How to Kill Your Grass & Replant New Grass

Kill Grass

• 1

  Measure the width and length of the area to determine its square footage, so you know how much weed killer you need. Multiply both figures and note it down. One gallon of most commercial weed killers kills a 300-square-foot area of grass, so determine the amount you need according to the area you need to clear.

• 2

  Wear protective clothing and a face mask to prevent contact with the chemicals, and pour the glyphosate-herbicide in a pump sprayer. Although most herbicides are diluted, read label instructions beforehand to verify whether to add water to the one you are using or not.

• 3

  Walk to a corner of your grass lawn and begin spraying the herbicide directly over it. Bend down slightly to maintain good contact. Work toward an even distribution over the entire area so you do not miss any grassy patches. Continue spraying until you reach the other end.

• 4

  Inspect the grass for signs of browning after two to five days. Repeat herbicide applications over stubborn grassy patches and wait the specified time until the herbicide takes effect. It takes up to four weeks for the grass to completely die out.

• 5

  Rake the area to pull out the dead grass and roots out of the soil. Collect it in a wheelbarrow or tarp and dispose of it.

Replant New Grass

• 6

  Till the soil in the area 6 to 8 inches deep to break up compacted mounds and aerate it. Collect a soil sample in a zipper bag and send it to your local extension office for a pH test to prevent the problems experienced with the previous grass from recurring. Most grasses require a pH between 6.0 and 7.0; add lime to increase it or sulfur to decrease it.

• 7

  Mix equal amounts of phosphorus-rich fertilizer and organic compost, and spread a 2- to 3-inch thick, even layer of these soil conditioners over the bare soil. Till the area 7 to 8 inches deep.

• 8

  Spread grass seeds by hand or use a broadcast spreader for a more even distribution. Use 2 ½ lbs. of seed for every 500-square-foot area. Rake the seeds gently to ensure they go 1/4 inch deep in the soil.

• 9

  Water the area lightly, and continue watering two to three times a day until the seeds germinate. Spread a light layer of mulch over the seeds to retain moisture.