home Porch and entrance

Eco-parking at the dacha: lawn grid for parking and garden path. Lawn grates in the country: materials, shape and installation steps, examples in the photo Lawn grate how to lay it correctly

Durability, functionality and environmental friendliness are the three main requirements that Lately builders (both professional and home craftsmen) try to adhere to when arranging car parking lots, pedestrian paths, free space in front of shopping or entertainment centers. Therefore, instead of surfaces “rolled” into concrete or asphalt, in such places you can increasingly find cellular concrete coverings (special lawn gratings), through the holes in which green grass grows. The varieties and advantages of such products will be discussed in this article.

Functional purpose and advantages of lawn concrete gratings

Unlike conventional soil planted with grass, a lawn landscaped with concrete trellises performs several functions. This coverage provides:

Reinforcement of the soil surface with a rigid cellular concrete structure, which in turn leads to strengthening of the soil in the places where it is being developed.
Protection of the root system of plants planted in the cells of a concrete foundation from mechanical influences. When driving/parking a car or pedestrians, only the outer parts of the grass stems are subject to load. The roots themselves are reliably protected by side concrete walls. After the load disappears, the stems easily restore their vitality, and the covering continues to delight the eye with green grass.
Quickly removes moisture from the surface naturally. The water simply goes into the ground through the cells of the concrete grid.
Eco-friendly coating. After all, any green plants (grass is no exception) “transform” harmful carbon dioxide into oxygen.

The undoubted advantages of using concrete lawn gratings include:

Easy to install. All preparatory work and installation of concrete modules can be carried out without the use of special equipment. If necessary (for example, when laying or repairing underground communications), individual coating elements can be easily dismantled.
There is no need to develop technological slopes designed to remove precipitation. In the case of laying continuous concrete or asphalt pavements, this must be done.
Concrete products do not emit when heated harmful substances(unlike similar products made of plastic).
Durability of coatings due to high technical characteristics concrete.

Varieties

According to the method of arrangement, lawn concrete gratings are divided into:

Monolithic. Such gratings are made directly on site using permanent plastic formwork. They are a monolithic reinforced concrete system with vertical through voids.
From ready-made elements(modules). The blocks are made either in a factory (by vibration pressing or vibration casting) or independently.

Modular lawn gratings (depending on the expected mechanical loads) are divided into two types:

For arrangement of parking spaces. Such products have increased strength characteristics. Through holes in concrete elements are usually made in the form of a square (or diamond), circle or parallel slots.

To create pedestrian zones. The outer surface of such gratings imitates paths lined with cobblestones, between which grass grows.

Specifications

The main technical indicators characterizing concrete modular lawn gratings include:

Concrete grade: not lower than M300.
Geometric dimensions length/width/height of one block: for pedestrian areas – 500×500×80 mm, for parking lots – 600×400×80÷100 mm (265×265×60 mm for products with a central hole in the form of a circle).
Compressive strength class of concrete used in the manufacture: B22.5÷B30.
Frost resistance grade (number of complete freezing/thawing cycles): F200÷F
Weight of one module (depending on overall dimensions): from 25 to 37 kg.
Wear resistance of the outer surface: ≤ 0.7÷0.9 g/cm².
Cost per 1 m²: depending on the manufacturer - from 480 to 900 rubles.

Technology for laying modular lawn gratings

The algorithm for laying a concrete lawn grid from individual modules is in many ways similar to the installation of paving slabs:

Based on preliminary markings made using pegs and construction cord, we excavate the soil. The surface is carefully leveled and compacted.
We lay a sand and gravel cushion in the prepared recess.

On a note! The depth of the “pit” and the thickness of the bedding directly depend on the future load on the surface being developed. For car parking – 25÷35 cm, for a pedestrian path – 10÷20 cm.

We wet the pillow with water, tamp it down and level the surface.
We lay geotextiles on top of it. In the future, this will prevent the growth of weeds and the leaching of fertile soil from the cells of the lawn grid under the influence of precipitation and melting snow.
We pour a layer of sand 3÷5 cm thick on top of the geofabric. It is necessary to level the individual elements during installation.
We lay concrete modules. Using a rubber mallet, we achieve the same height of the individual elements. We check the correct installation using a level.

