You can spray the area with Roundup (unless you or the wife is trying to go strictly "no chemicals"). One of the uses of Roundup is to sterilize soil in preparation for planting. Follow the instructions on the bottle.

After the grass is dead, you can do as "Squabble" suggests and till it under. The organic material will help enrich the soil.

__________________
-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250