Lawn removal is one of the most effective ways to reduce outdoor water consumption. Here are some helpful tips on the best way to remove your lawn.
There’s no need to use harmful herbicides or to smoother the lawn with dirt or plastic; these methods won’t prevent grass from returning.
Just water your lawn frequently a week or two before removal to ensure that the turf is green and pliable, and thus easier to remove. Use a shovel or a sod cutter to scrape off at least three inches of turf with soil and haul it away. Resist the temptation to rototill or work the turf back into the soil; the aim is to remove as many seeds and roots as possible, to minimize re-sprouts.
If you are a do-it-yourself kind of person, you can rent a sod cutter and make it a weekend project; alternatively, you can hire a landscape professional to do it for you.
Once the turf is gone, pull out any remaining grass roots, and plant a lawn alternative such as Dune Sedge (Carex praegracilis) or Kurapia (Phyla nodiflora ‘Kurapia’) as we have installed at the Las Virgenes-Triunfo Sustainability Garden. If you can’t plant right away, spread two to three inches of mulch over the bare soil to suppress weeds.
To further increase water savings, replace your old, inefficient lawn sprinkler heads with mini-rotators. These deliver more water to plants and cause less evaporation loss through misting. Or, better yet, install underground irrigation by installing one-half inch drip tubing with drip emitters under your new drought-tolerant groundcover.
The good news is that there are rebates offered by SoCal Watersmart, through the Metropolitan Water District, to replace turf and convert sprinklers which helps reduce costs. Check the SoCal Watersmart website for current rebate offerings and requirements.
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