We fill the free space of the cells of the equipped lattice to ½ height with fertile soil (or a special plant mixture) and moisten it abundantly with water.
We sow grass. We completely fill the cells with earth and wet the surface with water again.

After about a month, the surface equipped with lawn concrete gratings will begin to delight you with green shoots between the concrete “veins”.

Methodology for arranging a monolithic lawn lattice

All preparatory work for arranging a monolithic concrete lawn grid is similar to the above-described technology for laying individual modules. The difference is that enclosing curbs are installed along the entire perimeter of the sand and gravel cushion of the site (or path) being developed. Next, ready-made plastic forms are mounted on the entire surface, which are matrices with voids, which have sealed plugs on the outside. A mesh of reinforcing bars is laid between them.

After this, all cavities are filled with concrete mortar flush with the external protruding elements.

Next, use a hammer to knock out the plugs. The result is a monolithic concrete lattice with free cells, which are subsequently filled with fertile soil and grass is sown into it. Naturally, the dismantling (even partial) of such a foundation for carrying out work related to the repair of underground communications laid under it will require significant labor costs. And it will be quite problematic to restore the monolithic slab after this.

You can learn more about this technology for arranging a concrete lawn lattice by watching the video below:

Self-production of concrete lawn lattice elements

For those who like to make concrete elements for arranging their own plots with their own hands, making lawn lattice modules will not present any particular difficulties. To do this, you need to purchase several ready-made forms made of ABS plastic. The price of one such product, designed to produce an element with dimensions of 600×400×60 mm, is currently about 800 rubles. Although the plastic itself is a fairly durable material, it is better to secure wooden reinforcing formwork on the outside of the form. It can be made from boards, plywood or chipboard. Molds with a factory-made outer box already cost about 1,200 rubles apiece.

Prepare sand-gravel-cement mortar (manually or using a concrete mixer).
We install the forms on the vibrating table.
Fill them to ½ depth with the prepared solution. Turn on the vibration table.
After preliminary shrinkage of the concrete, we lay pre-cut pieces of reinforcing bars and completely fill the blanks with mortar.
After 10-15 minutes, turn off the vibrating table, remove the forms and place them on the racks.
Leave the workpieces for 1÷1.5 days (for pre-drying). After that, we remove the concrete elements and cover them with plastic film until they reach their final strength.

For details of vibration casting of concrete lawn gratings, see the video below:

In custody

Regardless of which concrete elements (factory or self-made) you use to build a parking lot on your site, playground or garden paths, you can be sure of their durability. The main thing is to follow the technology and rules for laying modules. And the grass growing from the cells of the lawn lattice will give the garden plot a very attractive natural look. Further care behind a lawn arranged using a concrete lawn grid is minimal: if the fertile soil is partially washed away, the resulting free space should be filled to the outer level, the surface should be loosened and, if necessary, new grass should be sown.

A well-groomed, beautiful lawn with bright green grass is one of the most popular solutions for arranging a landscape area. So that his attractiveness is stable and care does not take much time, the best way will be laying a lawn lattice. Why it is needed and how to properly decorate your lawn using such a device, find out in this article.

The use of a lawn grid in the formation of a landscape brings many advantages, not only within the framework of private construction, but also when arranging large-scale public areas.

Here are some basic properties of this design:

ensures ideal evenness of the lawn;
maintains the permanent attractiveness of the lawn;
guarantees overall soil strengthening;
protects the root system of planted plants;
maintains stable moisture circulation in the soil;
prevents the formation of floods;
prevents erosion and destruction of roadsides.

Advantages of a lawn lattice

The use of such a design does not introduce any difficulties when implementing the idea of designing a landscape area, but it has significant advantages:

Where is lawn grating used?

There are quite a lot of directions for its application, it all depends on the imagination of the owner of the land plot.

For example, most often they install a lawn grate with their own hands in the following cases:

arrangement of the local area;
construction of a playground;
formation of pedestrian paths in the garden and park area;
creation of a golf course.

