How to Remove Grass to Start a Garden

So, you want to plant a garden. Excellent decision. A garden is beneficial in a variety of ways.

The garden is a beautiful place to grow vegetables, fruits, flowers, or you could use it as a play area for your pets.

It’s great for lifting your spirits and distracting you from loneliness, depression, and being stuck at home.

But first, let’s address the elephant in the room: how do you get rid of grass before you plant a garden?

The first step in starting a garden is to get rid of the grass. You can accomplish this in a variety of ways. Some methods produce immediate results, while others take time. 

The fast methods necessitate more effort, whereas the slow methods are relatively simple.

Here is how to remove grass to start a garden

5 excellent ways to remove grass and create the best garden space

1. Physical digging

Digging is the simplest way to remove all grass if you have the muscles and are willing to break a sweat. If you’re afraid of getting your hands dirty, you can hire a groundskeeper to assist you.

The method consists of several steps, but it is actually quite simple once you get the hang of it.

This method is so quick that you can finish digging and plant your garden on the same day.

You should water the area a few days or hours before the big event. This will loosen the soil and make it easier to remove the grass from it.

You’ll need a spade, garden fork, good shovel, wheelbarrow, and rake. You can replant the grass in another part of your yard.

Sharpen the spade, fork, and shovel to facilitate your work.

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2. Thorough tilling 

The “tilling method” is a method of removing grass. It’s a relatively simple method for quickly and efficiently removing grass.

Tilling, like physical digging, requires a lot of energy, and you should expect muscle strain at the end of the day.

Tilling is the process of breaking up the surface of the soil with a tiller.

Most people prefer tilling to other methods because when you turn the sod, the soil retains its original organic matter.

Once you’re finished tilling, physically shake soil bumps to remove any remaining grass.

Although you can plant a garden immediately after tilling, we do not recommend it because most weed seeds are still active and germinate during this time.

Planting after a period of time, say two weeks, gives you a competitive advantage against weeds because you can eliminate them as you plant.

The disadvantage of using tillers is that they may be useful in rocky terrain.

Read: How to make rock sculptures for the garden

3. Through smothering 

 Another effective method for getting rid of grass is smothering. You will need cardboard, newspaper, or plastic.

Because smothering is a long-term procedure, it may take some time before you notice any changes. This is determined by the material used as well as the time of year.

This is how you smother grass:

Use a plastic sheet to cover the grass. Covering the grass in early spring while the soil is still moist, will work quickly. This raises the temperature of the soil and kills any germinating seeds.

However, because plastic is non-biodegradable, you should remove it once the grass dies.

Newspapers are another option. Newspapers, unlike plastic, are biodegradable. 

Once you’ve laid them down, you can use mulch or compost to keep them in place.

Newspapers do not raise temperatures like plastic, but they are effective at retaining moisture, adding organic matter, and preventing grass from accessing light, thereby hastening their demise. 

Unlike the other methods, you cannot plant your garden immediately using this method. The best time to implement this method is during the summer. The grass will be dead by spring.

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4. Applying herbicides

Herbicides, unlike the first three methods, are extremely environmentally sensitive and must be used with caution.

As a result, you must select the correct herbicide for your grass type.

Before using herbicides to remove grass, always read the label for instructions and to ensure that it is intended for grass.

You should check the weather before using herbicides because if you apply them before it rains, they will most likely be washed away, potentially affecting other plants. This is also true on windy days.

Remember to wear protective clothing such as gloves, coveralls, boots, and an appropriate mask to avoid exposing your skin to the herbicide.

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5. Using a sod cutter 

The final yet most expensive method of removing grass is to use a sod cutter. If you can’t afford one, you can rent one from a tool rental or equipment company in your area.

Sod cutters, as opposed to other digging and tilling tools, are first and require less effort to remove grass.

Before you start using the sod cutter, make an effort to learn how it works.

Use a digging machine instead of a sod cutter in areas where a sod cutter is ineffective.

How to remove grass to start a garden FAQs

You now know the ins and outs of removing grass and starting a garden.

The five methods mentioned above will help you get started. The method you use will depend on how much money you have on hand, your level of expertise, and your physical strength.

If you need something done quickly but with a lot of effort, you could dig, till, apply herbicides, or use a sod cutter.

You could use newspaper smothering if you want something safe and long-lasting. Smothering is an excellent method because it improves the soil by adding organic matter.  

I hope you found this quick guide useful and that you now know how to remove grass and start a garden.

Planting a garden requires time, energy, and effort. Have faith in the process. You’ll come to appreciate your actions sooner or later. Best wishes.

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