Will Putting Mulch on Grass Kill It?

Place the mulch as you lay the paper so you don't have to walk on/tear the wet paper. If you are placing the mulch when the plants are already in the ground, keep the mulch a foot from the plant stem. Sheet mulching requires 6-10 months to kill a lawn. It can be left in place permanently.

Should you kill grass before mulching?

You asked, "Should the grass be dead before laying down the newspapers and mulch?" The answer is no. The smothering method should kill the grass. ... The initial watering of the mulch just packs it down real well and keeps it from blowing away.

Will a thick layer of mulch kill grass?

A thick layer of dense mulch that stays moist, such as 4 inches of wood chips, can cause the crown to rot and the plant to die. This technique works best in the cool part of the year when rain is plentiful because it's too cool for the grass to grow. I've rarely seen this be completely effective in warm weather.