So, you’ve decided to convert some (or all) of your lawn space to a native plant oasis —AMAZING! But, before you dash out to buy plants or hire the NBN crew to plant your gorgeous new native garden, the turf's gotta go.
There are a few different ways you can remove turfgrass that vary in effort, cost and time. We recommend selecting what works best for you, and have the following how-to methods to help you get it done.
Shovel and flip: For small areas, sometimes the best method is to simply dig it out by hand using a sharp shovel and some muscle. To do so, dig down about 4-5 inches (below your grass’s root system) and flip it so that the soil is on top. Turfgrass can resprout from the small white rhizomatous roots that are left in the ground, so don’t go shallow on this allowing your grass to re-establish. Flip the turf and soil so that the grassy side is face-down and tuck in and overlap any edges where you can see grass exposed. Tamp it all down by walking over the area, allow the soil to dry and lightly rake to fill any gaps and to smooth out the area. The grassy turf will compost in place to act as a mulch and give a nutritional boost to your new plants. Depending on the size of your bed, you may want to split this work up over several days, and give it a couple weeks before planting to allow all to settle in.
Rent a sod cutter or tiller: For medium sized projects, you may want to remove the turf using a sod cutter or tiller. These kinds of machines can be heavy and bulky, so renting a ramp or vehicle with a ramp is recommended for loading and unloading. Once you’re ready to roll, begin at one end of the garden area and work your way across bit by bit. As with shoveling, make sure your sod cutter reaches deep enough into the soil to remove all of the turf roots —this is usually around 4”. These machines can vary in performance and power, so, use them slowly and with caution when getting started. Wear gloves, sturdy footwear (steel toe boots if you have 'em) and protective eyewear. Once you're done, till and rake (as needed) the newly exposed soil to collect any root debris, break up any large clumps and smooth out the planting surface. Get your hands on a wheelbarrow to help with disposing of the sod (all that excess soil can get quite heavy).
Sheet mulching: This DIY method is the least labor intensive, but does take some patience for the grass to die off. Start by mowing your turfgrass as short as your mower will allow, then place overlapping layers of cardboard onto the turf area you want to kill. Cover with a 3” layer of hardwood mulch, leave this covering over the grass for at least 3 months during the active growing season. The cardboard and mulch combo smother the grass, killing it and leaving bare soil behind. This is a good project to start in the spring to allow for smothering over the summer, and planting your native garden in the fall.
Herbicide: Generally, we do not recommend that homeowners DIY herbicide applications. If the area is large and other options are not feasible, you can hire a certified professional to evaluate and apply chemicals to kill the grass. At least one application every two weeks for one month during the active growing season is needed depending on site conditions of your home landscape. Three applications over an entire season may be needed if it is a naturalized area or overgrown and extra weedy.
Hire it out: If DIY isn’t your thing, no problem! Hire a reputable landscaping company to remove your turf using the instructions highlighted in this post. Just make sure the area is free of turfgrass roots, smoothed out and ready for planting. This may require a combination of sod cutting, tilling and raking to get your space ready to go.
Even after the turf is removed and your native garden is planted, it is not unusual for turfgrass to creep back in. While your garden is establishing, check on it often and pop out unwanted patches with a hand shovel or soil knife. The first year of a garden is an important establishment period —take some extra time to get things going in the right direction by watering and weeding as needed. If you would like help getting a new garden established, email us at northbranchnatives@gmail.com or set up a stewardship service appointment and we can work with you to get your garden off and running :)