Growing grass on concrete slab?

[LCBMAX]

I know it's not ideal, but our 2nd choice would be staining the slab and making the best of it, so we don't want/ can't afford to blast it all up.

Has anyone done this ill-advised thing? I've read suggestions like:
drill drain holes every foot
layer with cardboard before the sod goes in
give up

We can build up about 5" from the slab surface.

Thanks!

[Katie T]

I think it would work to just put dirt at thick as you can (so 5") and plant seed or sod. I say that I think it will work because we just discovered that we have another foot of sidewalk running from out step to the city walk that was covered with dirt and grass! Lived here for 4 yrs and never thought to look, but the dirt in the yard is taller than the sidewalk and I am assuming with rain got washed onto the side walk over the yrs and covered in grass.

Hope you have as much luck. We tore ours out to use the extra space of the sidewalk.

[LCBMAX]

Ah - I should have said that our slab is enclosed, on one side by the house, on two others by masonry stuccoed walls, and by a rock wall. So while I'm encouraged by the tenacity of your grass seed, Katie, it sounds like we have a really different drainage situation.

Thanks for sharing your experience.