How to Quickly Kill Existing Grass That's Mostly Weed

Grass that has become overrun by weeds in your yard or garden can be detrimental to the health of new plants. Weeds steal moisture, sunlight and nutrients from seedlings, keeping them from growing as quickly as they might without the competition for those vital resources. When grass has been overrun by weeds, it may be necessary to kill all of the grass in the area to allow the resources to nurture your other plant life. There are several ways that grass and weeds can quickly be killed.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Herbicide
• White vinegar
• Mulch
• Landscape fabric or black plastic
• Newspaper

1. Remove grass and weeds in the spring before any planting has begun with an herbicide like Roundup. The herbicide will kill all plant life that is sprayed in only a few days.

2. Pour or spray white vinegar over the top of the grass and weeds. White vinegar is a good alternative to chemical sprays and will kill grass and weeds just as quickly.

3. Mulch around the base of seedlings and new trees. Pull the weeds and grass around the plant before mulching the area with at least a 3-inch layer of mulch, and the mulch will block the light and smother the roots of the grass and weeds, preventing them from growing back.

4. Cover the grass and weeds with landscape fabric or black plastic. Much like mulch, landscape fabric or black plastic will prevent sunlight and moisture from reaching the grass and weeds, and they will die out.

5. Smother the grass and weeds with newspaper. Wet the newspaper to help it decompose, and cover it with mulch to hold the paper down. The layers will prevent the growth of grass and weeds and kill the living grass and weeds.

Tips & Warnings

• Start preparing for planting by removing grass and weeds in the area in the fall before a planting season. Get rid of everything within a 3- to 5-foot strip of land to allow your plants plenty of room to grow. Grass can be removed by plowing at this time. If herbicides are used to kill grass and weeds, they too should be sprayed in the fall to prevent them from interfering with the growth of new plants.

References

• Iowa DNR
• Gardening Know How