When looking at your site consider: ... Create a turf-free zone around trees extending out from the tree ... Cover your
How To Remove Turf • Eliminating turf/grass is a great way to cut back on water usage. • Use the following as a guide.
You’ll need the following: Depending on the method you use:
Let’s get started
❏❏ Shovel or sod cutter
❏❏ Bricks ❏❏ Cardboard
❏❏ Plastic sheeting ❏❏ Mulch Choose one of the following to remove grass:
Cover it – Sheet Mulch • Cover your lawn with 1 layer of cardboard or 6 layers of newspaper. Be sure to overlap by at least 6” to prevent grass from growing through. — Remove any tape or glossy inserts and labels from the boxes.
Ideas For Where To Remove Turf When looking at your site consider: • Move existing garden borders outward. – In the space in front of existing shrubs, install low-growing plants • Move out from around trees. – Create a turf-free zone around trees extending out from the tree to at least the drip line; utilize mulch. • Break up large areas of turf. – Create pathways, swales and/or dry creek beds – Create areas of interest in the middle of a turf area – Berms with native plants to add height – Large boulders surrounded with native plants • Convert an entire lawn or parkway area. – Install a native plant or edible garden.
Dig it
• Add 4 – 6 inches of mulch on top.
• Use a shovel or a sod cutter to remove the turf. • Try not to remove too much of the top soil. • This works best for small areas to avoid removing too much top soil.
Solarize it • Works best late spring/summer – the hottest time of the year for your area. • This technique does not always work well • Water it. Keeping the mulch and cardboard moist helps it to decompose.
• Cut your lawn as short as possible.
• Wait for it to decompose or go ahead and
• Water thoroughly.
select sites for your plants. Do this by pushing the mulch out of the way, cutting a circle in the cardboard, and removing the grass underneath. Plant the plant and then add mulch around its base.
near coastal areas.
• Cover with black plastic sheeting. Stake or weigh down with bricks or stones. • Wait a minimum of 6 weeks for the sun to kill the grass. • Use a shovel to remove the dead turf. • Try not to remove too much of the top soil.
MAKE IT COUNT! • After removing your grass, learn about the environmental benefits your garden provides. • Go to www.treemapla.org to plot your new garden on the map.
