Can You Lay Pavers Without a Base? What Every New York Property Owner Should Know I get this question a lot, usually from someone standing in their backyard with a pallet of pavers already delivered, trying to figure out if they really need to rent a plate compactor and haul in gravel. The honest answer is yes, you can technically lay pavers directly on dirt or grass. People do it every weekend across New York. But “can” and “should” are two very different things, and after twenty-plus years of installing patios, driveways, and walkways from Long Island to the Hudson Valley, I can tell you which projects hold up and which ones end up as repair calls. Skipping the base is tempting. It saves time, cuts out the cost of gravel and delivery, and skips the most physically demanding part of the job. I understand the appeal. But before you skip it, you should know exactly what you’re trading away.