11 Effective Solutions that Kill Grass Permanently

Because a lush, green lawn is a visually stunning aspect of any home, most homeowners with natural grass grounds devote their time and resources to maintaining their lawns. But if the grass is prone to patches or weeds, it could be time to kill the grass and start from the beginning.

Generally speaking, using a herbicide like glyphosate to eradicate both weeds and grass is the most efficient technique. Nonetheless, there are a variety of methods, both natural and artificial, that can swiftly and efficiently kill the grass on your property.

How to Effectively Kill Grass Permanently

1. Dig It Up

You can directly eliminate the lawn by ripping it up with a shovel. This is a cost-effective method that just takes a bit of sweat equity. To make the grass die and become brown, don’t water it. Once the grass has dried up, you can move to the next step.

Grab a shovel and start digging up the grass. Be aware of any irrigation and electrical lines that may be under the soil. If you have it in the budget, there are excavation companies you can hire to do the job for you.

2. Spray Vinegar

If you’re on the hunt for a cheap, natural way to kill grass, vinegar is an effective option. The best time to do this method is when it’s hot outside, yet rain or wind is expected within the next few days.

The warmer it is outside, the more likely the vinegar is to successfully eliminate the grass. All you have to do is spray it all over! You will have to reapply the vinegar every couple of days until the grass is completely dead.

Something to keep in mind is that vinegar will kill more than just grass. Any plant that’s in the area growing above ground will die if sprayed with vinegar.

3. Spread Salt

A simple, all-natural method of eliminating undesired vegetation, such as grass, is to use salt. It is important to exercise caution while adding salt to your grass because, similar to vinegar, it kills anything and everything.

Dust your lawn with a liberal amount of salt. Dust your lawn with a liberal amount of salt. Alternatively, you might sprinkle your grass with a solution of salt and water prepared in a garden sprayer.

Salt should only be used in places where you want nothing to grow in the future.

4. Lay Plastic Sheeting

Solarization is an efficient and cost-effective method of killing grass, but it may require several weeks to many months. The solarization procedure consists of two easy steps. Let’s start with the yard.

Then, just drape some black plastic sheeting across the surface and allow the sunlight to do the majority of the work!

5. Dust Baking Soda

You can also use baking soda to kill grass. When used sparingly, baking soda can help lawns by eliminating moss and curing fungus. But it is additionally effective to destroy crabgrass and weeds in organic lawns if applied carefully and in a concentrated manner.

It will be more difficult to completely destroy your lawn using baking soda, and the results you get may vary depending on the kind of grass you’re growing and the composition of your soil. Water the yard first before using baking soda to destroy grass.

Next, generously coat the blades with baking soda. You may need to repeat this method multiple times until the grass dies. It’s best to dust the area with baking soda once every three days.

6. Pour Boiling Water

Boiling water is a cheap way to eradicate undesired plants, weeds, and grass, but it’s not the simplest approach. The main concern with this method is that it can be dangerous. You’ll have to carry steaming boiling water from your kitchen to the desired area of your yard without getting burned or spilling the hot water.

Another reason why this method may not be for you is that it takes several trips and can be time-consuming. Using boiling water to kill grass is a great option if you only need to kill off a small section.

Remember that this is an additional technique that often destroys only the surface and leaves the roots unharmed.

7. Lay Newspaper or Cardboard

Layering is a good way to eliminate grass and improve the environment for anything you may wish to grow in that space after the grass has died down. This is a great method if you’re wanting to recycle an abundance of cardboard or newspaper.

Start by mowing the lawn, then cover it with numerous sheets of cardboard or newspaper. Thoroughly moisten the surface prior to applying mulch. The grass will typically be killed by this process over the course of approximately one to two months, but the covering of a mulch layer will contribute to making the location less unsightly in the interim.

8. Spread Mulch

Speaking of mulch, you can also use it to eliminate grass. This process is comparable to layering, minus the cardboard or newspaper. You will deprive the grass of sunlight and oxygen with a heavy layer of mulch rather than with paper.

Start by mowing the grass as short as possible. Apply a 10-inch layer of thick mulch, such as wood chips. It will take the grass a couple of weeks to die off. This is a great option for those looking for an easy method and don’t plan on planting anything new in the area.

9. Commercial Herbicides

While using natural solutions for all gardening activities is generally preferable, commercial herbicides that include potentially hazardous chemicals are also extremely useful and we believe worth mentioning.

Some choices are non-selective and irreversibly destroy grass and weeds. If this is your goal, look for glyphosate on the product label. It’s important to mention that these products kill grass and all surrounding vegetation down to the roots.

If you decide to use this technique, minimize your exposure by wearing clothes that cover your skin. Also, have on gloves and eye protection. Additionally, choose a day when there won’t be any wind or rain predicted.

10. Spray Bleach

Any vegetation that is sprayed with bleach will perish, including grass and weeds. This could be a fantastic solution for you because you presumably have bleach readily available. However, be careful to take safety measures to safeguard your kids, your pets, yourself, and any plants you want to keep safe from this chemical.

When handling bleach, always put on gloves, goggles, and protective clothes. Before you start spraying the bleach on the grass, be sure all kids and animals are away from the area.

11. Concentrated Dish Soap

Dish soap works well as a grass killer when used in small doses. Although dish soap is more frequently employed as a do-it-yourself insecticide, it will also dry up and destroy your grass. The dish soap breaks into healthy, oil-based material in weeds and grass since it is designed to reduce grease and oil.

You will soon have a brown lawn because, without it, the grass is unable to hold onto moisture. This happens when heat, direct sunlight, and water mix. Remember that as the grass dries out, this procedure may require numerous sprays to completely destroy the roots

Summary of How to Effectively Kill Grass Permanently