- Pick the type of garden<\/a><\/li>
- Pick a location<\/a><\/li>
- Get rid of the grass<\/a><\/li>
- Test and amend your soil<\/a><\/li>
- Choose your plants<\/a><\/li>
- Build your garden beds<\/a><\/li>
- Plant flowers and veggies<\/a><\/li>
- Mulch your garden beds<\/a><\/li>
- Add some personality<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/li>
- FAQ<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
![\"Assorted](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/pexels-leigh-patrick-298246_800.jpg\")
Leigh Patrick<\/a> | Pexels<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> Why turn my lawn into a garden?<\/span><\/h2>
Lawns filled with beds of vegetables and wildflowers are more than a trendy landscaping project \u2013 they promote an eco-friendly lifestyle. <\/p>
With the pollinator population threatened, many homeowners are making their yards a haven for bees<\/a> and butterflies. There\u2019s no better way to do so than getting rid of your lawn and filling it with native plants instead of nonnative turfgrass. <\/p>
Switching to a garden might be a good idea for you if you\u2019re sick of the grass allergies<\/a> and high water bills<\/a> that come with a healthy, green lawn. <\/p>
Here are some other benefits of turning your lawn into a garden:<\/strong><\/p>
- Less mowing and other lawn chores<\/li>
- Grow and harvest edible produce<\/li>
- Grow and harvest aromatic and decorative flowers<\/li>
- Supports local pollinators<\/li>
- Reduces your carbon footprint by decreasing travel for store-bought food<\/li>
- Gets family members involved in nature<\/li>
- Gives your landscape a unique, vibrant look<\/li>
- Increases household health by providing more fresh fruit and veggies<\/li><\/ul>
How to turn my lawn into a garden<\/span><\/h2>
![\"Mother](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/kid-freindly-edible-garden_800.jpg\")
Yan Krukov<\/a> | Pexels<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> 1. Pick the type of garden<\/span><\/h3>
If you\u2019re new to gardening, it can be intimidating to decide what type of garden you should plant. For inspiration, here are some common and unique types of gardens:<\/p>
- Edible garden<\/a>: a garden full of edible vegetables, herbs, fruits, and even flowers, best planted close to the kitchen<\/li>
- Feed plot gardens: a garden dedicated to feeding critters like deer and rabbits<\/a>, can help keep them out of your other garden(s), best planted by the edge of your property<\/li>
- Rain garden<\/a>: for homeowners with wet yards, filled with water-loving plants to reduce flooding<\/li>
- Sensory garden<\/a>: build a garden to tickle your senses, appealing to sight, smell, taste, touch, and sound<\/li>
- Native plant garden<\/a>: a garden that\u2019s typically full of low-maintenance plants that attract birds, bees, and butterflies<\/li>
- Butterfly garden<\/a>: a garden that specifically attracts butterflies and also feeds their larvae<\/li>
- Cutting garden<\/a>: a garden filled with flowers grown to be cut and arranged<\/li>
- Container garden<\/a>: a garden built above the ground in containers<\/li>
- Succulent garden<\/a>: a low water-use garden that features succulents, cacti, and rocks<\/li>
- Moon garden<\/a>: to be enjoyed after-hours, a garden that blooms at night<\/li>
- Cottage garden<\/a>: a thrifty or whimsical garden, often associated with English homesteads<\/li><\/ul>
Will you be planting your garden directly into the ground or in planters and raised beds? This will determine whether or not you\u2019ll need to complete the most challenging step \u2014 getting rid of the grass.<\/p>
![\"Sunny](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/pexels-pixabay-60006_800.jpg\")
Pixabay<\/a> | Pexels<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> 2. Pick a location<\/span><\/h3>
Select the garden size<\/h4>
Are you converting your entire yard into a vegetable garden? Maybe you just want to do half the backyard or are imagining islands of flowerbeds decorating your outdoor living space. <\/p>
If you\u2019re new to gardening, it\u2019s a good idea to start small and grow your garden area each year to avoid dead plants, tears, and time wasted. If you\u2019re planning on running a self-sustaining homestead, you\u2019ll want to make the most out of the land you have.<\/p>
If you have a pet, you\u2019ll want to keep a section of your lawn where they can play (and relieve themselves). Choosing a grass type<\/a> that\u2019s more resistant to pet urine for this area will ensure it stays green.<\/p>
Decide on sunlight requirements<\/h4>
Take note of which sections of your lawn receive ample sunlight. Most flowers, vegetables, and fruits require six to eight hours of sunlight per day to thrive. South-facing gardens often provide the most sunlight as long as there aren\u2019t any trees or roofs blocking the rays. Use washable chalk spray to outline ideal sunny spots to begin a garden. <\/p>
If your backyard is shaded, don\u2019t fret. Stun your neighbors with an abundant vegetable garden in front of your house, or use what you\u2019ve got and design a shade garden<\/a>. You can try to reduce shade in your yard by removing or trimming large bushes and trees. <\/p>
