Conservation Corner: Best practices for removing greedy grass

So you’ve decided to replace that pesky patch of turf that never seems to stay green enough — no matter how much you water it — but don’t know where to start. While there is no “one size fits all” approach to turf removal, there are a few effective techniques, and the one you choose will depend on the time frame, budget and replacement plan for the area you’re looking to convert.

The key to successful turf removal is ensuring that once the grass is gone, it doesn’t grow back. There are two main methods for doing this: removing the turf through mechanical means, like sod stripping, or killing it through the use of herbicides, solarization or burying.

Different methods provide different benefits, whether it is saving on time and labor or creating a rich, plantable soil for the water-wise pollinator garden you’ve planned. Understanding the tradeoffs between techniques can help you choose what works best for your project. Below are a few of the most commonly used practices:

Sod stripping

Sod stripping is a relatively quick but labor-intensive technique. Using a shovel or sod cutter, you peel back the turf in strips, which can then be reused, composted, thrown away or turned upside down and buried. Sod cutters work best on large, flat areas, so depending on the slope and size of your site, other methods may prove more effective. If using a sod cutter, ensure that only small, fragmented remnants of roots are left in the soil when you’re done, as turf can grow back if the cut was too shallow.

Herbicides

Herbicides are cheap, quick and effective, but they do nothing to improve the quality of your soil. Herbicides take some time to work and may require multiple applications to completely kill your turf. Once the turf is dead, the remaining plant matter can be easily removed, tilled in, or covered with mulch, topsoil, or compost. Herbicides are good for areas that are being converted to hardscapes or for projects under tight time or budget constraints. If killing your turf with herbicide, always follow the directions on the label.

Support Local Journalism

Donate

Sheet mulching

Sheet mulching improves the soil and is cost-effective, but it can take weeks to months to achieve results. Sheet mulching works by layering materials on top of turf to effectively smother it, starve it, and incorporate its organic matter into the soil. When done properly, sheet mulching creates a deeper and healthier topsoil for seeding or adding other plants.

Solarization

Solarization is a chemical-free, soil-neutral process that kills turf by creating a temporary environment outside of turf’s physical tolerances. It’s done by covering the turf in plastic that traps heat, parches and ultimately kills the plants underneath. Depending on the type of plastic used, solarization can take multiple weeks to be effective, but it is cheap and relatively easy to do.

The Eagle County Conservation District is here to help with your turf replacement project. Please visit our website at BeyondLawn.org for more resources to help guide you through the process. You can also email us at beyondlawn@eccdistrict.org or call 970-236-6215 for more information.

Ryan Vlaar is a horticulture specialist with the Eagle County Conservation District.