How to Kill Existing Grass & Weeds or Till to Start New Lawn

Solarizing Weeds

• 1

  Soak the vegetation in a lawn with a garden hose until it is saturated.

• 2

  Fold a sheet of 4 mil plastic over so that it is double in thickness. Anchor the plastic on its edges with landscaping staples.

• 3

  Leave the plastic in place for at least six weeks. The sun will penetrate the plastic and heat everything below it. This will kill grass and seeds in the soil.

Using Herbicides on Weeds

• 4

  Select a broad-spectrum herbicide with a spray applicator for your lawn. An herbicide containing glyphosate will effectively kill most weeds.

• 5

  Spray the herbicide over your lawn as directed by the package. Hold the applicator in front of you and depress the plunger to activate a fine spray of chemical. Wave the herbicide applicator in a fan shape to distribute the spray evenly across your lawn.

• 6

  Observe your lawn. If the vegetation dies, It will turn brown and brittle. Spot-treat any area of lawn that is not dead.

Plowing Weeds

• 7

  Mow your lawn weeds down to 1 inch in height.

• 8

  Hook a plow attachment to the back of a lawn tractor by aligning the holes on the attachment arms of both devices and inserting a bolt between them. Insert a pin into the bolt to hold it in place.

• 9

  Set the blades on the plow so that they break up the ground to a depth of 12 inches. By turning the vegetation this deeply, you bury the seeds of the weeds so that they cannot receive enough light to sprout.

• 10

  Spread a layer of compost and peat moss over the lawn in a 4-inch layer. This will add nutrients to the soil so that your grass will grow well.

• 11

  Plow the entire lawn with the tractor and plow attachment.

• 12

  Remove the plow attachment and attach a grading blade to the back of the tractor. Smooth the lawn so that it has a uniform surface that is suitable for laying sod or seed on to it.