![\"Digging](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/dig-up-grass.jpg\")
Greta Hoffman<\/a> | Pexels<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> 3. Get rid of the grass<\/span><\/h3>
Give your lawn one last mow and say goodbye. If you\u2019re planting your garden directly into the ground, you\u2019ll need to get rid of all the grass<\/a> first. <\/p>
Why should you remove your grass?<\/h4>
If the soil layer on top of the grass is not dense enough, grass shoots or weeds might pop through and disturb your garden. If you have a strong, healthy lawn, your grass roots can be up to 2 or 3 feet deep. Take the time to remove all grass and weeds in the area where you want to grow your garden. <\/p>
Not all gardening projects require you to get rid of your grass. If you\u2019re building raised garden beds, you don\u2019t need to remove your lawn. However, it will be difficult to mow around and between raised garden beds. Consider planting low-growing cover crops like clover<\/a> that don\u2019t need to be trimmed, and will attract more bees to your garden. You also can surround the raised garden beds with hardscaping elements like gravel and paving. <\/p>
Before you remove grass<\/h4>
- Call 311 to make sure you don\u2019t accidentally cut or dig into any utility lines<\/li>
- Remove your sprinkler system if you have one<\/li>
- Check local guidelines or with your HOA to see if there are restrictions for removing your grass<\/li><\/ul>
How to approach your last mow<\/h4>
Set your mower to its lowest setting and feel free to scalp the grass<\/a>. Cutting your grass as low as possible will speed up the decomposition process and make it easier to remove or kill the remaining grass blades.<\/p>
How to remove grass<\/h4>
You probably won\u2019t want to kill your grass off with herbicides, since you\u2019ll likely be planting some edible herbs, vegetables, or fruits in your garden. Thankfully, there are some chemical-free ways to get rid of your turf: <\/p>
- Dig out the sod by hand<\/li>
- Use motorized tools to remove the sod<\/li>
- Smother the grass<\/li>
- Solarize your lawn<\/li>
- Sheet mulching<\/li><\/ul>
If you\u2019re turning your entire lawn into a garden, you might want to smother, solarize, sheet mulch, or use power tools to get rid of the grass. <\/p>
If you\u2019re doing just a section of your yard or building a few garden beds, you can quickly and easily remove grass by hand with a hoe or sharp spade. <\/p>
Removing grass\/sod busting by hand<\/h5>
Cutting and removing sod by hand is the most labor-intensive process for removing grass. It can be beneficial in jump-starting your garden if you\u2019re short on time and don\u2019t have too much area to cover. <\/p>
What you\u2019ll need:<\/strong><\/p>
- Sharp spade<\/li>
- Hoe or half-moon edger<\/li>
- Wheelbarrow<\/li>
- Soil<\/li>
- Compost<\/li><\/ul>
How to remove grass:<\/strong><\/p>
- Water the day before to soften the ground<\/li>
- Stretch thoroughly \u2014 your muscles will thank you later<\/li>
- Dig the spade into the ground and cut out sections that are about a square foot in size and 1.5 to 3 inches deep<\/li>
- Use the spade or a hoe to peel the sod back and pull it out from the ground<\/li>
- Use a wheelbarrow to store and transport the sod until you can discard or compost it<\/li>
- Pull out any remaining weeds<\/li>
- Fill in any cavities with soil<\/li>
- Rake compost into the soil<\/li>
- Garden away<\/li><\/ol>
Remove sod with a sod cutter<\/h5>
If you just want to dive right into transforming your entire yard into a garden, you\u2019ll probably need some tools to avoid serious back and knee pain from digging out all the sod. <\/p>
Use a sod cutter<\/a> or other motorized device like a rototiller to quickly cut and remove patches of your turfgrass without breaking your back. <\/p>
What you\u2019ll need:<\/strong><\/p>
- Chalk spray<\/li>
- Sod cutter or rototiller<\/li>
- Wheelbarrow<\/li><\/ul>
How to remove sod with power tools:<\/strong><\/p>
- Clear the lawn and mow<\/li>
- Water up to three days before removing the grass to soften the soil<\/li>
- Mark out the area you\u2019ll be cutting with chalk spray<\/li>
- Test out the sod cutter or rototiller by cutting out a strip, making sure it\u2019s cutting at least 1.5 to 3 inches deep <\/li>
- Continue cutting strips of your turfgrass<\/li>
- When done, cut the strips into manageable pieces (3- to 5-foot sections) <\/li>
- Transport the sod in a wheelbarrow to your compost bin<\/li>
- Fill in empty spots with soil and compost<\/li>
- Garden away<\/li><\/ol>
Solarizing grass<\/h5>
Use the power of the sun to get rid of your water-wasting grass through solarization. This method is great for weed-ridden lawns and is not very labor-intensive. Keep in mind that solarizing can take up to 12 weeks to work, so start in early spring. <\/p>
What you\u2019ll need: <\/strong><\/p>
- Clear or black plastic tarp<\/li>
- Rake<\/li>
- Bricks or rocks<\/li><\/ul>
How to solarize grass:<\/strong><\/p>
- Anchor the tarp down on your desired garden area with bricks or rocks<\/li>
- Leave for about four to 12 weeks<\/li>
- Rake away dead grass<\/li>
- Add compost and other soil amendments<\/li>