Important! Separately, we note that a lawn grid is also used for parking, allowing you to maintain the integrity of the formed coating for a long time. Watch the video, which clearly shows an example of arranging a parking lot in the form of a green zone.

Installation of a lawn grate

The design of lawn gratings consists of durable modular parts, the connection of which occurs using special latches. This principle of the device makes it possible to achieve excellent monolithicity of the coating, stable both vertically and horizontally under any mechanical influence.

Important! A remarkable fact is that you can easily independently calculate the exact number of modules needed to arrange a lawn on your site. At the same time, it is possible to design territories of any geometry; the main thing is to choose the correct sequence of laying individual elements and adjust their parameters if necessary.

Types of lawn gratings

Before laying a lawn grate, choose the appropriate type, taking into account the characteristics of your site and the subsequent frequency and intensity of use. Current manufacturers building materials They offer two types of products:

Advantages of plastic grilles

Taking into account the features of this material, which is widely used in many areas of construction due to its universal capabilities, we note the following advantages, which relate only directly to devices for finishing lawns:

Important! Flaw plastic products is a shorter service life under constant mechanical stress and undesirable use on difficult soils or under excessive pressure loads.

Advantages of concrete products

Despite the emergence of more modern plastic products, traditional concrete structures also do not lose their popularity due to the following application possibilities:

Can be used on heavy soils.
The optimal solution if it is not possible to arrange proper drainage groundwater in areas with dense soil.
Low cost.
Maybe self-production with some construction skills and knowledge.
Suitable for use in conditions of constant high pressure loads, for example, in parking lots.
Long period of use.

Important! As a disadvantage, we note the fact that the appearance of such a lawn will not always be ideal, since the division into individual cells is clearly expressed due to gaps in the planted vegetation.

Laying technology

The process of laying a lawn grate is quite painstaking and occurs in several stages:

Sequencing:

Carefully consider the expected load on the lawn.
Important! The thickness of the base and the degree of compaction must combine sufficient water permeability, on the one hand, and soil stability, on the other.
Select soil to a depth of 10-30 cm.
Important! Determine the appropriate depth by the degree of future load - with strong regular pressure, a powerful underlying layer will be required, and accordingly the height of the trench under the lawn should be greater.
Level the surface inside the hole.
Compact it.
Make an underlying layer of gravel 5-20 cm high, depending on the specific use of the site.
Lay the road mesh.
Pour a 3-5 cm layer of sand on top.
Level the material and compact it.
Make a layer of geotextile.
Lay the grate wide surface to the ground.
Shift each subsequent row by 1 cell.
If necessary, adjust the size and shape of some modules using a carbide circular saw.

Important! If you need to cut modules along a curved, smooth line, use any convenient cutting tool that can easily cope with this task.
Connect the modules at an angle of 45 degrees.

Important! This approach will make it easier to attach them. Watch the video, which clearly shows the process of installing modules.
Fill all cells with fertile soil mixture in two approaches:
Plant grass and other selected plants.
Important! Sow the seeds 2-3 cm below the top of the trellis.
Water the area.
In the following days, before the grass germinates, avoid any stress on the lawn.

Conclusion

To maintain the constant attractiveness of a lawn decorated with a lattice, follow these simple rules of care:

regular watering;
seasonal soil fertilization;
timely mowing of grass.

Lawn concrete grating is a system of cellular modules connected to each other by locks. It protects the root system of plants from mechanical stress. After driving across the lawn vehicle or a pedestrian passed by, the grass is restored immediately or after watering.

The concrete grating performs the following functions:

maintains the attractive appearance of the lawn;
ensures evenness of the lawn;
protects the root system of plants;
strengthens the soil;
prevents the formation of floods.

The structure is installed shallowly in the ground. A drainage layer is laid under it to protect the soil from waterlogging.

Advantages and scope of application

Lawn grates are an indispensable element for landscaping. They are used for the construction of playgrounds, driveways, terrace coverings, pedestrian and bicycle paths, parking spaces, etc.

Quite often designs are purchased for summer cottages. Islands of greenery surrounded in concrete cells are eye-catching and do not require special care.

