barrier. Then I'd imagine you would spray for weeds like you would on any other grass. This would probably work just fine!

(I think it's cute that you said "sod, (you know, the grass with the attached soil)." I never thought to think that someone might not know what sod is! There's a sod farm a few miles away from where we live!)

[phoenics]

Thanks!

And you know - I didn't know what that grass stuff was called - hence the explanation, lol!

So, if I just lay it down without the barrier (maybe just use it under the pavers?), it would be okay? When I spray for weeds, will it hurt the grass? Forgive my questions, I know I sound so clueless.

[MrsBeckyLP]

I searched the Internet for quite a while for examples of how to do this, but I couldn't find any! I think it might be a new phenomenon. Boy, you are so hip! ;) I'd probably call a local landscaping company and tell them you're considering doing this, but you were unsure if the sod would take. Ask if they've ever done it before and maybe fish around for details for how to do it.

The more I thought about this last night, I decided that if I were you, I would probably put the pavers down without any weed barrier (foil or fabric). Anyway, once the area is ready for the pavers, I'd spray the ground with a weed killer to prevent more growth. Then I'd put the pavers down and lay the sod. They (whomever "they" is) make herbicides that will kill weeds in your grass, but not your grass. Just check at your local garden center or hardware store. I have no suggestions for you because we have a lawncare maintenance company spray for us throughout the summer. :)

Good luck with this. I'm really curious to see how it looks, so if you decide to do it, post a picture when you're done! This could make for such a pretty patio.

[suzubeane]

It sounds like a cool idea, but I wonder about maintenance. Will you be able to mow the grass in the four inch spaces?

[Janey]

My parents have grassy pavers for their driveway. There is a specific kind of grass that gets planted in the open holes that does not grow over X" high (4"? Something like that). You might see if a landscaper can help you figure out what kind of grass that is so that mowing isn't an issue.

Good luck. :)

[jajacobsen]

Additionally, you can mow over the pavers by just raising your blade to that it clears the pavers but cuts the grass. I have done this. Not in a decorative patten like you have decribed but over steps stones which fiormed paths in my grass at my old house.

I don't think you need a weed barrier. I think it would be pointledss to put it just under the pavers and the sod needs contact with your topsoil. You may get a few weeds at first right at the edges of your pavers. Just hand pull them - ensuring you get sthe roots) for the first few weeks till you sod is well established. It will choke out weeds. Handpulling is the best method for gettign rid of weeds but not damaging your sod. It's a little more work at first (think of it as calf and quad stretches, replacing yoga for the day) but more effective in the long run.