Yes, artificial grass can be removed and replaced with real grass, but it usually involves more than simply lifting the synthetic turf and rolling natural turf over the old base. A properly installed artificial lawn may have several layers underneath it, including aggregate, a screed layer, membrane and perimeter edging. Some or all of that build-up may need removing before suitable soil can be reinstated for a natural lawn.
How involved the job becomes depends heavily on how the artificial grass was originally installed. A relatively simple installation may be straightforward to reverse. A deep, heavily compacted sub-base can require considerably more excavation, waste removal and new soil.
🌱 Quick Answer: Can artificial grass be replaced with real grass?
- Yes – an artificial lawn can be converted back to natural grass.
- The synthetic turf normally needs lifting and disposing of first.
- The artificial grass sub-base usually cannot simply become the growing layer for a new lawn.
- Aggregate, membrane and other materials may need excavating to create enough depth for suitable soil.
- New topsoil can then be prepared before laying turf or sowing grass seed.
- The cost depends largely on lawn size, existing build-up, access, waste removal and how much soil needs reinstating.
Thinking About Removing an Existing Artificial Lawn?
Whether your artificial grass needs removing, restoring or replacing, we can assess the existing lawn and give you a straight answer on its condition and the work involved.
🔑 Quick Takeaways
- Replacing artificial grass with real turf is completely possible.
- The old artificial grass base is usually the biggest part of the job.
- Natural grass needs a suitable growing layer rather than a typical artificial grass sub-base.
- Good access can make excavation and waste removal much easier.
- Before removing a tired artificial lawn, it is worth checking whether restoration or repair is still realistic.
🧭 Jump to:
| 🌱 Can you replace it? | ⛏️ What needs removing? |
| 🪨 Can the old base stay? | 📋 Replacement process |
| 💷 What affects the cost? | ♻️ Restore or remove? |
| ⚠️ Common mistakes | ❓ FAQs |
💡 Quick Answer: To replace artificial grass with real grass, the synthetic turf is lifted before the existing base is assessed. Enough artificial-grass groundwork then needs removing to reinstate a suitable soil layer. Once the ground has been prepared and levelled, natural turf can be laid or grass seed sown.
Can You Replace Artificial Grass With Real Grass?
Yes.
There is nothing permanent about choosing an artificial lawn. It can be lifted and the garden returned to natural grass later.
The important part is understanding what was installed underneath it.
A professionally prepared artificial lawn may have been excavated and rebuilt specifically to create a firm, stable and free-draining surface. Our own artificial grass installations put considerable emphasis on this groundwork because it is what helps the synthetic lawn remain stable over time.
Natural grass has different requirements.
Instead of creating a hard, compacted foundation for synthetic turf, you need to reinstate enough suitable soil for natural grass to establish and grow.
What Needs Removing Before Real Grass Can Be Laid?
That depends on the original installation.
Once the artificial grass has been lifted, you may find several different materials underneath.
These can include:
- Artificial turf
- Joining tape and adhesive
- Geotextile membrane
- A sand, grano or limestone finishing layer
- Compacted MOT Type 1 or another aggregate sub-base
- Timber or concrete perimeter edging
Not every installation is built in exactly the same way, so the lawn needs assessing once the surface has been exposed.
Our guide to what goes under artificial grass shows why there can be considerably more beneath an artificial lawn than people expect.
Can You Lay Real Turf Over an Artificial Grass Sub-Base?
Usually, not directly.
This is one of the most important differences between removing an artificial lawn and simply replacing one artificial grass product with another.
A typical artificial grass base is designed to be:
- Firm
- Stable
- Compacted
- Free-draining
Natural turf needs suitable soil in which its roots can establish.
Simply spreading a thin layer of topsoil over a compacted artificial-grass base is unlikely to give a new lawn the same growing conditions as properly reinstated ground.
In practice, enough of the existing build-up normally needs excavating to create appropriate depth for soil before the new lawn is laid.
🛠️ Expert Insight: This is the bit people often underestimate. Removing the artificial grass itself can be relatively straightforward. Reversing the groundwork underneath it and creating suitable growing conditions for a natural lawn is usually the bigger job.
How Do You Replace Artificial Grass With Real Grass?
The exact process depends on what is underneath the existing lawn, but the basic journey normally looks something like this.
1. Lift the Artificial Grass
The existing synthetic turf needs releasing from its perimeter, joins and fixings before it can be rolled or cut into manageable sections.
If the grass is being discarded, our guide on artificial grass removal and disposal costs explains the waste side in more detail.
2. Inspect the Existing Base
Do not immediately start digging everything out.
First establish:
- What materials were used
- How deep the build-up is
- Whether there are drainage features underneath
- What edging has been installed
- What the original soil is like beneath the base
This tells you how much material actually needs removing.
3. Remove Enough Sub-Base
Aggregate and other artificial-grass base materials then need removing to create the depth required for the new lawn.
This can be one of the most labour-intensive stages because compacted aggregate is deliberately installed not to move.
Access matters too. Removing several tonnes of material through a narrow side passage is very different from working on a garden with direct vehicle access.
4. Reinstate Suitable Soil
Once enough depth has been created, suitable soil can be brought back into the garden.
The ground then needs preparing so it is:
- Suitable for establishing grass
- Levelled to the intended finished height
- Free from large stones and debris
- Firm enough to avoid excessive settlement
5. Lay Turf or Sow Grass Seed
You then have two main options:
- Natural turf for a more immediate finished lawn
- Grass seed if you are happy to wait for the lawn to establish
Whichever route you choose, the new lawn will then need the normal establishment and ongoing maintenance associated with natural grass.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace Artificial Grass With Real Grass?
There is no sensible flat price because the cost depends heavily on what needs removing underneath the existing lawn.
Two 40m² gardens could require very different amounts of work.
| Cost Factor | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Lawn size | Larger areas mean more turf, groundwork, soil and waste. |
| Sub-base depth | A deeper aggregate build-up means more excavation and disposal. |
| Garden access | Restricted access can increase the labour needed to remove and bring in materials. |
| Waste disposal | Artificial turf, aggregate and other removed materials need handling appropriately. |
| New soil | The amount required depends on how much artificial-grass base is removed. |
| Turf or seed | The chosen method of establishing the new lawn affects material and labour costs. |
This is why quotes based purely on the square metreage can be misleading. The lawn above ground may look simple while the build-up underneath tells a very different story.
Is It Cheaper to Replace Artificial Grass With Real Grass or New Artificial Grass?
It depends on the condition of the existing base.
If the artificial grass is worn but the sub-base underneath is still performing properly, replacing it with another artificial lawn may allow some of that existing groundwork to be retained or repaired.
Returning to natural grass is different because suitable soil needs to be reinstated.
On the other hand, if the existing artificial lawn and base have both failed, either option may involve substantial removal and groundwork.
That is why it is worth assessing what you already have before deciding.
Should You Remove the Artificial Grass or Restore It?
If you are considering going back to natural grass purely because the existing artificial lawn looks old, flat or dirty, check whether it actually needs removing first.
A tired artificial lawn may still have years of usable life left.
Restoration may be worth considering if:
- The backing is still sound
- The base remains stable
- The lawn still drains properly
- The main problem is flattened pile, dirt, moss or weeds
- Joins and edges are still repairable
Our guide on whether old artificial grass can be restored explains exactly what we check.
If the lawn has localised damage rather than widespread failure, our artificial grass maintenance and repair service may also provide another option.
♻️ Before You Rip It Out
If the reason for removing your artificial grass is that it looks tired, smells, has flattened or developed a few damaged areas, get the lawn assessed first. Cleaning or repair may cost considerably less than removing the entire installation and rebuilding the garden.
Common Mistakes When Converting Back to Real Grass
The biggest mistake is treating the project like a straightforward returf.
Avoid:
- Laying turf directly over the artificial grass
- Leaving membrane directly beneath the new growing layer
- Applying only a very thin layer of soil over a heavily compacted base
- Ignoring existing drainage and levels
- Underestimating how much waste the old installation can produce
The safest approach is to treat the existing artificial lawn as a complete installation rather than just a surface covering. What sits underneath needs checking before deciding what can stay and what needs removing.
If poor drainage or failed groundwork is one of the reasons you are considering changing the lawn, our guide on artificial grass drainage and sub-base preparation explains how those layers work.
FAQs About Replacing Artificial Grass With Real Grass
If you already have an artificial lawn and are thinking about returning the garden to natural turf, these are some of the questions that usually come up first.
Can you put real grass directly over artificial grass?
No. The artificial grass should normally be removed first. Natural turf needs suitable soil for its roots to establish, rather than another layer of synthetic turf underneath it.
Do you need to remove the artificial grass sub-base?
Usually, at least some of it. The amount depends on how deep the existing installation is and how much suitable soil needs reinstating for the new natural lawn.
Can you put topsoil over an artificial grass base?
You can add topsoil after the site has been prepared, but simply spreading a thin layer over a heavily compacted artificial-grass base is unlikely to create ideal growing conditions. Enough depth needs to be created for the new lawn to establish properly.
How much does it cost to replace artificial grass with real grass?
There is no fixed price. Lawn size, sub-base depth, access, waste removal, the amount of new soil required and whether you choose turf or seed all affect the final cost.
Is it expensive to remove artificial grass?
The turf itself may be relatively straightforward to lift, but costs can rise when the underlying aggregate, membrane, edging and other groundwork also need removing. Our artificial grass removal cost guide explains this in more detail.
Can old artificial grass be recycled?
Recycling options depend on the turf, backing, contamination and facilities available in your area. It is worth checking disposal options before the lawn is lifted rather than assuming it can go into normal household waste.
Should I replace old artificial grass or restore it?
If the grass still drains properly and the base and backing remain sound, cleaning, power brushing or repair may be worth trying first. If the turf or groundwork has failed, replacement may make more sense.
Can artificial grass be replaced with new artificial grass instead?
Yes. If the existing base is still stable and draining properly, parts of the groundwork may sometimes be retained or repaired before new artificial grass is fitted.
Not Sure Whether to Remove, Restore or Replace Your Artificial Grass?
If your existing lawn is worn, damaged or simply no longer right for your garden, we can assess its condition and explain what options are realistically available before you start ripping anything out.
Get Straight Advice Before Removing an Artificial Lawn
Replacing artificial grass with real grass is completely possible, but the work underneath the surface is what usually determines how big the job becomes. The artificial turf needs lifting, the existing build-up needs assessing, and enough suitable soil must be reinstated before a natural lawn can establish properly.
At As Good As Grass, we have been installing, maintaining and assessing artificial lawns for years, so we can help you understand exactly what is underneath your existing surface and whether removal is genuinely the best next step.
If your current lawn still has life left in it, take a look at our artificial grass maintenance and repair service. If replacement with a new synthetic lawn makes more sense, our artificial grass installation service explains how we prepare and fit new lawns properly.
