## Pavers with Grass in Between: Key Features, Install and Care Pavers with grass in between combine hardscape and living lawn — you get the load-bearing strength of a paver surface with the drainage, cooling, and visual softness of natural grass. Whether you''re planning a driveway, patio, or walkway, this guide covers what the design is called, how to install it, which pavers work best, and how to keep the grass between pavers healthy. ## What Do You Call Pavers with Grass in Between? The industry uses several names for pavers with grass in between: - **Turf pavers** or **grass pavers** — grid-style concrete or recycled-plastic pavers designed for grass fill - **Permeable pavers with grass** — engineered for drainage plus greenery - **Checkerboard pavers** — square pavers alternated with grass squares - **Stepping stone pavers** — large flagstone units with grass in between - **Ribbon driveways** — parallel paver tracks with grass strips - **Pavers with grass in-between designs** — the generic catch-all The core idea is the same: pavers allow load and traffic, and open joints or gaps let natural grass, moss, or ground cover fill in for a lush, low-maintenance outdoor spaces feel. ## What Types of Pavers Are Best for Grass in Between Designs? Not every paver works. The best options for pavers with grass in-between: ### Concrete Pavers Standard concrete paver units — square or rectangular — are the volume choice. Durable, affordable, and easy to install. Perfect for patios and a walkway with a moderate gap between each stone. ### Grid / Turf Pavers Open-cell honeycomb grids (concrete or recycled plastic) built specifically for grass fill. Ideal for driveway applications where you need heavy load capacity plus greenery. This is what most people mean when they ask about "big pavers with grass." ### Large-Format Flagstone Bluestone, travertine, or natural stone flagstone spaced 2–4 inches apart with grass between the pavers. Classic garden-path landscape look. ### Brick Traditional clay brick set with wider joints for grass or moss. Ages beautifully and pairs well with cottage landscape. ### Concrete Slabs Large cast concrete squares (18×18 to 24×24) with turf ribbons — a modern, minimalist paving project popular in contemporary outdoor spaces. ## How Do You Install Pavers with Grass in Between? Here''s the step-by-step guide we use on every install. This is a full DIY project only if you''re comfortable with base prep and a plate compactor; otherwise call a pro. ### 1. Prep and Clean the Area Mark the layout with stakes and string. Sweep the site with a broom, clear dust and debris, and check for utilities. A clean surface makes every downstream step easier. ### 2. Excavate the Base Dig to depth with a shovel or mini-excavator: - Patios and walkways: 4–6 inches - Driveway: 8–10 inches for high traffic Slope the sub-grade 1–2% away from the house for drainage. A clean, uneven-free sub-grade is the foundation of a stable surface. ### 3. Landscape Fabric (Optional) For driveway installs, skip fabric under the base — it can trap water. For patios, some crews use landscape fabric above the base to prevent weed growth in the gravel layer. Never lay plastic sheeting under grass pavers; you''ll block drainage and cook the roots. ### 4. Build the Base Add 4–8 inches of crushed gravel or decomposed granite. Compact in 2-inch lifts with a plate compactor until the base is firm and uneven spots disappear. This is the single most important step in the paving project. ### 5. Set the Bedding Layer Screed a 1-inch layer of coarse sand or fine gravel over the compacted base to bed the pavers flush. ### 6. Lay Pavers Lay pavers from a corner, keeping the alignment tight. Set each paver flush with the next using a rubber mallet. Use spacers to hold consistent gap width — commonly 1–3 inches for grass fill. ### 7. Cut and Edge Cut edge pavers with a diamond wet saw. Install a paver edge restraint (plastic or steel) to keep pavers from shifting later. ### 8. Fill Gaps with Soil and Plant Sweep topsoil or compost into the gaps, then plant seed, plugs, sod, or ground cover like creeping thyme. For quick coverage, sod strips cut to gap width work perfectly. ### 9. Water and Tamp Mist thoroughly to settle the soil, tamp lightly, and keep moist for 2 weeks while roots establish. :::tip [Skip polymeric sand] Polymeric sand seals gaps against water and roots — the opposite of what pavers with grass in-between need. Fill with soil or a soil-compost mix instead. More on why in our [polymeric sand and paver sealing](/resources/polymeric-sand-and-paver-sealing/) guide. ::: ## What Are the Benefits of Using Pavers with Grass in Between? Homeowners choose grass in between designs for real, measurable reasons: - **Drainage** — rainwater passes through the joints and recharges soil instead of running off; helps prevent erosion - **Cooler surfaces** — grass in the gap reduces heat radiation vs solid concrete - **Eco-friendly** — supports pollinators, filters pollutants, cuts stormwater load - **Visual appeal** — softens hardscape, adds greenery, and blends the paver field with surrounding landscape - **Property value** — thoughtful hardscape can add up to 10% resale value - **Reduced flooding** — pavers allow water to move through the paver