How to Kill Grass for a New Lawn

If you want to kill your lawn's grass so you can start fresh with new grass, there's a simple remedy you can make at home that is inexpensive and effective. Some reasons for killing off old grass is that it is patchy, unhealthy or a type of grass you do not like. Don't use harsh chemicals on your lawn--they can contaminate the soil for growing new grass. After the grass turns yellow, you can plant your new lawn.

Things You'll Need

• Watering can or sprayer
• White distilled vinegar
• Salt
• Liquid dish soap
• Lawn tiller
• Black plastic bags
• Baking soda

Instructions

Killing Old Grass

1. Purchase a watering can. Pour into it a gallon of white distilled vinegar, 1 cup of iodized salt and 1/4 cup of unscented liquid dish detergent.

2. Shake the watering can so that all the ingredients are mixed.

3. Water your entire lawn with the mixture, making sure to saturate all areas of grass that you want to kill.

Preparing the Soil

1. Till the soil and dead grass with a lawn tiller or weed trimmer.

2. Cover the lawn with black plastic bags to suffocate and kill any remaining grass seeds and weeds and leave it on for a week.

3. Dissolve a cup of baking soda in a gallon of water and water the soil with this solution to create a favorable soil pH for your new grass.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid spraying plants that you want to preserve

References

• Versatile Vinegar: Kill Grass
• Moscow Food: Vinegar as an Organic Weed Killer
• Gardening Know How: How to Kill Grass Naturally