How do you completely remove grass and weeds without chemicals?

Question

I want to remove it all so I can put down fabric weed stopper and then mulch. Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

Hate to say this but, the only other real chance you have is to pull them by hand. Otherwise, ortho has some pretty decent sprays that work. Then the weedblocker landscape cloth. (Make sure you have "weed blocker" cloth.) There is regular landscaping cloth out there that doesn't block weeds. I know, did a whole project and found had the wrong stuff about 3 weeks later!! Good Luck!!

Answer 2

If you really are going to cover it all up with mulch then the weed killer may not be necessary anyway. Just cover with the fabric and mulch.

But if you plan on planting any flowers or bushes through the fabric it would help to till the soil first and possibly add in some compost or peat to loosen the soil. The grass and traffic over time makes the soil rock hard and plants will not thrive.

However don't be so afraid of chemicals. Not all are bad. In fact most are safe when used correctly..

Round Up in particular is very safe when used correctly. It is non-cancer causing and breaks down in the soil after just a few days.

Answer 3

The easiest way is to simply put the weed stopper down and mulch over it. The weed stopper will prevent sun from getting to the grass, eventually killing it. It will also prevent the grass from growing up through the mulch.

The best way is to manually dig it out first, then put the weed stop and mulch down.

Answer 4

Use a hoe to remove as much as you can. The fabric weed stopper should be pulled tight when attached. The lack of sunlight should stop weeds from popping through.

Good luck!

Answer 5

You can lay a tarp over the grass that you want to kill. Pile some stones on it so it doesn't blow away. Likely takes a week or two.... Newspaper also works...Keep them wet.

If it's just grass growing between cracks, just boil the kettle and pour it onto the grass you want gone. Works for dandilions as well and doesn't involve any chemicals.

Answer 6

It's called "weeding".
You get down on your knees, you use one of those fork things, you dig around with it, and pull up each indivdual plant out of the dirt by hand. You make sure you do not leave behind any root part or seed pod, so they don't grow back. You dig up grass at least 6 inches below the bottom of the roots and pull the whol clump out of the ground.
You lay down your ground cover, and when the seeds of more weeds sprout, you bend over and pull them out by hand again and again until they are all gone.
Again, it's called "Weeding". It's the old-fashioned way before they created Roundup, and it works ten times better than weed-eater machines.

Answer 7

Its either hard work with a trowel or a one of chemical treatment before you lay the fabric..........what mulch are you using.....bark dries out & blows everywhere & small gravel makes cats think its a large litter tray....slate looks good in my opinion.
PS I was going to joke that Id use a hoe ...but the wife wont let me......sorry!!

Answer 8

Isnt gasoline a chemical? If you did not mind using a pellet fertilizer, use that, when i accidentally spill this stuff on my lawn, it goes dead immediately.... but that lady that said to have it cut out was on the money, any rental store will have that thing that skims off the top layer...the gasoline sounds dangerous

Answer 9

If practical, you could spread a tarp over the area. there by cutting off the sunlight. All the vegetation will die in about 2 weeks.

Answer 10

Boiling hot water works like a charm.