[permaculture-oceania] Would a thick mulch kill grass?

[Terry Leahy]

You don't say what kind of grass it is but generally the only thing that works is shading it out.  In which case you need to mulch heavily around fast growing nurse plants - like wattles if you are establishing a native section - and then mow the rest to stop the grass coming back across the mulch - until you get some decent shade.  Don't put in anything too delicate or slow growing until you have got that shade up would be my advice,

Terry

>>> paul.darrington at optusnet.com Monday, 21 August 2006 10:18 pm >>>
I've got about 3 acres of grass to kill, progressivley, & am wondering how thick mulch would have to be before grass will not grow through it.

This grass will be healily mowed prior to mulching (at ground level).

We've be told to use cardboard, but this seams a very labour intensive process, which may blow away unless covered, and may stop water  infiltration (unless punched with holes).

This mulch technique is mainly for a buffer zone, council owned, which we are regenerating with bush tucker & other native plants.

For our own block, we want to kill the grass (glyphosphate), mow & till (if need be), and then sow with a lucerne / chicory / clover mix. 
This is intended to form a living, N fixing ground cover in which we can then plant our trees into.


Sorry bout the lengthy questions, any ideas?

Cheers, 

Paul Darrington

2.5 acres (+2 acres of adjoining council land to play with! )
Coastal Coffs Harbour
Subtropical Food Forest Intended