[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6220833,"mediaKeyId","3616119-0babeed730786787ae8ac05e6fbb7e7d","parentId",3616119,"title","Experts: kill turf completely, call 811 before digging and add compost to improve soil for waterwise landscapes","audioSeconds",1593,"startMs",592000,"endMs",2185000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3616119-0babeed730786787ae8ac05e6fbb7e7d&start=592&end=2185","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3616119-0babeed730786787ae8ac05e6fbb7e7d/thumbnail_592000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6220833/Utah/Experts-kill-turf-completely-call-811-before-digging-and-add-compost-to-improve-soil-for-waterwise-landscapes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6220833-8770cf643147e8fc4dde3a209b4b348a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771117849&Signature=fbKt~i7ecGdZ9OjiJQDv8L4emneZZVldg3Nfsjt3ltxuZwZZQqDaworGauWBNYxFtW8-9SrVH-mxL1nnxGBlyQlCo8x02TcvsbLV6yJS5J2d~f0Ke4r6pzdCbnfBkWe7ZAL6aKKJ~DMbiQ63Yj2oGps~YZZF-4hqdzQx2FQDDNYRZP-liZXUzsRY0VSwQprZLaIvyZVsIaL~YmqGbtBVonJb7-2dmAfU84wGjZXswfJvyuFDuCyAhEfomm9dPMtXJ4FgEFyh33fVI9o3~KMkKhkfzeQx7fOpUUjz~VDBkrP2C1BCWipHM18kuZBK30vFmkbLbD7rt0BICeeEtePkMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-29T19:52:32Z","article","David Rice, water conservation manager at the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, walked webinar attendees through methods to remove turf and prepare soil for waterwise landscaping, emphasizing thorough eradication of turf and care around mature trees. “I will want to emphasize, you need to make sure the lawn is dead and go deep enough to get roots out,” Rice said.

Rice described four broad approaches: solarization (clear plastic covers left in place for several weeks to “cook” the turf), herbicide application (noting glyphosate is the primary active ingredient in many products), mechanical removal with sod cutters or small excavators, and tilling after the turf is verified dead. He warned that solarization and other methods take time: “Solarizing is not like a 3 or 4 day thing. This is weeks long.”

Rice advised caution around trees and irrigation infrastructure. He said homeowners should “call 811” before digging to have underground utilities located and warned that shallow buried lines can still be damaged. He also recommended marking existing sprinkler heads before mechanical removal so irrigation lines can be capped or converted rather than accidentally broken.

On herbicides, Rice described glyphosate as a common nonselective option and cautioned about formulations: \"The primary ingredient for most herbicides that are gonna do this is glyphosate.\" He advised following label instructions and noted many applications require two passes to ensure deep-rooted turf is dead. He also cautioned that some branded products now include additional ingredients and that those mixtures can have longer soil residuals.

For soil preparation, Rice emphasized adding organic matter as the best amendment for nearly all Utah soils. “The best soil amendment for any soil is organic matter,” he said, and advised mixing compost into the surface to the depth possible. He offered application guidance discussed in the webinar: light topdressing for existing lawn, about 1 inch per year for ordinary maintenance, 2–3 inches of low-salt compost where heavier amendment is needed, and working compost into the soil as deeply as practical (Rice cited 6–12 inches where feasible). He recommended a soil test through the Utah State University Extension office for homeowners uncertain about texture or nutrient needs.

Rice also addressed special cases: bermudagrass and alfalfa are difficult to eradicate and may require repeated chemical or mechanical treatments; solarization is less reliable for deep-rooted, resilient species. He urged homeowners to avoid damaging mature trees when removing adjacent turf and suggested using cardboard shields or careful hand removal where roots and sprouts are present.

No formal policy decisions were made in the webinar—presenters provided technical guidance, program contacts and resources for residents planning conversions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Waterwise Landscapes DIY Series: Tips for Removing Lawn and Prepping Soil","oneSentenceSummary","Weber Basin expert David Rice and Utah Division of Water Resources staff outlined four primary methods to remove lawn—solarization, herbicide, mechanical removal and tilling—urged callers to contact 811 before digging, and recommended organic matter (compost) as the primary soil amendment.","taxTitle","Utah Division of Water Rights, Utah Government Divisions, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",76713,"location","Utah","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6220836,"Statewide landscape incentive program offers up to $3 per square foot for lawn-to-waterwise conversions",68,114000,182000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3616119-0babeed730786787ae8ac05e6fbb7e7d&start=114&end=182","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3616119-0babeed730786787ae8ac05e6fbb7e7d/thumbnail_114000.jpg","/articles/6220836/Utah/Statewide-landscape-incentive-program-offers-up-to-3-per-square-foot-for-lawn-to-waterwise-conversions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6220836-1b7fb562cbf15419b622ad2838cf3580/orig.mp4?Expires=1771117849&Signature=RhvS8QjdQwyydJg6yUVQnSPf1BgUend5COs39Emus9YbQV4r78xgNI-vFhgu0ktbUCnrbqwJt~Rhf9VDcKLnO3kskVEsy5ml49KcOD1mQlhaI1hgA26kSyu-St8ma9YZDc2aCxZjYLbBJBwq2qxTSefmWibrqlFlZYAeRlsChYjbBq~HzMGhUG06fKxHcf-zWkLPxjhMgm7MZdwWmcnrM3Mzs6pCVaXpfQxm7psraQfW6eczeW3omPhdRReFcZUzMx9nS6S4tcH9YRJqa-v66POI2gwpPAQr7mgGojNwDAgpBQpMEF~utroJ5MUm-GXvt6dEiK6M2QaYM3dmQh25cQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Candace Scheible, water conservation coordinator with the Utah Division of Water Resources, said the state supports homeowners converting turf to water-efficient landscapes through a statewide Landscape Incentive Program. “This program offers up to $3 a square foot for lawn that's replaced with water efficient landscaping,” Scheible said during a monthly webinar for program participants.

The program is administered locally and eligibility, payment amounts and application requirements vary by jurisdiction. Scheible directed participants to a centralized resource: “When you click on that or go to the link, it just takes you to a Google Sheet where we just organized all the cities across the state,” which lists the agency operating the program in each area and eligibility guidance. She said if a homeowner is outside an incorporated area they should look up their county on the sheet to find the appropriate local contact.

Scheible emphasized one program condition described during the webinar: local areas operating the program must adopt water-efficient standards for new construction in order to participate. She encouraged residents to contact local representatives if those standards are not yet in place.

The webinar format included a short educational presentation followed by a Q&A and a post-event survey. Scheible asked attendees to use the session survey to suggest future topics and to use the Q&A box during the webinar so organizers could track questions and follow up.

Because the program is administered by local agencies, Scheible recommended applicants confirm specific rules, deadlines and required documentation with the local implementer listed on the statewide sheet before applying. The webinar did not announce any new statutory changes or state-level legislative actions; it described the existing incentive program and where to find local contact information.","The Utah Division of Water Resources described a statewide Landscape Incentive Program that pays up to $3 per square foot to replace lawn with water-efficient landscaping; eligibility and administration vary by locality and applicants should contact their local implementing agency.","actionData","errors"]

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Experts: kill turf completely, call 811 before digging and add compost to improve soil for waterwise landscapes

Statewide landscape incentive program offers up to $3 per square foot for lawn-to-waterwise conversions