How to Kill Grass for Landscaping

Using an environmentally safe method to kill grass will reduce your impact on the environment and protects plants around the area you plan to landscape. Harmful chemicals seep into the soil beneath your lawn to kill grass and all plants surrounding the area. A safe method of grass removal requires no chemicals to harm plants and trees surrounding your future landscaping while costing little to no money.

Powdered chalk
Newspapers
Dirt or mulch
Spade

Instructions

- 1
  Lay a line of powdered chalk to mark a rough outline of your future landscaping area.
- 2
  Cover the area inside of the marked outline with six layers of black and white newspapers. Overlap the pieces of newspaper one-quarter to one-half of the sheet width to ensure no light reaches the grass.
- 3
  Throw dirt or mulch on the newspaper to keep it from moving. Allow the newspaper to sit on top of the grass for four to six months.
- 4
  Dig a hole in the covered area with a spade. Set the dirt aside. Check the grass under the newspaper. Cover the hole with new pieces of newspaper if the grass is still green or a bright yellow.
- 5
  Plant your landscaping after all grass below the newspaper has turned brown or has rotted away.

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