Use The Power Of The Sun To Kill The Grass In Your Yard To Start A Flower Bed. Here's How

Starting a new flower bed is a rewarding and relaxing experience that enhances your property's curb appeal. However, if the spot you want for your new garden is covered with grass, you will have to remove that first. While the fastest and most effective way to get rid of grass to plant garden beds may be using a heavy-duty hoe, this method is extremely labor-intensive. Using chemical herbicides introduces toxic chemicals to your new garden. There is another way that is not as labor-intensive and does not require chemicals.

You can use the power of the sun to help kill unwanted grass by harnessing solar power. Solarization is a process that involves laying a clear plastic tarp over the lawn to increase heat. This method is effective for killing weeds and grass without adding harmful chemicals to the soil. In fact, the heat may even reduce pathogens in the soil.

Solarization works by creating a greenhouse effect. The plastic traps heat and moisture, which heats the soil and eventually kills the grass and weeds underneath. If desired, you can use a second tarp with a brick or piece of wood in between the layers to heat the soil up faster.

The first step is to determine where and how large a space to clear for your new garden. When shaping your garden beds, be sure to consider the ease of maneuvering the lawn mower around your new garden. Oddly shaped edges may make mowing more difficult. Then, prepare the area by mowing the grass as short as possible. Water the area thoroughly, as this encourages heat conduction (and wet soil is way easier to work with than dry).

Lay a clear plastic tarp over the area where you want your new garden. Make sure the plastic is flat with no wrinkles. You can use bricks or large rocks to hold the edges of the plastic down to keep the heat trapped and the tarp in place. Another option is to bury the edges of the tarp in the ground. Because the plastic is clear, you will be able to watch the grass turn from green to yellow to brown. Once the grass is dead, you can remove it easily by tilling and raking. Then start planting your new flower garden.

The length of time the solarization process takes depends on weather, temperature, and the amount of sunlight. In dry, sunny weather, it may only take two or three weeks, making summertime your best bet for solarization. However, the process generally takes about four to eight weeks for most lawns. In colder temperatures or cloudy weather, it could take longer to heat the ground enough to kill the grass and weeds.