If you mix salt in to the ground (the dirt part) is it true that nothing will ever grow there again?

Question

I want to get rid of the nasty grass in my back yard and heard that spreading salt in the dirt will prevent anything from growing in that area again. I just want to make sure it's true before I dig everything up by the roots and waste my time.

Answer 1

The salt is a bad-very bad-idea. Go to your local home garden/hardware store and get some Round Up. Spray it on the area you want bare and it will kill all vegetation and not damage your soil. If you want to keep it bare you will have to respray once or twice a year. If you decide to replant at any time you can without any problem.

Answer 2

... it would take a LOT of salt. and he is right that you can use an herbicide (weed killer). If you do use herbicide, then check the label to see if it will kill grass. Some weedkillers only kill certain kinds of weeds.

or you can try a cover. Covering plants with a cover that doesn't let any light in will eventually kill them. You might be able to get old carpet from carpet stores or contractors when they replace the carpet in someone's house. or you might try cardboard. Covers can be kept in place with very large rocks or piles of dirt or maybe even by driving stakes through them into the ground. Make sure the sun can't get in there through any cracks or seams! It might take a few months at least to kill off grass this way. No digging needed unless you want to remove the grass once it is dead.