Lawn to garden

Happy autumn!

Now that the heat in garden zone 7b has blown by, I am ready to get back to my outdoor projects.

I have about 2 acres of lawn that will eventually be given new life as gardens. Starting with a little less than one acre of weedy grass first. I have an abundance of packing paper and cardboard boxes.

I have read and viewed plenty of videos that show either removing the grass or flipping the grass before placing the cardboard. With a first step of mowing the grass short first. Yet, I have read one tid bit of keeping the grass and weeds as is with the cardboard on top. The reading stated this was more true to permaculture gardening because it creates a more healthy condition. The greens and browns working together to breakdown with cardboard still suffocating the grass and weeds. Great for the worms.

Looking for some insightful experience please. If it matters, the area I am starting with will be raised beds.

Thanks,
Pamela

I can vouch that it does work. We have many beds that were grass when we started making them last fall.  We did not tear the grass up.  We just piled cardboard or newspaper and dirt on top of the grass to a thickness of 8-15".  Some grass has managed to grow through this year but not much at all.  And our plants have been happy as can be.  I would say save your back and your energy and don't bother trying to remove the grass before putting down your raised beds.  

Thank you Jen for the helpful reply.
Approximately how long was your wait period before you started gardening on the new area?

We planted lavender and peonies in two of the beds right after we prepared them.  We planted the vegetable garden the next spring.  I don't think you need to wait at all really.  Have fun!

To some extent, it depends on how stubborn your grass is. If it was Bermuda grass then definitely worth the effort to chop and flip (there's a machine most rental places have that will cut your sod an inch or so below the soil.) But for the large size you are doing it would be hard to justify all that sod cutting with "normal" grass.

Curious, you mention the acre you are working on but also that you are starting with raised beds. Not sure if you are trying to smother everything in that acre or just where the individual spots where beds will be. Either way, I'd build the beds first, put down the smothering layers inside, and start throwing in more and more organic matter. For example, right now is the perfect time to use your mower to chop up a nice mixture of grass and leaves to add to those beds.

Jen - Yes, I certainly plan to enjoy this project. I am working on my graph paper layout right now. Will start my seeds indoors for a spring planting.

Matt - I have never bothered to research what types of grasses I have. There are several patches of different types. Since moving to this property, I always knew I would be removing all the grass. All of my identification time is spent on the many weeds and flowers here.
I won't be doing the entire acre at once this autumn. I am working on the exact size right now based on how many beds and paths. Would like my paths between beds to not have grass either. At least 104 feet across in either direction. I am starting in a circle in the middle of this acre and working outward. Because of neighbor's dogs (many) and horses that run free everywhere, including on my property, I will be putting up temporary fencing that can easily be expanded as I expand my garden. Also taking into consideration easy access to where I will catch water, compost pile, sun, etc.
Raised beds seem to be the best option for me. Besides a great amount of large rock, we have a tremendous amount of debris buried from previous owner. Debris that I do not want to grow food in such as tires, car parts, glass, and building materials.
Mowed grass mulch, yes. My new mower with mulch capability arrives next week.

Hi again.  When I watched this video, I thought of you.  It's a good instructional video on sheet mulching lawns/weeds.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PB0Ym_iXmc  I was thinking it might come in helpful even after you get past the raised bed work you are doing.
This you tube video link was attached to an email I got from ChipDrop, which is a great source for free mulch, if they are in your area.  I just got 20 yards of pine bark from them for free!!!

Thank you Jen for the info. I watched the video, so easy. I am purchasing more temporary fencing tomorrow for the area I am starting in. I also signed up for chip drop, thanks. I will post pics of the progress.

I've never flipped the sod over and I get 99.9% grass kill within 2 months.  I don't mow it either.  

2 or more layers of cardboard, covered with a foot of wood-chips.  The only thing that might come up is crab-grass, but if it pushes through all those wood chips, its easily yanked out.

Try to remove the plastic tape from cardboard boxes before you lay it down, or you'll be finding long strings of non-decomposed packing tape in your garden for years to come.

Thank you Marco. I have enough cardboard and packing paper to put down several layers. No tape, I did not want any plastic in the garden. Plenty of time for a spring planting, yay.