| Method |
Pros |
Cons |
Timing |
Best for: |
| Repeated Tilling (Stale Seedbed) |
Chemical and plastic-free option; suitable for large areas
|
May lead to erosion, spread of jumping worms or invasive plant root fragments; damages soil structure, soil carbon and soil biota
|
Full growing season, 2-5 rounds of tillage over 4-5 months |
Flat sites, large-scale meadow projects |
| Herbicide Treatment |
Less damage to soil structure than tilling; will not spread invasives; works for large areas |
Toxicity concerns; potential spray drift or impacts on non-target plants and animals |
1-4 applications 3-4 weeks apart; on existing vegetation |
Areas with rhizomatous invasives; large-scale meadow projects; areas previously exposed to herbicide |
| Smothering (Tarping) |
Chemical-free, low-impact option |
Not feasible on large scale; difficult to recycle and creates plastic waste; ugly |
Full growing season (5 months coverage) |
Small spaces and lawn-to-meadow conversion |
