Wood Chips AND Solarization?

Right now I have a HUGE pile of wood chips in my driveway, covered with a HUGE heavy black tarp (the kind they cover tractor trailers with).

I have a side yard of grass that I'd love to get rid of.    I'm realizing that tarp would be an excellent way to solarize that whole yard and kill the grass.   (actually I just learned it's called occultation with opaque material).  But I don't want to leave the wood chips uncovered.

If I could mow short,  woodchip, and then put the tarp OVER the whole thing,  would that still work?   It would save me the cardboard step and let me use what I have and just leave it.

Any problems with the tarp over chips?  Will it still kill the grass?   I can leave it all winter if I want to, time isnt a factor until spring when I want to put a greenhouse there.   Neighbors might hate looking at it, but maybe that will motivate me to get it fenced in sooner rather than later.  

Add 12 inches of wood chip to the grass and you no longer have a grass problem.

I don't think I've got 12 inches for it;  probably 5-6"  all over is max.   It's a pretty big side yard.  

Anyone else have any thoughts on any reason why I SHOULDN'T do this?  It's on the possible list of big jobs for this long holiday weekend.  

Heather Staas wrote:probably 5-6"  all over is max.   It's a pretty big side yard.  
Anyone else have any thoughts on any reason why I SHOULDN'T do this?  It's on the possible list of big jobs for this long holiday weekend.  

Covering with 6" of wood chips is what I have read that will work.  The 12" of wood chips that Edward suggested is not wrong though maybe more than is necessary, though better.

Heather said, "covered with a HUGE heavy black tarp (the kind they cover tractor trailers with)

Heather said, "solarize that whole yard and kill the grass.   (actually I just learned it's called occultation with opaque material).

I am a little confused here.  Do you want to solarize with the black tarp over the wood chips?  How would the sun get to the wood chips to solarize them?

Using an opaque material would work because the opaque material would let the sunshine get in to the wood chips.  An opaque material might be something like clear plastic.

I want to caution you about using the truck tarp based on how it possibly was made.

Anne said, "Our hunters' truck tarp had some sort of backing that came loose with lots of fiber that would not be good for ducks.

Anne said "I am not sure which is worse the billboard vinyl or the truck tarp. The truck tarp is made of vinyl or PVC-coated polyester.

https://permies.com/t/189937/Moveable-duck-pond-duck-pool#1564534
https://permies.com/t/189937/Moveable-duck-pond-duck-pool#1565311

Based on our experience with the commercial truck tarp we are no longer using it.

Heya Heather, I believe your combo idea is good and absolutely should do the job of getting rid of the grass.

Toxicity issues with the tarp... I'm not sure, but I think with it sitting on the top you shouldn't have any problems.  The tarp will help speed up the breakdown of the 6" of wood chips by trapping heat and moisture in there and providing a good fungal habitat over the winter, while also occluding all sunlight to the grass.  Seems to me like the whole plan is pretty good!