Artificial grass can be laid on virtually any surface, including dirt, compacted soil, decking or concrete, so long as the surface is properly prepared with a subbase for proper drainage. The only exception is that you shouldn’t install artificial grass above real grass. If you need to remove a grass lawn first, consider hiring a landscaper to do the job, or rent a sod cutter and/or tiller from your local home improvement store to help remove the grass from the soil before laying the artificial turf.