Concrete lawn grating, which can be easily installed by hand, is used for decorative purposes to create landscape design on a personal plot or dacha.

Using this design it will not be possible to build an even lawn, but it can be used to arrange garden paths. Paths equipped with concrete gratings allow you to move around the site in any weather and connect different areas of the plot.

Concrete gratings are endowed with undeniable advantages:

ease of installation - the module can be installed independently, without the use of special equipment;
frost resistance - can withstand negative temperatures up to - 40 ºС;
ease of maintenance - after laying the structure, the lawn is not deformed; plants can be trimmed with any tools;
increased strength - the gratings can be used under constant loads;
long service life;
transportability - structures made by vibration pressing are light in weight, standard sizes- 400×600 mm;
low cost - concrete structures are cheaper than plastic counterparts.

Kinds

Concrete structures can be classified according to a number of characteristics.

Form

Depending on the purpose, the shape of the grid modules can be:

diamond-shaped or honeycomb-shaped - such gratings can withstand loads of up to 20 tons per 1 m², therefore they are used for arranging pedestrian or bicycle paths, car parking lots and playgrounds;
square - designed for landscaping areas with heavy traffic, they can withstand loads of up to 400 tons per m².

Color

The color range of gratings is quite varied. When adding coloring material, the price of the lawn module increases. The most popular color is gray due to its minimal price. Concrete gratings are also available in red, brown, red-brown, yellow, blue or green.

Mode of production

To create lawn concrete gratings, 2 methods are used: casting and vibrocompression. When casting, a liquid concrete mixture is poured into molds and hardens in them. To increase strength, this structure is equipped with reinforcing elements.

Vibrocompression allows you to obtain a module with ideal geometry and increased strength.

The semi-dry concrete mixture is poured into a special mold, where, under the influence of vibropressing equipment, it is mixed and evenly distributed over the surface of the mold. The result is structures without chips, cracks or voids.

This method allows not only to speed up the module production process, but also to reduce the manufacturer’s labor costs.

Laying technology

The sequence of installing a concrete structure is quite trivial; even an inexperienced summer resident can lay the module with his own hands.

Marking

First, you should mark the area where you plan to lay the grating. It is not recommended to install concrete modules on slopes exceeding 5%. The type of construction depends on the purposes for which the lawn will be used: arrangement of a camping site, parking for cars, etc.

Work with soil

height of the gravel bed, which is 5-25 cm (the specific value is determined by the planned loads on the lawn, for example, for a parking space it is recommended to lay this parameter to the maximum value);
the height of the leveling layer is approximately 2-3 cm;
the height of the concrete structure is about 5 cm.

As a result of calculations, it turns out that about 27-28 cm of soil should be removed to install the grate.

Important! A grid with a height of 4-5 cm is used for arranging areas with light loads. If a more serious mechanical impact is expected, then reinforced structures equipped with additional stiffeners should be used.

Pouring concrete and installing grating

At the end of the excavation work, the soil is compacted and the boundaries of the pit are strengthened by laying stones or pouring a concrete mixture. Then a sand and gravel cushion is laid. First, a layer of gravel is poured, and geotextiles are laid on top of it. This material protects the area from the growth of weeds. The next layer is sand (2-3cm). It ensures a tight fit of the gravel and increases the mechanical stability of the structure.

The concrete grating is installed with the wide surface down. All rows are shifted one cell towards each other (chessboard order). In order for the modules to easily take their position, they must be fastened together at an angle of 45º. In places where the entire module does not fit, pieces of the required size should be cut using a carbide circular saw.

The cells of the concrete structure should be filled with fertile soil mixture. You can use peat, compost, and a mixture of soil and gravel in equal proportions. After abundant watering, the soil will settle a little, then it can be planted with grass and rolled out along the entire perimeter of the lawn.

The service life of the grate depends on the mode of its use, as well as the brand and quality of the concrete mixture. Such structures retain their performance characteristics for a long time - 30-50 years.

Concrete gratings are indispensable for protecting lawn grass. They prevent excessive water saturation of vegetation, as they effectively remove rain moisture from the site.

