Ready for a new planting bed but not sure how to get rid of the grass? You don’t need any special skills or muscle. Just a few simple steps and a little patience and your grass can be gone for good.
So you’ve applied for the SAWS WaterSaver Landscape coupon and now it’s time to remove 200 square feet of grass to accommodate your beautiful new WaterSaver plants.
Before you think you don’t have the skills or muscle to successfully kill and remove your grass, think again. In fact, with just a few easy steps and some patience, anyone can do it. And without using any harsh chemicals.
Here are four methods for killing and removing your grass: solarization, sheet covering, physical removal and organic herbicide.
Before you choose a method, consider these questions to help you select the right one for you.
What does 200 square feet of grass look like?
How much manual labor do I want to invest in the process?
How much money do I want to spend?
How quickly do I want the grass to be gone?
METHOD |
Solarization |
Sheet Covering |
Physical Removal |
Organic Herbicide |
| What is it? | Cover grass with clear plastic sheet to overheat grass | Cover grass with cardboard, paper and mulch | Remove grass manually or with sod cutter | Kill grass with vinegar and orange oil application |
| Benefits | Efficient and effective | Efficient and effective | Fastest method | Quick method |
| Moderate expense | Inexpensive | Inexpensive | Moderate expense | |
| Minimal labor | Minimal labor | Get a good workout | Moderate labor | |
| Works in hot, sunny months (best July-August) | Builds rich soil | Good for areas 100 square feet and larger | Good for small areas | |
| Challenges | Slow process (6 weeks or more) | Slower process (6 months, starting in the fall) | Very labor intensive | More expensive than other methods |
| Unsightly (neighbor factor) | Not for steep slopes | Higher chance of regrowth | Lesser known method so less info on effectiveness | |
| Won’t work in cool or shade | Works best in hotter areas | Not as effective for long rooted grass (Bermuda) | Works best in hotter areas | |
| Not for huge lawn areas | Sod cutter needed | Not for huge lawn areas | ||
| How-To Help | Step-by-step solarization | Covering it up | Grass removal workout | Killing grass naturally |
