We get asked every week, can you put an inflatable hot tub on grass? The answer is a hesitant yes; however, for several good reasons, it is generally not advised to do so unless it’s a temporary solution.
We’ve not become the leading hot tub guide without learning a thing or two about what makes an excellent foundation. In today’s post, we’ll look at the pros and cons of putting an inflatable hot tub on grass and share some tips on getting yours set up.
You might be surprised at how versatile these portable spas can be compared to hard-sided hot tubs? However, an inflatable hot tub is still heavy, so choosing a base to support the weight is essential.
Like most hot tub owners, you want to ensure your new hot tub is set up on the best surface possible.
So, whether you’re looking for a relaxing spot to soak in the sun or want to have a little fun under the stars.
Read on for all you need to know about using grass as a base for your inflatable tub.
Can You Put Hot Tub On Grass?
Whilst putting a permanent hot tub on grass is not recommended, you may get away with an inflatable hot tub for short periods, for example, if you’ve hired hot tubs for weekends, or have a special occasion. You can also use the grass to think of some fantastic hot tub birthday party ideas, whether that’s decorations on the lawn as an example.
However, a grass surface isn’t the best option for many reasons. Below we’ll examine why you should think twice before placing a hot tub on your lawn.
6 Reasons Grass Isn’t a Good Base.
1. The hot tubs weight will cause sinkage in the lawn
Over time, the weight of the hot tub will cause it to sink into the ground, which can permanently damage the grass around your house and result in prolonged stress on the hot tub frame, which will shorten its lifespan.
2. The grass under the tub will die, creating yellow patches
The grass without protection underneath will be permanently damaged if you keep the hot tub there for more than a few weeks, plus any of the treated water which splashes onto the turf will cause burns and yellowing.
3. Moisture in the grass could lead to mould
Additionally, placing your hot tub directly onto the lawn opens it up to moisture, which can cause white water mold in a hot tub, algae to form, and insect damage, which can be costly to repair.
4. Surrounding areas will become slippery and muddy
Furthermore, any area around the hot tub that becomes muddy or damp will be unpleasant when stepping in and out of the tub and could potentially become a slip hazard
5. When using, you will trail mud and turf into the spa
More debris in the tub; as mentioned above, when you place a hot tub on your backyard grass, your feet will pick up dirt, blades of grass and other organic matter, which will then be transferred to the spa water.
This will cost you more in chemicals and inflatable hot tub energy usage as your tub fights to eliminate the contaminants.
6. Soil can be unstable
Another thing to consider is the type of soil. There are hundreds; some areas of the UK have silt or clay soil which becomes extremely unstable when subjected to moisture.
Will A Hot Tub Ruin Your Lawn?
Although you could put a hot tub on grass for a few days after this, you’ll need to say goodbye to that patch of lawn. Hot tubs are not great for grass, as we find out below.
Obviously, the area on which your hot tub is sitting will have no sunlight, so the blades of grass will flatten, become dis-coloured and die pretty quickly plus, the weight of hot tubs, even inflatable ones, will likely cause the area to sink in places.
Treated hot tub water will definitely damage your lawn and any plant life nearby if the Chlorine or Bromine levels are above 2ppm (parts per million).
The odd splash won’t make a difference, but water pooling in an area or draining the hot tub onto the lawn will burn the grass.
That being said, a chlorine-treated hot tub can be drained safely onto a lawn if you leave the cover off and allow the Bromine or Chlorine levels to drop below 1ppm. In fact, this minute amount can actually be beneficial to plant life and you may see an improvement in the lushness of your grass.
Finally, there’s the fact that wet grass that sees heavy traffic quickly becomes a mud bath, so the area surrounding the hot tub will probably be affected too, unless you place the hot tub on a concrete slab.
How To Recover Grass Spoilt By A Garden Spa
If you temporarily place your hot tub on grass, it will destroy the lush green turf, so what can you do to bring it back to its previous glory once you have installed a ground base?
- Start by raking the dead grass, removing debris, and levelling the bare ground.
- Grab a box of lawn seed and spread it liberally over the ground which has been affected by the hot tub
- Add a lawn fertiliser or mulch such as leaves and healthy grass clippings to provide additional nutrients.
- Water well grass seed needs a lot of moisture to germinate and begin to establish a healthy root system. Apply more seed to areas that have not grown back over the coming weeks. It will be as if the hot tub was never there in no time at all.
Can You Put an Inflatable Hot Tub on Artificial Grass?
Artificial lawns boast the pleasing aesthetics of natural grass without the mess and are becoming a garden must-have for many due to their ease of maintenance. They are less likely to be damaged by either the tub’s weight or chemical splashes but are they the best place to put a hot tub?