In order to be able to park a car on the lawn or make a walking path, you need to use special lawn gratings. Lawn grass exposed to mechanical stress quickly gets trampled and loses its original appearance.

The lawn grate consists of modules made of plastic or concrete. This design serves to strengthen the soil and protect plant roots. The main purpose is to protect lawns in places of intensive use (parking lots, playgrounds, recreation areas, etc.).

Types of lawn gratings

A lawn lattice or mesh is made from concrete or durable plastic. Plastic grilles are most often used, as they are easier to install and look neater. Of course, like any other material, plastic and concrete have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Concrete lawn grate

A veteran of the market, it was with her that the history of strengthening lawns began. You can still find concrete tiles with cells from which grass grows in parks or parking lots.
The main advantages of concrete gratings:

Affordable price;
High strength and durability;
Modules can be of different shapes;
No extensive preparatory work is required before installation;
Increased drainage of rainwater.

Video: Ecological parking // FORUMHOUSE

The main disadvantage is that using a concrete lattice it is not possible to create a continuous carpet of grass.

It will look like an area with green grass and concrete islands. Therefore, this design is mainly used for installation in parking lots or in areas with high traffic.

Plastic lawn grate

Plastic lawn mesh more modern design and, unlike concrete, it is used more often. Made from high-strength plastic that can withstand loads of up to 120 tons per m².

The service life of a plastic structure is 25 years. The gratings are available with small or large round or diamond-shaped cells.

Advantages plastic mesh for lawn:

Aesthetic appearance - produced in black and green colors, which makes it almost invisible in the grass;
Not difficult installation. Individual modules are assembled into a single whole using special locks;
It is not very heavy, so you don’t need to hire heavy equipment to transport it;
Resistant to gasoline, engine oil and acid;
It is not afraid of frost and does not soften in the sun;
Non-toxic.

Technology for laying lawn gratings

To install a lawn grate, you do not need to have special knowledge; anyone can handle this work. The installation work can be divided into several stages.

Before starting work, you should decide on the purpose of the territory and mark it. Perhaps you need to strengthen the entire lawn or build only a sports field, parking, recreation area, etc.

Tip: Choose a lawn grate depending on the area where it will be used.

Further work is almost the same for both plastic and concrete gratings.

Soil preparation

We remove the top layer of soil. The depth depends on the purpose of the site. Let's calculate using the example of a car parking space:

A cushion made of sand and gravel: its height depends on the expected load and ranges from 5 to 20 cm. In our case, the height of the cushion should be 20 cm, so not only a passenger car, but also a microbus can enter the parking lot;
Leveling layer, the height of which can be up to 3 cm;
The lawn grid itself is 5 cm high.

It turns out that to install the grate we will have to remove the ground to a depth of 28 cm.

Tamping

After preparing the pit, it is necessary to compact the soil and strengthen the walls. This is done using brick or rubble stone. You can strengthen the walls with.

Cushion installation, geotextile laying, leveling

To construct the cushion, gravel or crushed stone and sand are used. Sand is needed to fill the voids between the crushed stone, which prevents it from sagging under load.

We lay geotextiles on the sand-gravel bed; it will protect against weeds and serve as a drainage system. After which, a leveling layer of sand is poured onto the geotextile.

Installing a lawn grate

The lawn grid is laid on the leveling layer. Plastic modules are fastened together with locks, thus creating a single sheet.

If the grate does not fit along the edges of the area, cut it with a hacksaw to the desired size. After this, we pour fertile soil into the cells, you can take peat or compost.

For that. In order for the soil to settle, it needs to be watered. After all these manipulations, we sow the area with lawn grass seeds or roll it out.

Video review of lawn grating

Any owner of a suburban area wants his site to look modern and well-groomed. The external picture of the landscape will depend on how well the lawns around the house are decorated. Recently, the use of lawn gratings has become quite common. Do-it-yourself lawn grates for parking can be easily installed.

They are practical, and before purchasing such gratings, you need to decide which type of design will be most preferable.

