Something else that works well is "solarizing" the grass by covering
with black plastic that is well anchored down over it. The grass dies
and decomposes due to worm action and you aven't lost any of the
beneficial bacteria that has built up in the soil.

http://www.hal-pc.org/~garden/weststreet1.jpg
http://www.hal-pc.org/~garden/cornereast.jpg
http://www.hal-pc.org/~garden/eastgarden2.jpg
http://www.hal-pc.org/~garden/negarden.jpg

JK



dd wrote:
=

Dave, thanks for the advice!
=

I won't be planting any trees or shrubs, just a lot of small
plants--many of which will be rock-garden plants. Will this method
still work with them?
=

In article , David J Bockman
wrote:
=

DD,

There's no need to dig it out. Presuming that you're planting in mulc=
hed
beds, wait the proscribed amount of time as noted in the directions (=
10-14
days as I recall) and then plant right in through the sod. Once you'v=
e
planted your larger trees/shrubs, cover everything in thick sheets of=

newspaper or cardboard and mulch in... you'll be amazed at the fertil=
ity of
your soil next season. All that sod will decompose and leach downward=
s,
while the newspaper provides a great biodegradable weed barrier.

Dave

"dd" wrote in message
...
This spring, we are taking the plunge and getting rid of our front
lawn, or what's left of it. It covers about 200 square feet. It wil=
l be
a lot of work for me (older female) to dig out the sod. After I dig=
it
out, I will have to put it in the garbage. (We have a small urban l=
ot
and there is absolutely no place to compost the sold or hide it.)

So, will using Round-up kill the grass in a satisfactory manner? Wi=
ll
it leave soil in which I can plant new plants in a month or so afte=
r
the grass is dead? Will the Round-up hurt the dogwood tree that is
under the grass? Will it hurt the birds who visit my garden?

Normally, I am not a fan of Round-up, but it does seem like a good
alternative to digging out all that sod.

Thanks for any help.



-- =

Celestial Habitats by J. Kolenovsky
2003 Honorable Mention Award, Keep Houston Beautiful
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.celestialhabitats.com - business
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.hal-pc.org/~garden/personal.html - personal