Some folks prefer a patio or a swimming pool to a lawn. If this is your intention, you will have to remove the turf. I know it’s not your cup of tea, but today, we’ll look at the other side of the shiny nickel: grass removal.
Most of us dislike this unpleasant task, but it is the easiest, what comes next is the tricky part. Once the lawn has been effectively removed, the worst part is deciding what to do with the ensuing grass pile.
You can’t simply leave it lying about, generating an utter mess. Here are some of the best suggestions for what to do with dug up grass.
Contents
What to do with dug up grass
1. Make compost with the grass
Grass from your lawn offers a way to contribute back to the environment; instead of tossing it away, use it to generate free fertilizers for your garden.
Composting sod is not uncommon, especially if your grass has not been chemically treated, and it is simple. All you need is some water, a piece of black plastic, and some room to start your compost.
Begin by laying the plastic sheet in a good place for creating compost; the sheet prevents weeds from sprouting. The area should also be three feet wide and three feet long to suffice. Then lay the dug-up grass with the roots facing up and the blades facing down.
Stacking the sod and thoroughly watering it after each layer allows it to compost faster while also enabling it to keep together.
If your grass is fading or dead, add some green material to the layers, such as kitchen scraps, or sprinkle nitrogen-rich fertilizer between them.
Cover the landscape debris with a black plastic sheet and fasten the edges with bricks once correctly packed. Covering the new compost will keep light out, allowing it to decompose more quickly.
Covering the compost is not required, however, if the location is shaded and the local climate is acceptable.
2. Use the grass to create a garden bed
The presence of multiple compost mounds of dug-up grass in your yard is an eyesore. Why not use the remainder of the removed grass to make a garden?
You will have a fertile vegetable garden if you combine the compost and the garden bed formed from the dug-up grass. Remember that grass provides a lot of slow-released nitrogen to your garden.
To make a garden foundation out of dug-up grass, start by creating a foot-deep hole in the area where you want your garden to be. Water the ground before laying the grass with the root side facing up and the blades facing down. This allows the blade side to decay and provides nutrients to your garden.
Cover the grass with about 5 inches of dirt to keep it in place. Compost can also be added to keep the plant bed above ground level. Water the garden bed properly, and you’ll soon be ‘torturing’ your kids with a salad bowl daily.
3. Make an extra buck
It is not novel to say that one man’s meat is another man’s poison. Whatever you want to get rid of, someone somewhere needs it.
If your lawn is in good condition, you can use it to earn extra money. Your neighbor could require sod to get their lawn started.
If you choose this option, you must be patient. Don’t dig up the grass before you locate a buyer. If you don’t locate a buyer within 24 hours, your grass will dry out and look fragile. The most fantastic approach to finding prospective customers is through online classified advertisements.
Before it is dug up and sold, the lawn should be at least two years old and two inches tall. It’s always nice to have extra money.
4. Fix a low spot
Lawn lumps and bumps can be tripping hazards.
If you don’t want your children to twist their ankles while playing on the lawn, it’s preferable if you address these uneven locations. And the easiest method to accomplish this is to use the dug-up grass.
See also: What is the fastest way to remove old grass?
Instead of buying sod to solve the problem, use the dug-up grass from your yard. It’s simple: dig up the area about a foot deep, then measure the prepared space to determine the exact fit of the grass. Please fill up the gaps with grass until it is tightly held.
Using a lawn roller, ensure that the grass has good contact with the ground. Water the freshly patched area to ensure proper establishment.
Restrict foot movement on the repaired area until the grass has established itself adequately. Mow it after it has appropriately rooted to lessen the likelihood of rutting in the region.
Use that dug-up grass to level your front yard and prevent muddy water from spilling down the street every time you water your lawn.
See also: Reasons behind bare spots in lawn
5. Plant the grass somewhere
Relocating the dug-up grass is a brilliant idea considering grass is usually robust and will reattach itself if the ground is adequately prepared.
Old sod can be used to revitalize a dreary portion of your yard. For example, if you dug up grass from your backyard to make an outdoor pool, you can use the grass to repair that ugly yellowed place in your front yard.
Remove any large clumps of soil from the dug-up grass, allowing the roots to make fresh contact with the loosened soil. Then water the soil, and you’ll have a beautiful lawn.
6. Dispose of it as green waste
If none of the other options appeals to you, you can dispose of the sod as green garbage.
Sod disposal as green trash is simple but complicated. The simple aspect is that any municipality ensures that your dug-up grass is disposed of correctly.
While the problematic part is adhering to the guidelines established by your local waste disposal authority, the dug-up grass is heavy and should be made lighter by shaking up the soil on the lawn.
See also: Ideal fertilizers for yellow grass
Dug-up grass in your backyard detracts from the overall appearance of your home.
As a result, you must plan what to do with dug up grass before considering turf removal. But, with the above ideas, you’ll never be stuck for anything with dug-up grass.
Which option do you prefer? Please let me know in the comments section below.
Reference
Oregon State University Extension: Compost in the Backyard