surface Learn more about drainage-driven paver systems on our [permeable pavers](/services/paver-installation/permeable-pavers/) page. ## What Are the Downsides or Cons of Pavers with Grass in Between? Honest tradeoffs before you commit to the project: - **More trimming** — a string trimmer or mower has to touch every joint to keep it tidy - **Weed pressure** — desirable grass and weeds compete; expect some weeding - **Uneven wear** — high traffic zones may wear the grass thin - **Base cost** — deeper base than standard paver installations - **Slower dry-down** — soil in joints stays damp longer than sand-filled joints - **Ants and burrowing insects** may colonize joints None are deal-breakers, but plan for them before the paving project starts. If you can''t commit to occasional trimming and keep the grass tidy, choose a solid paver surface instead. ## How Do You Maintain Pavers with Grass in Between? Routine care keeps the surface neat and the grass healthy: - **Trim** joints monthly during growing season with an edger or trimmer - **Mow** the joint grass at the same height as surrounding lawn using a standard mower - **Water** during dry spells so joint grass doesn''t die back - **Weed** by hand or spot-treat; avoid broad herbicides that kill the joint grass too - **Top-dress** joints with soil and mulch every 1–2 years - **Reset** any settled pavers by lifting, adding base, and re-laying flush ## Can You Use Artificial Grass Between Pavers? Yes — and artificial turf between pavers is very popular in South Florida. It eliminates mowing, watering, and fertilizing. Choose a short-pile turf (¾"–1½"), cut strips to gap width, and secure with landscape adhesive or turf pins. Trade-offs: - No living cooling effect - No permeability unless you use permeable turf backing - Higher upfront cost, near-zero maintenance - Stays green year-round with no trimming Great option for pool decks, patios, and low-drainage areas. ## Do You Need a Special Base for Pavers with Grass in Between? You need a deeper, more permeable base than a standard install — but not exotic materials. Standard formula: - **4–6 inches** open-graded crushed gravel for patios/walkways - **8–10 inches** for driveways - **1 inch** coarse sand or ¼" chip bedding - **Topsoil or compost** in the joints (never mortar, never polymeric sand) The base has to drain — that''s the whole point. Skip landscape fabric under the base for driveway installs. ## How Do You Keep Pavers with Grass in Between from Shifting? Three anchors keep pavers stable and the alignment flush: 1. **Edge restraint** — plastic or steel edging spiked into the base perimeter 2. **Proper compaction** — plate compactor the base in lifts and tamp firmly 3. **Correct joint size** — 1–3 inches for grass; wider and pavers shift, tighter and grass suffocates For driveway installs, add a stabilizing turf paver grid under the grass zones to distribute vehicle load. ## What Is the Cost of Pavers with Grass in Between? South Florida ballpark: - **Patios and walkways**: $14–$26 per sq ft installed - **Driveways with grid turf pavers**: $18–$30 per sq ft installed - **Flagstone with grass in between**: $22–$40 per sq ft installed Cost depends on paver material, base depth, drainage requirements, and pattern complexity. Compare full paver pricing in [cost to install pavers in South Florida](/resources/cost-to-install-pavers-south-florida/). ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What do you call pavers with grass in between? Grass pavers, turf pavers, checkerboard pavers, or open-cell pavers. When large flagstones are spaced with grass, they''re called stepping stone pavers. Parallel driveway strips with grass between them are ribbon driveways. ### How to do pavers with grass in between? Excavate 4–10 inches, compact a permeable gravel base, add a sand bedding layer, lay pavers with 1–3 inch gaps, fill gaps with soil, plant grass seed, plugs, or sod, then water for two weeks while roots establish. Full step-by-step above. ### What is the downside to polymeric sand? Polymeric sand seals joints against water and root growth — exactly what pavers with grass in-between need to allow. Use plain sand under pavers and fill grass joints with soil or compost instead. Read more in our [polymeric sand and paver sealing](/resources/polymeric-sand-and-paver-sealing/) guide. ### What are the big pavers with grass in between? Large-format flagstones (bluestone, travertine, natural stone) or large concrete slabs (18×18 to 36×36) set with wide grass joints. Perfect for patios, walkways, and modern minimalist landscape designs. ### Do I need to water pavers with grass in between? Yes, especially during the first 2–4 weeks after install and during Florida dry-season stretches. Once established, treat the joint grass like the rest of your lawn. ### Can I use pavers with grass in between for a driveway? Yes — use a grid-style turf paver rated for vehicle loads over a deeper base (8–10 inches). Standard flagstone-with-grass designs are for patios and walkways, not high traffic driveways. ### Is this project easy to install as a DIY? The concept is simple but the base prep is not. If you have shovel, plate compactor, mallet, and broom skills, a small patio is a realistic DIY project. Driveway installs — go pro.