Question
I like to remove say an area of 30'x7' of grass, so I can plant some trees. Do I have to dig up all the grass land or I just cover the area with plastic sheets and wood chips, the grass will die, or I have to dig them all out then cover with plastic sheets and wood chips.

Thanks Ponam

Answer
Hi Ponam;
Why do you want to remove the grass?
Leaving the grass will help keep the soil from eroding from under the tender sapling roots.
Make sure the soil is loose enough for the tree roots to grow. Too much clay in the soil can keep them from moving thriough the soil well.Clay soil does not absorb water well either.
I am assuming the trees are in containers.
Dig a hole twice the width of the conrainer, and about twice as deep.
Fill the hole with water, and watch to see how long it takes the water to drain.
If it gradually soaks into the soil, and all drains in a few hours, the soil is loose enough. If there is still some water in the soil say about 4 to 6 hours later. You need to loosen the soil some before you plant the trees.
You loosen soil by tilling things into it.
To looosen up clay soil, I mix 1 part spagnum peat, 2 parts humus, and 4 parts bark mulch. I mix that in equal parts with the soil that is there. That will make it loose enough to grow things in.
If the soil is loose enough, get some Planter's mix or Landscper's mix. they are both the same thing, just called a little different by different companies.
They are a mixture of peat humus and top aoil, and bark mulch.
Mix the planter's mix with 1 part mix and 1 part the soil you dug out of the hole.
You can make your own planter's mix by mixing 1 part spagnum peat, 2 oparts humus, 4 parts bark mulch. Mix that in equal parts with top soil. them mix that mixture with equal parts of the soil you have now. It is easier and really a little cheaper to buy the planter;s mix, but if you can't find it you can make your own.
Fill in and tamp down with this mixture until there is enough room that the tree will set about 1 inch below the ground level, put the tree in and fill around and tamp down with the mix. Water well.
The grass will be far enough away from the tree trunk for you to mow without hitting the tree trunk.
You can put a border around the hole, and mulch it well to hold out the heat, and help prevent drought damage.
Don't pile the mulch ( I use bark mulch) against the tree trunk. Leave about 1 or 2 inches .
If you are not wanting grass to be there at all, though I can't imagine why, when the trees grow enough to cover that area with shade, the grass will die out.
Without the grass, when you water or it rains, you will just have a muddy mess.
Grass does not take nutrients from trees. Trees take nutrients from the grass.
If you cover with plastic sheets, water will not get through to the soil and plants, and the ground will sour and smell to high heaven.
If you are determined to remove the grass, it partly depends on what kind of grass you want to remove.
Some grasses have deeper root systems, and are harder to kill out.
does this answer it for you?
If nt, write back and give me more details and I will then tell you the best way to remove it. But it would be better for the trees and just better all around if you left the grass.
Charlotte