A Garden Into Grass?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
A Garden Into Grass?
I have an area behind my garage that is a flowergarden (actually, more like a weed garden!) Anyways, I got this week off and want it gone! I have another big garden that I already have to take care of. I don't have a green thumb (it's more of a black greasy one! 
) What is the best way to get rid of everything so it does not grow back?
My plan was to dig everything out by hand so it is basically just dirt. Then rake up all the excess stuff (leaves, roots, etc) then borrow my dad's rototiller and go to town with it. Then plant grass seed.
I am looking at an inexpensive way to do this.....I just bought the house just over a month ago and am still adjusting to how much it costs for bills (compared to my old townhouse).
Thanks guys!
-Matt
) What is the best way to get rid of everything so it does not grow back? My plan was to dig everything out by hand so it is basically just dirt. Then rake up all the excess stuff (leaves, roots, etc) then borrow my dad's rototiller and go to town with it. Then plant grass seed.
I am looking at an inexpensive way to do this.....I just bought the house just over a month ago and am still adjusting to how much it costs for bills (compared to my old townhouse).
Thanks guys!
-Matt
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: MA
It sounds like your plan will do the job perfectly. Is this section near any trees? If so, you might encounter some nasty roots while tilling. Other than that, just make sure you buy grass that will work best for that particular area (whether sunny, sun/shade, or shade).
Rich
Rich
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
No there are no trees nearby. Figures, I am a tree guy (arborist) for a living and I bought a house that has two trees: I am almost as tall as they are!
-Matt
P.S. Should I roll it as well? If so when? Before of after I plant the grass? My dad has a small roller too. The kind you fill with water....
-Matt
P.S. Should I roll it as well? If so when? Before of after I plant the grass? My dad has a small roller too. The kind you fill with water....
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,659
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From: S/C Texas
I wouldnt worry about raking stuff out. Use it as compost in the soil. Just till that stuff up. If you have seed on these weeds, you could use P+D or RoundUp with a Prime oil wax cutting surfactant to kill it all. Really, just over the counter roundup should do ya if you have seed wories. Let it sit till its all dead, then till it.
http://www.dowagro.com/ca/prod/grazon.htm
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/crops/00564.html
http://www.dowagro.com/ca/prod/grazon.htm
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/crops/00564.html
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
The area is about 10 feet by maybe 20-25 feet. SOD? Are you Mr. Impatient? Too rich for my blood at least right now...... 
So should I rip out the old stuff, clean it up, then rototill it, then roll it then plant grass?
-Matt
Too rich for my blood at least right now...... So should I rip out the old stuff, clean it up, then rototill it, then roll it then plant grass?
-Matt
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: AZ.
I don't know what kind of soil you have but the last time I was in Onterio was fishing in North Bay that was all rocks. In Pa. when we had what you describe I just kept cutting the weeds with a rotary mower until I had a "grass" lawn. If you have a way to drag it smooth, let nature and your mower take it's course..
My wild tough grass never burned out when the fancy lawns were toast..
It sounds like you have a great place.
My wild tough grass never burned out when the fancy lawns were toast..
It sounds like you have a great place.
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That amount of sod here in Alberta would cost about $1.75 a 8 sq ft roll.
200 divided by 8 = 25 rolls.
25 x $1.75 = $43.75.
Labour = $10/hr for Johnny grass seed.
Seed = $10.00
Fertilizer = $25.00
60 days of Water = $40.00
200 sq ft of sod for $ 44.00 > No extensive watering > No fertilizing > No fixing bare patches > No Labour (well Minimal labour) > No Cheerleading the grass to grow >
Priceless !
200 divided by 8 = 25 rolls.
25 x $1.75 = $43.75.
Labour = $10/hr for Johnny grass seed.
Seed = $10.00
Fertilizer = $25.00
60 days of Water = $40.00
200 sq ft of sod for $ 44.00 > No extensive watering > No fertilizing > No fixing bare patches > No Labour (well Minimal labour) > No Cheerleading the grass to grow >
Priceless !
Still kicking!!
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,061
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From: Kalispell, Mt.
I'd just pull everything up that you can, roto till it and make it nice and fluffy, then toss the grass seed on as per the directions on the package. Watering will make for a natural compaction rather than a hard surace that rolling it would do. You can rent a roller that is made with iron cloth ( screen like ) that won't compact it hard enough to drive on, but leave it soft enough for the grass to root properly. Googluck...as my old developmentally disabled friend used to say.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: West Chester PA
I'm killing the weeds right now on the side of my house that will next year become a garden. $4 for a roll of black plastic and a few dozen bricks that I had left over from an old walk way to hold it down. Next summer there will be nothing but dirt when I pull the plastic up.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,697
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From: Marengo, Iowa
The problem with using Roundup is you won't get any grass to grow until next year, I would stay away from the chemicals other than something like Scotts turf builder or something. We use Roundup to kill the grass and other weeds in the cornfields, very effective. I just seeded my sidehills here and all I did was work the soil a bit to loosen it up enough to plant, the seed only needs to be about 1/2 deep, so the only purpose the tilling will do is kill the less tenacious weeds. I'm too lazy and cheap to go all out on my lawn, the way I figure, the ssoner it burns up in the summer, the sooner I can do something else. Green? Paint it if you want it green. But bare is more annoying, so I guess I'll go mow it. Oh, seeding should be done in mid spring or early fall.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
Originally Posted by Torque1st
Test your skill with a flamethrower... THEN cover it in black plastic!
Ya gotta have SOME fun!
Ya gotta have SOME fun!
....................hmmm.....but now you got me thinking! <img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/14/14_6_1.gif' border=0></a>
-Matt
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From: Eastern Oregon
If you rototill it too deep, you will bring to the surface more weed seeds. Soooo, do as you said. Pull weeds, roto just an inch, rake it smooth and level, use appropriate seed for your area, rake again to cover seed about 1/2", moisten well, don't over water, then water lightly 1-2 times daily depending on temperatures. Put up a small fence to keep animals off of it. Cats love newly tilled soil to do their duty. Mow after it gets to about 1 1/2".