Purpose of lawn gratings

The main purpose of lawn trellises is to protect green spaces from external influence. For this reason, such installations are most often installed in parking areas, as well as near pedestrian paths. At the same time, the grass is preserved, since the load is distributed on the walls of the cells. Ultimately root system remains intact, and excess moisture leaves through the drainage system, which is located under the lawn.

If you have begun to wonder whether your site needs lawn gratings for parking (which are quite easy to install with your own hands), then you should pay attention to their positive qualities. The lawn grid does not interfere with the use of the lawn mower and facilitates the work

Types of lawn gratings

Lawn gratings are modules that are most often based on plastic or concrete. The first type is considered the most modern, and recently it has gained the greatest popularity due to its attractive appearance and ease of installation. appeared quite a long time ago.

Among their positive qualities are low cost, durability and long life span. In terms of profile, such designs are advantageous, since the shape of the modules can be varied, each owner suburban area will be able to find something similar for yourself.

Plastic gratings

If you have already decided to install lawn gratings for parking with your own hands, you can choose plastic structures which are considered the most modern. This installation is based on high-strength material that can withstand loads of up to 1.2 tons per 1 square meter. The service life of such a grill is also long and can reach 25 years. The shape of plastic gratings can be different.

If you decide to use them on your property for parking, you can install them yourself using special locks that ensure secure fastening of the modules into one frame. In this case, you do not need to use special equipment. If there are geometrically irregular areas on the territory, then a plastic lawn grating can be laid according to the territorial features of your site. Such structures are very resistant to the chemical effects of petroleum products and acids. Such elements do not melt under the influence of ultraviolet radiation; in addition, they are not afraid of frost and are preserved in harsh conditions. external conditions their characteristics and qualities.

Laying lawn grating

A lawn grate for parking with your own hands can be laid using the technology below. Initially, preparatory work should be carried out, which involves marking the area on which the grille will be installed. At this stage, you need to determine the purpose of the future lawn. This can be a regular lawn or one that is intended to be used as sports ground, as well as for games or car parking. Based on your goals, you need to choose a type of lattice. After the area has been marked, the soil needs to be removed from it.

Do-it-yourself lawn grating for parking is installed to a depth determined by the height of the gravel cushion - it should be equal to 5-20 cm (the final value will depend on the expected loads). If you need to arrange a parking space on the grid, then you need to use this parameter to the maximum. This is due to the fact that situations may arise in which it will be necessary to park not only a passenger car, but also special equipment, as well as a minibus. The thickness of the leveling layer must be at least 3 cm. It must be taken into account that the height of the lawn grid is 5 cm. In general, it will be necessary to remove soil whose thickness is 28 cm.

Laying a lawn grid for parking with your own hands at the next stage involves compacting the soil, as well as strengthening the boundaries of the site. The last manipulations can be carried out using bricks and stones, or technology can also be applied concrete pouring. At the next stage, you can proceed to the installation of the lawn grate. The backfill must first be prepared, which consists of sand and gravel, which will need to be mixed. Sand is needed so that the crushed stone lies tightly enough and does not move under the influence of mechanical loads.

Geotextiles should be laid on top of this preparation, which will protect the lawn from weeds and grass. At the next stage, you need to fill the sand with a thin layer, the thickness of which is 3 cm. Geotextiles are necessary not only to protect against weeds - it is used as a separating layer.

Features of grating installation

Do-it-yourself installation of a lawn grate is carried out according to a certain scheme. In this example, we will consider the option in which a plastic grill is used. The master needs to pay attention to the fact that each module has connecting elements; they will be used when assembling the structure into a monolithic fabric. Before purchasing, you must take into account that the dimensions of one plastic grill module are 40 x 60 cm.

The final stage

When an eco-parking for a summer residence is being set up, a lawn grid (which is easy to install with your own hands) must be laid, and soil must be poured into its cells, which must reach the very top. It is preferable to use light soil - peat or compost are excellent for this. After backfilling, the site should be flooded with water, which will allow the soil to settle. Now you can fall asleep lawn grass and roll out the surface. Do-it-yourself lawn grating installation is complete at this stage.

Now you know how to install a lawn lattice on your property.