Converting Wooded Land to Lawn: Roundup, Timing, and Seeding

Question

Bob in northern MN cleared 1 acre of wooded lakeshore (big trees left). Weed-whacked ferns/forest weeds. Wants economical way to prevent regrowth and start grass. Poison ground first?

Answer

1. Let weeds regrow a bit (must be actively growing to absorb herbicide).
2. Spray Roundup (glyphosate) on calm day, wear protection. Non-selective, kills via leaves. No soil translocation—safe near trees.
3. Wait for dieback (days).
4. Till soil, seed grass.
5. Use "weed and grass killer" (Roundup-type), NOT "brush/grass killer" (persists in soil for months).

Key Points

Glyphosate allows immediate reseeding. Timing: spray when weeds have fresh growth. Avoid drift on desirable plants.