Want to grow food or ornamental plants instead of grass? Me too! But the first step to doing that is getting rid of your grass and preparing the soil. Sure, you can dig the grass out…but I don’t recommend it. Why? Well, it’s a lot of work, it’s less sustainable, and it doesn’t do anything to improve soil health.
Sheet mulching, on the other hand, adds organic matter, feeding beneficial microbes and improving soil fertility over time. As another bonus, it also allows you to recycle materials like cardboard and yard waste, helping to naturally suppress weeds. So let’s walk through how I sheet mulched a grassy area we’re putting a berry patch into!
Supplies used
- Paper bags or cardboard
- Mulch, compost, or wood chips
- Dried leaves (optional)
Step 1: Spread leaves
This step is optional, but if you’re sheet mulching in the fall and have access to dried leaves, it’s a GREAT addition to your sheet mulching project! We got a bunch of bags of dried leaves from neighbors on yard waste day, so I used those.
A thick layer of dried leaves is beneficial because they release nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium as they decompose, conditioning and improving the soil. Decomposed leaves also create humus, which helps to lighten up soil by improving aeration and drainage.
So I got started by laying a thick later of leaves over the whole area of grass I wanted to kill off. Then, so they didn’t blow around too much, I used the hose to wet them down.
Step 2: Lay paper bags or cardboard
Next you’ll lay paper bags or cardboard out over the area. I am using the paper bags as I empty them, but I usually stockpile cardboard boxes and use them.
Paper bags and cardboard will degrade over time, so using them is an eco-friendly and effective way to smother grass. They will act as a barrier that blocks sunlight, depriving grass and weeds of light. I also like to overlap the bags or cardboard pieces to make sure I am doing a thorough job.
Step 3: Add mulch, compost, or wood chips
As a final step, you’ll add a thick layer of mulch. That could be traditional mulch or something like compost or wood chips. I have used all of these options successfully to smother grass in sheet mulching—my choice for mulch just depends on what I’m planning for the area!
We usually use traditional mulch in areas that will become perennial beds and wood chips in areas that will become paths. For this berry patch, I’m using buckets of compost we picked up from our local dump. This is a great choice because it’s super cheap! Under a penny per pound, you just have to go pick it up.
The thicker you lay your choice of mulch, the better! My layer is only about an inch thick because we can only pick up so much compost at a time in our car. But we’re planning to add another few inches of mulch or wood chips in the spring. Rake it out to get even coverage.
Step 4: Let nature do its thing!
Now we wait! The elements will help to begin breaking down the leaves and improving the soil under all of these layers. In the spring, we’ll top off the mulch when we do all of our mulching, as well as spot-treat any areas that have grown through with horticultural vinegar and a bunch more mulch 🙂 Until then!
Pin this!
Brittany is a seasoned DIY home and garden expert, running a creative brand since 2014 that inspires others with approachable plant care guides, woodworking tutorials, and decor projects. She is a certified project manager and has completed extensive coursework in the art and science of growing your own plants. Her work has been recognized by major publications, and she routinely collaborates with fellow DIY industry leaders—but her favorite thing to do is inspire you! Learn more about her here.
Leave a comment