Getting rid of lawn

[Miljea]

I'm going to convert an area of lawn to garden bed, a triangle 1.5m x 3m.

How would you kill off the lawn? I'm not keen on digging it up as it's on clay, it would need yet more topsoil fill, and I'd have to dispose of the grass.

TIA

Glyphosate based decompiler, or cover with membrane to shut out light

I've got rid of loads of lawn over the last 2 years. Taken the turf off the top, dug out 18" of pure sand ( we live near the beach) filled it back in with 18" of top soil and horse manure. Hard work ( worked out I shifted about 6 tonnes in the end!) If your soil is better you shouldn't have to dig out as much! But I would dig the turf out.

Sorry, typed that as I dropped the iPad and accidentally hit post!!

I think I will dig the turf out and replace it with topsoil.

Could you give it away on free cycle? That way someone might come and dig it out for you?

It's an idea but it's quite a small area, and on clay so probably not worth anyone's pain!

If you're happy with new bed to be a bit higher then you could just cover the area with a double layer of sturdy brown cardboard, or loads and loads of newspaper, then cover with several inches of new soil. Pay particular attention to covering the edges - go slightly wider than the grass to make sure none survives there. The grass will die without light and al the lovely nutrients in it will feed your new plants, with no need for back breaking digging. Digging up turf on clay is horrific

The new soil will sink eventually as the grass breaks down.

Oh - and if you do dig it out, and have the space, I'd highly recommend stacking the soda to make a turf pile because it will eventually turn into marvellous top soil. I did this. You lay the dug up sods facing down on the bottom layer, then up on next layer, then down in next etc until they're all in a pile. Then tightly cover with black plastic to exclude all light and leave for 1-2yrs. When I uncovered mine it was enough to terrace part of the slope at the end of my garden and now it's beautiful fertile soil which grows me lovely veg!

• sods not soda

How about cutting it and rolling it back to form the sides of the raised bed? You could put edging on the outside of it to make it look tidy. Then fill the inside with decent soil.

Not the most environmentally friendly but it worked a charm when i wanted to start the lawn again. It kills everything:

Elixir Gardens Barclay Gallup Home & Garden Glyphosate Commercial Strength Weed killer treats upto 3332 sq/m 2Lt Bottle + Complimentary Measuring Cup and Gloves Prime www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B071GVC33M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_3MEMDVEDG8C5WYB6MKT3?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Thanks for all the advice!

Killing the grass will leave you with a thicket of dead grass and roots that will still need digging over. To make a bed on clay you're going to have to dig in loads of compost and grit anyway or it will be a right PITA. Doing the hard work now will save you a ton of work later, and save money on plants as they will do do much better in a well prepared bed.

I have heavy clay and found it was far easier to dig up the turf with a mattock than a spade - bit messier but much quicker!

We bit the bullet; we dug up the turf; I bashed it to get as much soil as possible out if it, which went back onto the new bed; then chucked the turf (may be salvageable in a year). I also bought a pile of rotted horse poo to dig through it.