Best method to kill off garden

[Naga]

I've got approx 60 x 20 of grass and need to kill it off to basically start over. Would a granular weed killer be my best bet?

[Snoop Puss]

I'd have thought the best way would have been to cut the turf and overturn it so it dies naturally. More like hard work, but better perhaps for whatever you plant in its place.

[veggiechicken]

What do you intend to use the ground for?

[bikermike]

why do you need to kill the grass?
and if you do, why do you need to kill it all at once?

That would be a lot of weedkiller in your soil.

I'd cover it in plastic and leave it for a bit

[Lady BlackThumb]

I concur with the rest, that's a lotta weedkiller. O_o

Charles Dowding pointed out a method I found fascinating (because it involved less manual digging, YES, and less hardcore poisons)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mmv2zGfhG8w

Cardboard mulch + compost on top (bonus points you can start planting stuff on top straight away).

[Naga]

The only think on the garden will be grass in the future. The lawn is also really uneven and lumpy. If I got some tarpaulin, how long do you think it will take to die off? I think I may prefer this method or similar.

I would plan to clear up the dead grass and try level it off as best I can.

[SarrissUK]

I would think that the easiest to level off an existing lawn isn't to kill it off, but to cut it really short, then put on compost or sand depending on how water retaining it is at the moment, and rake that out and press it down, then throw a bit of fresh seed on it.

[veggiechicken]

Finally, I think I've got it!! You want to replace your uneven, lumpy grass lawn with an even grass lawn.
Have you tried mowing it and filling in the holes?

[Martin H]

If the lawn is extremely uneven I'd just cut it as short as possible, hire a rotavator for a day and dig over the top few inches with it, rake and tread it level and sow fresh seed. For a general purpose lawn it won't matter if some of the old grass regrows as well, regular mowing will soon make it look nice. If you do it now it'll look lovely by the summer.

If it's only a bit uneven I'd do what VC says.

[Miss Mousetrousers]

Firstly I'd rake over the lawn to remove any thatch then spike it over using a gardening fork to aerate the top soil. Get some good quality top soil and add coarse sand (if needed), load it into your wheelbarrow then spread it over the first bit of lawn until it's totally covered. Get a piece of wood such as a plank, lay it horizontally on its side edge then start at one edge and smooth the soil over just as if you were plastering a wall. This will show where the dips in the lawn are because you will be able to see they're filled in with soil whereas the higher bits won't be, then repeat this over the rest of the lawn. Next you walk over the lawn like a penguin with its feet splayed to settle the soil into the dips or use a lawnmower with a roller but don't switch it on. Repeat both these processes until it's all evenly covered and level. Re-seed and gently rake it over. Once the grass starts to grow leave it as long as possible before its first cut. You may find there may be the odd dip but that can easily be sorted out later.

[Dynamite]

I absolutely would not kill anything. Remove the turkeys and stack them to create great loam which can be reused.

Kind Regards.............Rob

[veggiechicken]

I absolutely would not kill anything. Remove the turkeys and stack them to create great loam which can be reused.

Kind Regards.............Rob

Poor turkeys.