what is best way to get rid of dead weeds & grass?

[jsutme]

---

I have large areas of yellow dead grass and weeds. what is the easiest way to get rid of all this so it just leave bare dirt.

are you using a rake, hoe - this would take a long time?
or are you just pouring new dirt over as top soil?

[Gardenboy]

Hey! For large areas of dead grass and weeds, using a rake or hoe can definitely take a long time, especially if the ground is dry or compacted. It might work for smaller patches, but for bigger areas, it’s not the most efficient option.

A faster method is to cover the area with a tarp or thick plastic for a few weeks to block sunlight and smother everything underneath. That way, the grass and weeds die off without much effort.

Another option is to add a layer of topsoil over the dead grass, especially if the goal is to start fresh with planting. Just keep in mind that if the weeds or grass aren't fully dead, they might push back through the new soil. Removing the dead layer first, even roughly with a shovel or hoe, usually gives better long-term results.

Hope this helps!

[jsutme]

what is the tarp going to do? do you mean pour new topsoil over the tarp?

[Gardenboy]

The tarp isn’t meant to be buried under topsoil. It’s just used temporarily to smother everything underneath. You cover the area with a black tarp or thick plastic sheet for a few weeks. It blocks sunlight, traps heat, and kills off the grass, weeds, and even a lot of the seeds in the soil.

Once everything under the tarp is dead and dried out, you take it off. After that, it’s much easier to rake or scrape away the dead layer, and you’re left with mostly bare soil. At that point, you can add new topsoil if needed or just prep the area for whatever you plan to do next.

It saves a lot of effort compared to digging everything out by hand, especially for bigger spaces.