However perfect it may seem, there are some things to consider when placing your blow-up hot tub on an artificial grass surface.
What base it has
As long as your artificial turf is on a concrete slab or flat surface, not on bare ground or sharp sand, which can shift and move, it can make a fantastic surface.
The Disadvantages Of Artificial Turf
Some faux grass uses crumb rubber infill added for durability, bounce and a softer feel; these tiny granules will stick to your feet, be transferred to your spa water and, over time, could clog up your filters.
The alternative is a sand infill and whilst not quite as bad as the above. It will still put extra pressure on your filtration system.
Which type of artificial grass?
There are three types of artificial grass; it can be made from either Nylon Polyethylene or Polypropylene. Each has its benefits and issues when used as a hot tub base.
- PP (Polypropylene) looks the most natural but isn’t very tough and will fade if subjected to direct sunlight (and who wants their hot tub in the shade?) Plus, the blades will become damaged with heavy traffic meaning it won’t look as good for long
- Nylon is the most durable artificial lawn material, although it doesn’t look as natural as the other two. Whilst it won’t fade, it will get extremely hot and not very comfortable for bare feet on a hot summer’s day.
- Polyethylene is the most common material used for artificial turf and looks great; however, it has one significant drawback. It isn’t porous and is excellent for ease of cleaning and not retaining pet odours, but it’s not great when your spa needs draining.
What Surface Can You Put A Hot Tub On?
Whilst grass may not be the best option when considering a base, there are some other inflatable hot tub base options that are relatively cheap and easy to install if you haven’t already got them in situ.
An existing deck
Lots of people have decking, so putting your portable spa on decking is an easy option; however, you would need to check that it could handle the weight of a filled tub and reinforce the deck structure if necessary.
Patio pavers
These pavers make a great hot tub base surface as long as they have a good foundation to prevent them from shifting under the weight and are mostly level.
Gravel base
Extremely strong, gravel is supportive hot tub base with good drainage, this is one of our top choices to put your hot tub on.
Concrete base
A concrete slab can easily support the weight of a full hot tub and is a solid base option.
Interlocking foam tiles
Whilst, not a base as such, they can be used to protect hot tub bases from sharp objects, add a bit of comfortable padding, especially if your portable hot tub is positioned on concrete and add extra insulation.
Pre-made hot tub pad
Perfect for those who can’t create a permanent base, hot tub pads are temperature resistant, aren’t susceptible to wear and tear and can be relocated if needed.
If You Really Want To Put A Hot Tub On Grass
So, what if you haven’t got anywhere to put a hot tub on apart from your back lawn? We suggest excavating the ground where the spa will be situated and installing either a concrete pad, a pre-made base filled with crushed stone or patio slabs, all of which provide an excellent base.
First, you will need to dig up the lawn and topsoil to a depth of about 6 inches. You can lay a weed membrane on the ground and fill it with several inches of sand. It then needs compacting before adding the gravel, pouring the concrete or laying the patio slabs.
It’s a good idea to make the spa pad a bit bigger than the Jacuzzi so you have space to walk around it and you could even lay out a path to the hot tub area to protect your lawn further.
Remember, along with a strong foundation; you may also need to buy a hose adapter so you can drain the unit away from the lawn when needed.
Key Takeaways
- You shouldn’t put a hot tub on grass – Overall, if you are thinking of adding a hot tub to your yard, it is essential to consider how this will impact your lawn. If you put your hot tub on grass, chances are the lawn will suffer sinkage.
- A portable hot tub can only be placed on grass temporarily as long as it is on a flat, level surface with no sharp stones which may puncture the shell.
- Inflatable hot tubs require a base with a solid foundation such as a concrete pad or reinforced deck; Putting your hot tub on unstable ground could cause irreparable damage.
- Artificial turf is a more suitable base, although this also has a few drawbacks. However, if it has been installed on a solid surface like a patio or concrete and you use a ground cloth underneath, it will be fine.
- Hot tubs need level, solid ground that can handle their weight when full of water. This can be substantial when you think some models can accommodate up to eight people and over 300 gallons of water.
Last Word
So can you put a hot tub on grass? – not really; unless you’ve just hired one for the weekend, it will damage the lawn, be much harder to keep your tub clean and the surrounding area will become muddy and potentially dangerous
The surface must be flat and level; otherwise, it will cause stress to specific areas resulting in damage to the tub and most warranties only last for six months, so it would be unlikely that it’s covered. Drainage is also important as the tub needs to be emptied periodically.
The weight of a fully filled tub is also something you also need to consider – a lawn may be able to take the weight, but chances are it won’t be wholly level and won’t support the hot tub evenly, like a deck or concrete base, which could cause stress fractures.
