The Grass Doctor

Which would you use to kill grass? Naturally or with store bought products?

I have a section in my yard that I want to kill the grass so I can put down some pea gravel for a playground. What would you use? If you choose natural please say why and what is the recipe? If you choose the store bought products, please say why and which kind. I am a 100 % noob when it comes to lawn care.

Public Comments

1. I would buy some tarp material and put it down right over the grass and put the pea gravel over that. Eventually the grass will die because of lack of water and light, the tarp will keep weeks from growing and the pea gravel will hold down the tarp from being blown away in the wind.
2. i would rent a tiller and till the area level it off put a weed barrier sold at home improvement stores than put pea gravel on top
3. Exactly what I would suggest ie, first poster... However, I wouldn't use pea gravel for a playground....check into the recycled tire multch or just generously provide the tarp with natural mulch. Pea gravel will hurt the worst if a child falls. The lighter the material, the cooler it will be if this playground is in full sun.
4. You should use Roundup, or a glyphosate product. It will kill all plants in the area you want to clear, and you can get fairly inexpensive products at any home and garden or hardware store. In about 7-10 days all plants will be dead, depending on the weather, then you can put grovel down over it, or till it up first. There is no residual in glyphosate products. Then you dont have to keep covering exposed parts of a tarp forever, and any weeds that pop up you can spray again. You can also get a herbicide with a longer residual to help keep weeds out for a longer period of time.
5. I agree with Larz with Roundup it is easy to use and safe enough if directions are followed. I would also consider using a geotextile febric the type used under roads ect. We use this regularly for this type of project and it is avalable at any supply store that sells retaining walls or pavers. Keep in mind this is NOT landscape fabric and don't listen to the Home Depot person that tells you different. If you can rip it by hand the grass will grow. Also I would recomend a debarked mulch or even rubber paver mats for outdoor use depending on budget.
6. I am a grass expert. Use round up and a thick tarp. Over time you may see some stray weeds or grass growing, they dont need much to grow. just blast them with round up as you see them.