Requester wrote:

if i want to kill some grass. can i put dirt and mulch on top of it?
will this kill it off in a few days or will the grass grow through it?
thanks



Dirt will kill grass if it's applied thick enough, but it has to be
about a foot thick. Otherwise some of the grass will find its way
through.

The woven polypropylene ground covers are fairly effective at killing
grass, but it takes a year or more. Note that if you walk on the area
during this period you will contribute to soil compaction. Plant roots
tend to loosen up the soil.

Clear plastic will kill grass a little quicker by (1) denying the grass
water and (2) raising the temperature during sunny days. Again, it takes
a while, and this approach may also drive soil life out of the area.

The best way without using herbicides is probably to remove the sod
(along with the roots) and either stack it somewhere to compost or use
it on other areas that need it. Then plant your garden and prepare to
keep weeding, since you won't have gotten all the grass.