On Thu, 30 Jun 2011 10:38:14 -0400, "
wrote:

On 6/27/2011 9:21 PM, Kurt Ullman wrote:
I have this little patch of land that backs up to my lot that was deeded
to me recently. I have a few areas that I want to plant "regular" grass
instead of the stuff that planted itself when it was still farm field. I
have hoed the area that I am planting this time to bare ground. I am
trying to decide if I just want to go ahead and plant the new grass or
if I should nuke the area with Roundup and then wait about 4 weeks
before I start on the grass. Any suggestions?


I didn't see "little" in the OP; how little is "little"? A 10'x10'
might be little in a large lawn, but it's getting big when you start
cultivating....Whatever means you use to kill grass/weeds now, you still
need to deal with sod (roots) before you smooth the soil and plant
seeds. You will also have some weed seed that continues to germinate
for two to three years, but is relatively easy to deal with later. In
most areas, this is not ideal time of year to plant grass seed, but is
doable if you mulch lightly with straw and water lightly and often.
Roundup now will kill most of what is presently growing, but leaves
tilling to be done to get rid of roots/sod before you seed, and by the
time all present growth is "dead", you likely will have more weed seed
germinated. So, what I'm trying to say is that tilling, chopping,
pulling out most roots by hand, then raking and seeding without Roundup
will probably be as practical as using Roundup. Sod might be more
practical than seeding, but still must be cared for until it takes root;
not very expensive for DIY.
You definitely want to run at LEAST two cycles of green and kill
before either sodding or seeding, or you will be fighting a constant
battle with weeds.

"burn" it down with roundup, then till and remove as much rood matter
as possible by raking - wait for it to green up again (water it if it
doesn't rain) then hit it with roundup again to kill it, and till it
again - removing as much root material as possible. If it greened up
relatively quickly first time around, you might want to let it go one
more time around before seeding. If you are sodding, a pre-emergent
herbicide in the tilled soil as you rake it down just before laying
the sod would be good insurance, as it will kill any seeds still in
the soil, without affecting the root system of the sod.

I didn't have that option when I renovated my yard a few years back
because I chose to seed instead of sod.

Penny wise and pound foolish.....