Lawns offer many benefits. They can prevent soil erosion, improve the soil structure, and add value to your property. At times, the lawn might look hopeless.
It can be plagued by weeds, have patchy spots, or turn brown.
This can result from high temperatures, diseases, or issues with the soil PH. You may decide to overseed or start from scratch. Replacing the lawn with new grass is a good idea since you will get rid of the stubborn weeds in your yard.
Also, you will be able to improve soil compaction issues and correct the drainage system problems.
Removing the old lawn is not easy. You might find yourself spending a lot of money in the process. In this case, you need to look for the cheapest way to kill grass.
And you can achieve this by denying the grass light for an extended period. But this method requires patience as it may take up to six months to complete.
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Here Are the Cheapest Ways to Kill Grass
1. Use a black plastic
Killing grass with plastic sheeting is more effective in the summer months. This method uses high temperatures to cause serious stress to the grass. When the temperatures are above 95°, grass experiences heat stress and dies.
Black plastic is a good option because it blocks light from reaching the lawn, making the grass lose its color and die.
2. Consider newspapers
The use of newspapers is another cheap method of killing grass. This method requires a large collection of newspapers to block all the light.
And because the wind can blow the newspapers, it is good to apply mulch as a final step.
Spread a layer of mulch about 6 inches to press the newspapers against the grass. Also, spray water over the area to make the grass rot faster.
Also read: Best rake for dead grass clippings
3. Cardboard
Cardboards are thick. Thus, they will completely block sunlight from reaching the grass. Besides, the cardboard will biodegrade over time, therefore, feeding the soil underneath with organic matter, which helps to boost the nutrient content.
To make this method effective, you’ll need to overlap the edges of the cardboard to prevent grass from penetrating through the gaps. Also, place stones and sticks on the cardboard to pin it in place.
Remember to spray water on the cardboard to help in the decomposition process.
Also read: Best dandelion killer that won’t harm the lawn
4. Home remedies to kill grass
Apart from blocking sunlight from reaching the grass, you can consider home remedies to kill the grass. The good thing about using home remedies to kill grass is that they are readily available.
Also, they are easy to make and use. You can consider vinegar, salt, and bleach, to kill grass and weeds.
Also read: Can pool water kill lawn?
FAQs on Ways to Kill Grass
What herbicide kills grass only?
In vegetable or other plants garden, invading annual grasses become unwanted weeds.
While hand pulling or hoeing can be done where there are few clumps of shallow-rooted grasses, some grasses have extensive root masses.
This makes it challenging to pull or dig. In this case, treating the grass with selective herbicide is a good idea.
Ortho 0438580 Grass B Gon Garden Grass Killer, a ready-to-use herbicide, kills weedy grasses without injuring other plants.
You can use it to kill both annual and perennial grassy weeds. While a selective herbicide is expensive, it gives immediate results.
You will not have to wait for months to get the grass out of your yard. After application, the grassy weeds can start dying within 5-7 days.
But some weeds can be eliminated 2-3 weeks after applying the herbicide.
Also read: Herbicide that kills all except Bermuda lawn
Can you kill grass with vinegar?
Vinegar can be your option if you are looking for an inexpensive way to kill grass. However, it is a non-selective weed killer.
It does not differentiate between the grass you want to kill and the plants you want to grow. In this case, it is good to apply it carefully when there is no wind or rain.
When many people hear about home remedies, the first thing that comes into their minds is, can the solution kill grass permanently?
Vinegar can kill grass permanently but not for all weeds. If the grass has a strong, established root system, it can be challenging for vinegar to eliminate it permanently.
The grass may die but recovers quickly. Killing grass permanently using vinegar involves spraying the grass every time it regrows until it is destroyed.
See also: Do field mice eat grass?
Which is the best way to kill grass without affecting the soil?
Some grass, such as Bermuda, has deep roots. This makes it challenging to destroy where it thrives. Some people think that using herbicide is the best option.
But, many weed killers can affect the soil. In this case, it is good to look for an alternative that doesn’t poison the ground.
Here are 3 ways to kill grass without harming the soil
Organic option
Vinegar is an effective weed killer that does not leave residues in the soil. It is found to be an effective option for killing grass down to the root.
You can find this solution in garden stores, but it is good to be careful during the application since it can burn your skin at high concentrations.
Covering the area
Although methods such as using black plastic and cardboard take time to kill the grass, they destroy the weed to the root.
Also, they can improve the soil quality since some materials such as cardboard degrade over time.
Herbicides
Some chemical herbicides kill the grass without remaining in the soil. For instance, glyphosate enters the grass through the blades and travels to the root system, killing the entire plant without leaving harmful residues in the ground.
Does your grass creep in areas where it is not intended to be? Or do you want to replace your lawn with a low-maintenance landscaping option?
Does your lawn look unattractive, and wish to start a new one? The first thing you need to think of is the cheapest way to kill grass.
Before starting a new project, you need to eliminate the old grass. The best method of killing grass will depend on the time available and your budget.
For instance, covering the grass with black plastic is not attractive and may take several weeks or months before you remove the dead grass.
In this case, you can use vinegar. But in a situation where vinegar is expensive, you can consider covering the grass with newspapers, cardboards, or black plastic.
Besides, if you want to kill grass quickly, you can choose herbicide that will match your yard’s needs.
