Someone once told me that they had some type of concrete blocks
embedded within the lawn so that when the coal truck backed up to
deliver, it didn't sink in and leave ruts. When I looked at the area
in question, I didn't see them in the grass, so I don't know what they
look like, but they must have done the job.

Is there a special name for these blocks? I haven't checked at Lowe's
or any of the local garden centers yet, so pardon my ignorance, but
are they a common item? If so, what are they called? How easy is it
to install them? Any tips on doing the job right? Have they worked
well for anyone else?

TIA

RWL

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RWL wrote:

Someone once told me that they had some type of concrete blocks
embedded within the lawn so that when the coal truck backed up to
deliver, it didn't sink in and leave ruts. When I looked at the area
in question, I didn't see them in the grass, so I don't know what they
look like, but they must have done the job.

Is there a special name for these blocks? I haven't checked at Lowe's
or any of the local garden centers yet, so pardon my ignorance, but
are they a common item? If so, what are they called? How easy is it
to install them? Any tips on doing the job right? Have they worked
well for anyone else?

Typically called "turf blocks" and they are laid in exactly the same
manner as any other paving material. They are pretty common in this area
through any large masonry or landscape materials supplier. They are
invaluable in areas with heavy storm run-off as they are far more
permeable to water penetration than large expanses of solid concrete, as
well as for the purpose you mention. There is a good sized shopping center
near here which is fashioned rather like an old town - all the shops and
buildings are old houses trucked in and recycled for retail purposes. Very
natural, garden-like plantings and turf blocks are used extensively in the
parking area - a very handsome application.

Check out this link for a view - the turf blocks are the items to the
right:
http://www.lid-stormwater.net/permea...s_maintain.htm

pam - gardengal





TIA

RWL

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RWL wrote:

Someone once told me that they had some type of concrete blocks
embedded within the lawn so that when the coal truck backed up to
deliver, it didn't sink in and leave ruts.


On Wed, 16 Apr 2003 04:47:56 GMT, Pam wrote:

Typically called "turf blocks" and they are laid in exactly the same
manner as any other paving material.

Check out this link for a view - the turf blocks are the items to the
right:
http://www.lid-stormwater.net/permea...s_maintain.htm


Thanks for your response, but I don't think this is the same thing I
was looking for. Whatever was in this person's lawn looked like lawn,
but there were small projections of concrete hidden in the lawn that
supported the truck. What's in the link above looks like regular
paving block but perhaps more porous. I was thinking about putting
concrete blocks on their sides and then filling the holes with dirt,
but if there's a better solution I'd rather use the product designed
for the purpose.

RWL




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RWL wrote:


RWL wrote:

Someone once told me that they had some type of concrete blocks
embedded within the lawn so that when the coal truck backed up to
deliver, it didn't sink in and leave ruts.

On Wed, 16 Apr 2003 04:47:56 GMT, Pam wrote:

Typically called "turf blocks" and they are laid in exactly the same
manner as any other paving material.

Check out this link for a view - the turf blocks are the items to the
right:
http://www.lid-stormwater.net/permea...s_maintain.htm


Thanks for your response, but I don't think this is the same thing I
was looking for. Whatever was in this person's lawn looked like lawn,
but there were small projections of concrete hidden in the lawn that
supported the truck. What's in the link above looks like regular
paving block but perhaps more porous. I was thinking about putting
concrete blocks on their sides and then filling the holes with dirt,
but if there's a better solution I'd rather use the product designed
for the purpose.

RWL

If you look closely at that link, the photo in the upper right IS the turf
block. It is a concrete grid block that is laid as you would any other form
of paving material. The voids in the grid are then filled with soil and
planted with grass seed or groundcovers. They are used very readily as
permaeable driveways or parking lots and will easily support the weight of
vehicles if the area has been prepared properly and the grids laid
correctly. Not sure what you mean by "projections" of concrete - seems like
it would be more of a hinderance to drive on with projections than a flat
surface............

FWIW, I have never seen anything other than these tywpes of gridded blocks
for the purpose you describe.

pam - gardengal

RWL wrote:
=

Someone once told me that they had some type of concrete blocks
embedded within the lawn so that when the coal truck backed up to
deliver, it didn't sink in and leave ruts. When I looked at the area
in question, I didn't see them in the grass, so I don't know what they
look like, but they must have done the job.
=

Is there a special name for these blocks?
"Articulated Concrete Blocks"
I haven't checked at Lowe's
or any of the local garden centers yet, so pardon my ignorance, but
are they a common item? If so, what are they called? How easy is it
to install them? Any tips on doing the job right? Have they worked
well for anyone else?
=

TIA
=

RWL
=



-- =

J. Kolenovsky, A+, Network +, MCP
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.celestialhabitats.com - commercial
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.hal-pc.org/~garden/personal.html

What you are looking for is a product known by varios names. Try googling
for "grass pave" or something similar. It is a plastic product that can
come in either huge rolls 8feet wide or in 2X2 squares that interlock. I
used the 2x2 squares to create a checker board patterns in my driveway
("red" was grass and "black" was concrete pavers). It looked really cool
and you could drive anything over it. The grass was completely solid (you
couldn't tell any product was under it.

Jay


"RWL" wrote in message
...

Someone once told me that they had some type of concrete blocks
embedded within the lawn so that when the coal truck backed up to
deliver, it didn't sink in and leave ruts. When I looked at the area
in question, I didn't see them in the grass, so I don't know what they
look like, but they must have done the job.

Is there a special name for these blocks? I haven't checked at Lowe's
or any of the local garden centers yet, so pardon my ignorance, but
are they a common item? If so, what are they called? How easy is it
to install them? Any tips on doing the job right? Have they worked
well for anyone else?

TIA

RWL

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