How to Remove a Lawn

If your lawn is out of control and weeds or bare spots account for more than half of it, you may need to know how to remove grass so you can start over. If you’ve decided that a turfgrass lawn takes too much work, water or expense and want to try a lawn alternative, you’ll need to get rid of the grass before you begin your new landscape.

Getting rid of your lawn is a big project. When considering how to kill grass, you’ll find that there are several methods and they all require investments of time, money and effort. Some methods have more impact on the environment than others, and some may be more acceptable to your neighbors. Finding the right balance of all these factors and knowing the pros and cons of each removal method will help you choose the procedure that works best for you. You may even decide to use different methods on different parts of your lawn.

There are other considerations as well:

• Make sure there are no homeowners association rules or local ordinances that could affect your plans.
• If you have an underground irrigation system, note the locations of the pipe and sprinkler heads to avoid damage while digging or tilling.

If you prefer a natural option, you can dig up a lawn with a tiller or sod cutter. Buying a tiller will make the work easier, but you’ll need a heavy-duty, rear-tine model. You can rent a heavier grass-removal tool, such as a sod cutter, which will cut under the turf and slice it into strips. Roll up the strips for use elsewhere or just turn the sod upside down and let it compost. You can remove grass manually with a shovel, but the process is very labor intensive and best for small plots of grass.

Digging up a lawn typically doesn’t require herbicide. Keep in mind that if you remove the sod, you’re removing organic material that you’ll need to replace, but you’ll see results immediately. The lawn will be gone, and you can begin preparing the soil for seeding or planting. If you leave the sod in place to compost, you’re retaining organic matter but adding time to the process.

Even with a machine for removing grass, digging up a lawn is hard work. You risk exposing weed seeds that were deep in the soil, allowing them to germinate. There’s also a chance that you’ll remove too much valuable topsoil. If you’re using a tiller, sod cutter or any other gas-powered tool for removing sod, you’ll need to factor in fuel and possibly a rental fee into the total cost of the project.

Digging up a lawn can be more difficult when you’re dealing with a tenacious perennial grass such as Bermuda, which has deep roots and will regrow from portions of the root. For this type of grass, you’ll need to kill the plant before you remove it. Killing the grass completely may require herbicide.

Solarization is a process that uses heat from the sun to kill weed seeds and pathogens in the soil. Solarization kills the grass by heating it until it dies. You’ll need lots of direct sunlight and high temperatures for success, so summer is the best time for solarization. Mow the grass as closely as possible and water it thoroughly. Cover the grass with clear plastic sheeting and leave it covered for six to eight weeks. Clear plastic is more effective than opaque varieties, allowing more sunlight to reach the grass and heat it more quickly. Thin plastic will work, but thicker plastic with a higher mil number will last longer, resisting cuts and tears over the weeks you’ll have it down.

As an alternative, you can use black plastic to trap heat in the soil. Black plastic will also block sunlight, preventing photosynthesis.

Once the grass is dead and you take up the plastic, remove the dead grass or let it act as compost. Dead grass should be relatively easy to remove, but you’ll be getting rid of important organic matter. If you leave the grass in place, plant directly into it or till it into the soil to a depth of 1 or 2 inches. Don’t till too deeply — you can bring up soil that still has viable roots, weed seeds and pathogens.

The downside of solarization is that it can kill beneficial organisms along with those that are harmful. Also, a lawn covered with plastic won’t be attractive, and you’ll have to leave it in that condition for several weeks. This method is dependent on the weather; cool or cloudy days will slow down the process. While not as difficult as digging up living turf, covering a large lawn takes effort. You’ll need to purchase a significant amount of sheeting, remove the material and dispose of it when the process is complete.

Smothering your lawn kills it and allows it to compost in place, adding valuable organic matter back to the soil. Start by mowing the grass closely. Cover the lawn with a minimum of six layers of newspaper or cardboard. If you layer with newspaper, use paper with black ink because color ink can contain heavy metals. Overlap the layers well so light doesn’t get through to the lawn. Wet the layers and cover them with at least 4 inches of grass clippings, compost or other organic mulch. In addition to adding organic matter to the process, this material will retain moisture and hold down the layers. The newspaper, cardboard and organic material won’t increase heat in the soil like plastic sheeting would but will block out light and stop photosynthesis, killing the grass in about two months.

This lawn removal method is another process that doesn’t use herbicide. The layers will break down, adding organic matter to the soil rather than removing it. The process isn’t as dependent on the weather, like the methods using solarization or herbicide. When the process is complete, you can use the soil right away. Just dig through the layers and start planting.

Since you’re not digging up the lawn, less manual labor is involved, and you won’t disrupt the soil. However, covering the lawn with several layers of material and mulch takes time, and you need to plan for about two months of an unsightly landscape. Large lawns will require a lot of cover material and organic matter, adding to the cost of the project. Keep in mind that layering won’t work well on steep slopes.

Regardless of which lawn removal method you use, there are some things you need to do after the grass is gone. Even if you use a method that allows you to plant immediately, your landscape will benefit from preparation. If you lost your lawn to weeds or disease, address the underlying problems before they arise again:

• Perform a soil test. It gives you a picture of the condition of your soil and how you can improve it. Adding the amendments your soil needs to support future plantings plays a critical role in successful landscaping.
• Fix grading problems. This is the perfect opportunity to raise low spots, take down high spots and address any drainage issues in your yard.
• Deal with pests. Removing grass can expose pest problems you didn’t know about. Check the soil for insect larvae and deal with any you find before you reseed or plant.
• Root out new weeds. An open bed of soil with no turf to protect it is a good opportunity for weed growth, and you may notice some weeds have popped up while you were waiting for the lawn-removal process to end. Remove any new weeds before you move on.

What you do next depends on the long-term goals you have for your landscape.

If you’re going to start a new lawn, use the best type of grass for your soil and climate. See Choose the Right Grass for Your Lawn, Seed Your Lawn: How and When to Plant Grass Seed and Test and Improve Your Soil for helpful tips and instructions.

If it’s time for a change and you want something different than a lawn, you have a variety of options. Our guide to Lawn Alternatives will give you some ideas.