Lawn to Habitat Transformations
Let’s talk lawns!
Veteran and novice gardeners alike are taking on a challenge that has built momentum in recent years: to remove or reduce their lawns in an effort to create a diversified and eco-friendly landscape that simultaneously beckons and benefits pollinators. Along the way, homeowners are expanding their idea of what is possible in their spaces and redefining beauty in their landscapes.
Below is a sample of what we received when we asked people to share their lawn transformation stories.
Whether the project was small or large, built over one season or many, the gardeners all experienced how quickly their former green spaces gave way to buzzing and lively habitats full of color, height, and dimension. The sheer number of native plant options is truly extraordinary and many of them are on display in these photos.
Carving out even a small area of your lawn offers tremendous opportunities for a vibrant ecosystem. We hope these stories inspire you to witness what is not only possible but doable.
[Submissions have been edited for clarity and length.]
Front to Back Refresh
New generations are losing the romance of nature, especially the art of gardening; yet in gardening projects, we can accomplish something not only beautiful, but truly important. Families pass down skills and influence hobbies, but most importantly instill values: sadly a lush, colorful and biodiverse yard is rarely one of them.
When I was young I tinkered in the yard and had some interest in plants and flowers. Fast forward to adulthood where I found a cute cape cod style house with a yard. Like the average first home owner I began to maintain the yard: cutting grass, trimming bushes and cleaning up the neglected and limited garden beds. I soon started seeing spring bulbs pop up and then perennials that improved each year with mulching and continuous weeding. I then started to regain and build on my spark for plants.
Over time, I got fed up mowing an ugly half-dead yard while noticing minimal color and basically no bug life. It was time for a change.
I noticed one side of my front lawn was a different type of grass: brown, thick and difficult to mow. That burden was actually the best thing that could have happened! It started me on a journey to becoming plant obsessed and wanting to learn everything there is about plants and biodiversity.
Over several years, I gradually removed section by section of grass using various methods which were aided by utilizing online community groups: renting a sod cutter, giving away to a neighbor who took some via tractor while they were working on a project to replace damaged lawn, and sending some to a local composting site. At the composting site, I found those great angled bricks that I used for my front yard rock wall! Now grass is a thing of the past. FINALLY!
I must note the influence of frugality here: if I did not research, network and think on my feet I may never have turned a mere vision into reality. This project has shaped me into a person I can’t have imagined myself being 15 years ago, but I’m so grateful it has. I love learning from others, sharing my experiences, endless up-cycling possibilities, trading seeds and plants. There is so much to know, but that just keeps gardening interesting. I’ve made so many lifelong friendships through the love of plants. Gardeners are truly amazing people!
Lindsay H.
Western New York State
From Backyard Lawn to Meadow
We had a nice lawn in the backyard but really it was … boring.
So we set to finding alternatives. They were not easy to come by … ideas, designs, plants …
But then, if I had all the info at my fingertips, I may never have founded ReWild! 😊
I would have done sheet mulching but I never heard of it in 2017. I did it the hard way: renting a rototiller from The Home Depot (twice)!
We rototilled the lawn in spring and then again 4 weeks later. We then scattered an assortment of native plant seeds and annuals, not knowing what would happen … we now have a meadow.
Raju Rajan, Founder of ReWild Long Island
Port Washington, NY
Meandering Paths And Lush Gardens
This was a transformation that began in Fall of 2022. I had no clue but did try to use native plants and shrubs, while considering an active deer population as well as winter interest.
Living in this town, my focus is more on excessive water waste, pesticides, and clear cutting. I can't even get bats to move in, since everyone around me is spraying for mosquitos. Sad.
To remove the lawn, my landscaper used a spade type shovel and removed it. Like the reverse of laying sod. I staked out the path and had a mason set the gray brick in mortar, since I had the brick laying around. I laid the red brick path myself in sand. It was tough to make cuts by hand, but eventually I got better at it. I ended up not being happy with the masonry work but I was happy with my plan and path. I learned I can trust myself.
Rose
Remsenburg, NY
Small Space, Big Impact
I shared my story in a slide presentation as a guest speaker for ReWild during a monthly meeting. Here are some of the photos of my gardens before and after the transformation of one section of my front lawn. I utilized The Town of North Hempstead Native Plant Rebate program and received funds that I used toward the purchase of the native plants used in the new garden.
I removed the grass using a shovel, turned the soil underneath, planted and covered with mulch. I did not use the cardboard method; this worked fine for me especially because I was impatient to get started.
I do need to weed a bit but nothing major.
Lisa Stancati
Port Washington, NY
Curb Grass Strip Yields to Bountiful Blooms
I started this in September of 2019. I enlarged a lawn opening in the curb grass strip and covered it with newspaper. I covered the newspaper with mulch that I got from the Town’s recycling center. Then I added wildflower seeds. It is a work in progress and not all native, but that is the idea.
Randy Wade
Greenport, NY
