[ewancolin]

We have a lot of lawn that my husband is finding to hard to mow and the grass is poor quality. I would like to make a large flower bed, using some rock and bushes to take its place. I want to do cheaply and want to know if I can just put the black polly over it and leave the grass to die underneath it. I know I can get some one to remove the grass but it is pretty expensive but I also do not want to make an area that is going to be even harder to keep looking nice
Thnks sandy

[Just Dahlia]

I've never heard of that, I always just removed the grass myself.
I think you would have to kill the grass first. I have never been able to just smother grass, it seems to want to grow through no matter what.
I can't wait to see the rest of the answers, to see if I have been wasting my time pulling grass up.:(

[KISS]

The best way would be have someone remove the grass with a sod cutter and dispose of it. Fill the removed stuff with topsoil. This is your best option.

Killing the roots with a product like round up, but that doesn't make the job easier.

Roto-tilling works, but then you have to manually remove the grass roots.

Lawn fabric doesn't prevent grass from growing It's water permiable. It just slows the growth quite a bit.

[ohb0b]

You just need to cover the grass with something it won't grow through... black plastic or heavy cardboard are the easiest, and you should be able to get the cardboard for free.

Sounds like you have a dry area, with hard soil, that's why the grass won't grow? If so, make sure you get low maintenance, drought resistant plants for your flower garden, or else you just replace one problem with another.

Another solution would to be tilling in some good topsoil.

[tickle]

I scim the grass off with a spade. It is quite easy to do. Or else I buy a load of topsoil and build it up where I want the garden (I love raised and mounded flower beds).

Tick

[walterp16]

I agree with ohbob. I have done this with black plastic. It helps if you wet the area very well and then cover with black plastic. Weigh the plastic down real well so wind doesn't blow it away. After a month or so, peak under and see if you like the results. Grass should be mostly dead and much thinner. Ground will be easier for turning over and adding a little top soil and peat or if you have compost, even better.

[ruthmarx]

I have used the black plastic for small areas. I have also used concrete blankets for large areas. Since I live in the SW and have hot, hot intense sun, it is also very fast. This works great for weedy areas that are overwhelming. And no chemicals!