How to lay lawn to replace paving?

homealone

I am planning to remove the paved area as seen in the photos and wish to lay some lawn. The whole area is supported by a coffee rock retaining wall approx 2.5-3m high.

Can I simply remove some underlying sand, reticulate, soil and lay grass? Do I need to incorporate extra drainage given it will be lawn?

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @homealone. It's sensational to have you join us and many thanks for your question on creating a lawn.

Converting this paved area to lawn is certainly possible, but I'd be cautious about simply removing the pavers, adding some soil and laying turf.

A few things to consider:

• Once the pavers are removed, check what's underneath. It's likely to be a compacted road base and bedding sand layer, which won't provide an ideal growing medium for turf roots.
• You'll generally want to remove at least some of the compacted base material, then bring in quality lawn underlay soil before laying turf.
• Make sure the finished lawn level remains slightly below the top of the retaining wall and any adjacent paving so rainfall doesn't wash soil over the edges.
• The existing paved surface sheds water very efficiently. A lawn will absorb more water, but it will also introduce irrigation and moisture into the area, so maintaining positive drainage away from buildings and preventing water from pooling is important.

Regarding drainage, if the retaining wall is already performing well and there are no signs of water build-up, movement or drainage issues, additional drainage may not be required solely because you're changing from paving to lawn. However, while the area is exposed, it would be worth checking whether there are existing ag drains or drainage outlets behind the retaining wall and ensuring they remain clear and functional.

One other consideration is the height of the retaining wall (2.5-3m is substantial). If you're planning to significantly alter ground levels or add large amounts of soil, it may be worth confirming the wall was designed to accommodate those loads. A structural engineer or retaining wall specialist would be able to verify the wall's design capacity and whether any additional loading would be suitable.

Overall, the basic process would be:

1. Remove pavers and bedding sand.
2. Remove or loosen some of the compacted base material.
3. Install drainage and irrigation if required.
4. Add quality lawn underlay soil and grade to maintain good drainage.
5. Lay turf and water in well.

From the photo, the area appears quite open and sunny, so most common lawn varieties should establish well, provided the soil preparation is done properly.

Here's a helpful guide: How to lay turf.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell