Client: Canberra Cemeteries
Location: Gungahlin Cemetery
Application: Grassed overflow carpark
System: Grass reinforcement mesh fixed over prepared turf

Overflow carpark grass reinforcement gives occasional parking areas a firmer, more durable surface while keeping the look and drainage characteristics of grass. The right system depends on the soil, drainage, vehicle load and how often the area will be used.

At Gungahlin Cemetery, the brief was to create an economical alternative to a concrete overflow carpark without losing the site's green appearance. The work involved preparing the ground, laying and pinning the reinforcement mesh, top-dressing it and establishing couch grass through the openings.

The brief

The overflow area needed to carry cars when the main parking area reached capacity. For the rest of the time, it needed to look like lawn rather than another expanse of hard paving.

A workable grass carpark needs more than mesh laid over an uneven paddock. The ground beneath it must be stable, reasonably free-draining and able to support the expected traffic.

• Keep a natural grass finish in a sensitive landscape.
• Reduce wheel rutting and localised wear during overflow use.
• Spread vehicle loads across the grass surface.
• Allow mowing and normal turf care once the grass is established.
• Provide a cost-effective alternative to paving an area used only when needed.

Why vehicle traffic damages unreinforced grass

Tyres concentrate load into narrow tracks. Repeated passes bruise the grass, compact the root zone and form ruts, particularly around entrances, turning points and spaces that are used first.

Wet ground makes the problem worse because the soil has less strength and tyres can shear the turf. The manufacturer's reinforcement guide describes mesh that distributes surface loads while grass grows through its openings; the carpark still needs wet-weather controls.

Choosing an overflow carpark reinforcement system

Because the Gungahlin area carried passenger cars during peak periods, its requirements differed from a daily-use driveway or fire access route. Heavier vehicles or more frequent use may call for a different mesh or a cellular paving system.

The reinforcement guide also matches products to vehicle type and frequency of use. For a broader explanation of cellular systems, see how grass pavers create reinforced parking surfaces.

Assess the site before ordering

Assess the site before selecting the mesh. Light-duty mesh cannot compensate for an inadequate base, and a soft or badly rutted area may need reconstruction before reinforcement is laid.

• Traffic: record the heaviest expected vehicle, likely movements per event and annual frequency.
• Ground: check for soft spots, existing ruts, fill, compaction and areas that remain wet after rain.
• Drainage: confirm where water enters and leaves the area, and whether runoff concentrates at the carpark entrance.
• Levels: identify abrupt changes, hollows and steep sections that may prevent the mesh from sitting flat.
• Turf: note grass species, density, irrigation and whether there is enough growing time before the first event.
• Operations: plan vehicle entry, turning and exit routes so the same small area does not take every wheel pass.

The solution at Gungahlin Cemetery

The existing area was cleared and levelled so the mesh could sit close to the ground without bridging over hollows. The project summary identifies grass reinforcement mesh, but not the grade used; it was secured with steel fastening pins for reinforcement mesh.

The mesh was top-dressed with soil and seeded with couch grass. The area was watered and maintained while the grass established through the openings.

The same basic method is set out in this step-by-step grass reinforcement mesh installation guide. Pin quantity and layout should follow the selected product instructions and the site's contours rather than a generic allowance.

A practical installation sequence

Installation details vary by product and site, but the sequence below shows the decisions that matter on a surface-laid mesh project.

1. Confirm the system. Match the mesh grade to the expected vehicles, frequency of use and condition of the ground.
2. Repair the surface. Fill ruts, remove sharp debris and correct local drainage problems before the roll is opened.
3. Prepare the turf. Mow as required and make sure the surface is even enough for close contact with the mesh.
4. Lay the rolls. Follow the product guidance for orientation, joints, overlaps and anchoring at edges.
5. Pin the mesh. Secure edges, joins and undulations so tyres and mowing equipment cannot lift loose sections.
6. Top-dress and establish. Apply the specified dressing, seed or turf treatment, then water and maintain the grass.
7. Inspect before opening. Wait until the surface is stable, pins are secure and grass has begun to knit through the mesh.

Do not bury surface-laid mesh under an arbitrary depth of soil or open the area to vehicles simply because the mesh has been pinned. Follow the instructions for the chosen product, as establishment requirements differ between mesh and cellular pavers.

Opening and managing the overflow area

The Gungahlin project record noted that most of the mesh became covered as the grass established. Slower areas needed continued watering and care so the turf could close over the remaining visible mesh.

Grass coverage is not enough to show that the area is ready for traffic. The soil should be firm, the mesh fully secured and the turf should not lift underfoot.

• Inspect entrances, turning points and low spots before and after each period of use.
• Close or limit the carpark when saturated ground would allow tyres to rut the soil beneath the mesh.
• Rotate parking or guide vehicles to spread wear where the layout permits.
• Keep mowing blades above any section that has lifted and re-pin it before mowing normally.
• Top-dress, reseed and water worn patches before they become bare wheel tracks.

For another project under carpark conditions, the Port Macquarie GR14 grass reinforcement installation shows the same product category used for a council parking application.

Common mistakes to avoid

Poor product selection or ground preparation can leave loose mesh, bare wheel tracks and fresh ruts after traffic. Check the site and installation before the first vehicle arrives.

• Choosing mesh by roll price without checking the vehicle load and frequency.
• Laying over soft ground, deep ruts or unresolved ponding.
• Leaving edges or joints loose where tyres can catch them.
• Opening the area before the turf has established through the reinforcement.
• Treating the surface as all-weather parking when the soil below is saturated.
• Ignoring concentrated wear at gates, aisles and turning circles.

Overflow carpark grass reinforcement FAQs

Can you drive on grass protection mesh?

Yes, if the mesh, soil and installation are suited to the vehicle and intended frequency of use. The grass should be established and the mesh secure before the area is opened, and traffic may need to stop during very wet conditions.

What can I put on grass to park a car?

Options include surface-laid grass reinforcement mesh, turf reinforcement mesh and cellular porous pavers filled for grass growth. The best choice depends on whether the turf already exists, how often cars will use it and whether the ground needs a constructed base.

What makes a suitable reinforced grass parking area?

A good grass parking pad has stable ground, suitable drainage, reinforcement matched to the traffic and enough establishment time. It also has a managed route for vehicles so entrances and turning areas do not take all the wear.

Can an overflow grass carpark be used in wet weather?

Reinforcement can reduce surface damage, but it does not make saturated soil immune to rutting. Site managers should inspect conditions and restrict access when the subgrade is too soft to carry vehicles safely.

How long should the grass establish before parking starts?

There is no single period that suits every project. Grass species, season, irrigation, soil and the selected system all affect establishment, so opening should be based on turf condition and product guidance rather than the calendar alone.

Does grass reinforcement improve drainage?

An open mesh or porous paving system can preserve a permeable surface, but it does not replace subsoil drainage or correct a poorly graded site. Water still needs a suitable path through and away from the pavement profile.

Choose the right products for the site

All Stake Supply is a family-owned Australian supplier established in 1976, with technical support available for product and application questions. Browse the full product range for ground reinforcement projects or contact the team about an overflow carpark with the expected vehicle types, use frequency, site dimensions and ground conditions.

At Gungahlin Cemetery, the prepared and pinned surface was progressively hidden as the couch grass established. That is the useful benchmark for a green overflow area: the reinforcement supports occasional parking, then disappears back into the lawn between periods of use.