How to Kill Grass With Cardboard & Straw
You can kill areas of unwanted grass without poisoning the soil, and all you’ll need is cardboard and straw. There are even some fancy names for this earth-friendly “technique” of clearing a spot of its current vegetation. Some refer to it as solarization or sheet mulching, while informal enthusiasts call it lasagna gardening, due to the layers of materials being used. The concept is simple: Deprive grass of the elements it requires, and it will die. .
Mow or trim the grass as low as possible. Don’t rake the clippings away. They’ll contribute to the natural decomposition process and enrich the soil. Soak the area deeply with water.
- You can kill areas of unwanted grass without poisoning the soil, and all you’ll need is cardboard and straw.
Top the area with a single layer of cardboard, overlapping edges where necessary to cover the ground. Drench the cardboard with water. Add another layer of cardboard and soak it well. Repeat until you have a 1-inch-thick pile of wet cardboard.
Pack a layer of straw over the cardboard 2 to 5 inches thick. Wet it thoroughly.
Top the straw with another ½- to 1-inch-thick pile of wet cardboard. This will help to hold everything in place for the next 4 to 8 weeks, as the pile smothers and kills the grass underneath.
- Top the area with a single layer of cardboard, overlapping edges where necessary to cover the ground.
- Add another layer of cardboard and soak it well.
Cultivate the decomposed grass, cardboard and straw into the soil below.
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Writer Bio
A full-time writer since 2007, Axl J. Amistaadt is a DMS 2013 Outstanding Contributor Award recipient. He publishes online articles with major focus on pets, wildlife, gardening and fitness. He also covers parenting, juvenile science experiments, cooking and alternative/home remedies. Amistaadt has written book reviews for Work At Home Truth.
