I just got my first house in the Greater Phoenix area, and while I'm excited about the spacious backyard with its mature trees, the lawn situation is less than ideal. It was dead when we bought the house, but after some heavy rain a few weeks back, I've noticed little tufts of grass coming back, making it quite patchy. I'm thinking about killing off the existing lawn and starting fresh next year. Any tips on how to effectively kill the old grass and prevent it from returning? I want to avoid mixing different grass species accidentally since it was completely dead before but seems to be coming back now.
1 Answer
It’s actually okay to mix grass species, as one will usually outcompete the other if it’s better suited. Here’s a method you can try: 1) Start by mowing the grass as low as your mower can go (scalp mow). 2) Then, apply glyphosate to kill anything that comes back. 3) Wait a week, then till the ground with a tiller, level it out, and plant your new grass.
Just a heads-up, don't forget about dethatching; it's a crucial step before you start this method!