Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Roundup use in common areas

[Sheila Vince (mckinley.sv]

Here in Massachusetts we are gradually replacing our dreadful builders-special 
lawn with native grasses and flowers. This is how we do it successfully.  I 
don’t know how this translates to CO, but a local native plant Facebook group 
or equivalent  could help out. We are a senior group so no play areas required.

Organic method:
Cut grass as short as possible.
Cover with flattened cardboard boxes.
Dampen if possible.
Cover with wood chips or other mulch, etc to weigh cardboard down.
Check periodically for death of lawn.

If you are planting plugs, you can plant through the cardboard.  If seed, you 
may have to take the cardboard up.  I strongly suggest doing this over a period 
but sounds like that is the plan already.  This method has worked in a wet 
meadow and dry sandy soil.

Good luck

Sheila Vince
Hager Homestead
Littleton, MA


> On Oct 2, 2026, at 10:45 AM, Ceil Malek via Cohousing-L <cohousing-l [at] 
> cohousing.org> wrote:
>
> Our community, Casa Verde Commons in Colorado Springs, is proposing to use
> Roundup extensively to kill old grass in preparation for planting native
> grass.  The intention is to cut down on water bills and prepare for coming
> climate change, which is admirable..
>
> Our landscape committee, which is proposing the project, advocates this use
> of Roundup t because it's time limited, but the chemical will be
> administered over a three-year period. Final decision will come from the
> board, not the community.
>
> I'm wondering what other communities have done.  Are there viable
> alternatives to using Roundup?  Do other communities have a model for
> changing to native grass that doesn't challenge the health of community
> members, especially the vulnerable ones. We have young children, older
> people with various health challenges, dogs, and cats whose exposure to the
> chemical Roundup may be especially problematic.
>
> Thanks for your help.
> Ceil Malek
> Casa Verde Commons
> Colorado Springs, CO
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