A homeowner took to Reddit to seek advice on how to best prepare for his new garden with native plants.
Deciding to replace all or part of your lawn with native plants is an admirable undertaking – but it also requires a bit of work. A gardener asked the r/NoLawns community on Reddit for advice on best practices for suppressing his grass. They explained: “I was raking leaves today and raking the leaves over where we plan to plant next spring, but now I'm wondering if I should have put the cardboard down first. Am I overthinking this and is one layer of leaves going to be good enough?
The OP planned to put the cardboard on top of the leaves they had raked to create a weed barrier and hopefully kill the grass underneath. This method is known as sheet mulching, and the UC Davis Arboretum has written about this practice as an effective way to get rid of your lawn. They recommended: “Late winter or early spring is the perfect time to start. There are five steps involved, four active and one inactive: Cut your lawn as deep as possible, cover it with cardboard, moisten the cardboard, and add 4 to 6 inches of mulch; and wait until fall to plant.
Opting for lawn alternatives such as native plants or clover has proven to be an environmentally friendly choice in recent years. The 2023 National Garden Survey, conducted in collaboration with the National Wildlife Federation, found that “12 percent of U.S. adults convert parts of their lawn into a natural or wildflower landscape.”
In addition to the environmental benefits of supporting local flora and fauna, lawn alternatives are also good for your budget. Natural grass can save homeowners hundreds of dollars annually on water costs and fertilizer.
Turf opponents on Reddit had a lot of advice for the OP.
One person shared their experience and said: “I've done this several times and it doesn't really matter much, but cardboard on top is probably easier to deal with.”
Someone else gave detailed instructions on how to proceed when destroying a lawn. They wrote: “Mow the area EXTREMELY SHORT in the fall and remove clippings to compost. Scrape up the dirt with a rake or scarifier (just rough it up, don't work it). Sow your native grass and wildflower seeds. Leave them alone.” See what emerges in the spring. You may need to plant more in future fall, but it's a lot less work than layering.
Another commenter shared his experience and added: “I really hope it's cardboard first and then leaves because I just spent two days on it!”
🗣️ If you were switching from a lawn to a more natural option, which of these factors would be your main motivation?
🔘 To make it look better 🌱
🔘 Save money on water and maintenance 💰
🔘 Helping pollinators 🐝
🔘 There is no way I will ever get rid of my lawn 🚫
🗳️ Click on your selections to see the results and express your opinion
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