- Plant some seedlings<\/li><\/ul>
Smothering grass<\/h5>
This method is similar to solarization but instead kills the grass by cutting off oxygen. It\u2019s recommended to start the smothering process in late summer or fall to allow enough time for it to work because this process can take months. <\/p>
What you\u2019ll need:<\/strong><\/p>
- Rake<\/li>
- Mower<\/li>
- Biodegradable (unwaxed) cardboard or old newspaper<\/li>
- Garden hose<\/li>
- Mulch<\/li><\/ul>
How to smother your grass:<\/strong><\/p>
- Outline your desired garden area<\/li>
- Rake away rocks and debris<\/li>
- Mow (even scalp) your lawn<\/li>
- Remove any lingering weeds<\/li>
- Cover area with cardboard, overlapping the pieces generously to prevent weeds from popping through<\/li>
- Drench the cardboard with water<\/li>
- Add a layer of mulch to keep everything weighed down and looking nice<\/li>
- Wait until the grass has died and cardboard has decomposed to start planting<\/li><\/ol>
No-dig lasagna gardening<\/h5>
![\"illustration](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/rsz_lawnlove-lasagna-garden-illustration-v3.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div> Lasagna gardening, also known as sheet mulching, is an easy no-dig (or no-till<\/a>) gardening method. You should start your lasagna garden in late summer or fall to allow enough time for the garden layers to begin decomposing. You\u2019ll want to allow at least six months before you begin planting. <\/p>
What you\u2019ll need:<\/strong><\/p>
- Biodegradable (unwaxed) cardboard or old newspaper<\/li>
- Broken branches and twigs<\/li>
- \u201cBrown\u201d organic materials:
- Shredded newspaper<\/li>
- Shredded leaves<\/li>
- Pine needles<\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- \u201cGreen\u201d organic materials:
- Compost<\/li>
- Grass clippings<\/li>
- Decomposed manure<\/li>
- Scraps of fruit, vegetables, vegetation<\/li>
- Coffee grounds<\/li>
- Teabags and tea leaves<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>
How to sheet mulch\/build a lasagna garden:<\/strong><\/p>
- Rake the grass\/soil after scalping the lawn<\/li>
- Add a layer of broken branches, twigs, and leaves on the ground<\/li>
- Cover with newspaper or cardboard, and don\u2019t be afraid to overlap generously<\/li>
- Drench this layer with water<\/li>
- Add 2-6 inches of brown organic materials<\/li>
- Add 1-2 inches of green organic materials<\/li>
- Continue layering to the desired height, ending with a brown layer on top<\/li>
- Wait about six months before planting<\/li><\/ol>
![\"Grass](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/grass-soil-horizontal-view.jpg\")
Oregon State University<\/a> | Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> 4. Test and amend your soil<\/span><\/h3>
Healthy soil is necessary for growing healthy plants. You wouldn\u2019t want to waste all this time and energy for your yard to be filled with dull, wilting plants, so get your soil tested and ensure that it’s full of nutrients for your plants to absorb and enjoy.<\/p>
![\"Soil](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/soil-texture-infographic_800-1.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div> The soil is different depending on your geographic region. There are many different soil types<\/a>, but most vegetables, fruits, and flowers prefer crumbly soil that\u2019s full of organic matter, humus, and microorganisms, and has a neutral pH. <\/p>
Your soil might be: <\/p>
- Clay: too dense for gardening, can be improved over time<\/li>
- Loamy: fine-textured and ideal for gardening<\/li>
- Sandy: unable to retain water or nutrients<\/li>
- Silty: medium-textured, soft soil<\/li>
- Chalky: lumpy, large-grained soil, often with chunks of stone<\/li>
- Peat: spongy soil found in wetlands<\/li><\/ul>
If your soil is heavy and clay-like, you\u2019ll probably want to invest in raised garden beds. It will be difficult for many plant roots to grow deep in dense clay soil. <\/p>
How to test soil <\/h4>
You can conduct a DIY soil test at home or have your local Cooperative Extension Office take a look at a soil sample and send you a report<\/a>.<\/p>
- DIY soil test: tells you the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium<\/li>
- Lab soil test: provides a nutrient breakdown and more specific information about your soil, including its pH<\/li><\/ul>
Your soil test will let you know if you need to add any amendments<\/a> to improve your soil quality.<\/p>
![\"illustration](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/rsz_1soil-ph.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div> How to improve soil<\/h4>
Soil amendments can improve both your soil\u2019s texture and nutrient levels. They also can change your soil pH<\/a>. You can try different organic and inorganic soil amendment methods, below are some of the most common ways to improve your soil. <\/p>
Mix in organic soil amendments<\/strong><\/p>
- Compost \u2014 improves clay soil, sandy soil, and silty soil<\/li>
- Aged or composted animal manure \u2014 improves sandy soil and silty soil<\/li>
- Straw \u2014 improves clay soil<\/li>
- Peat moss \u2014 improves clay soil, sandy soil, and lowers pH<\/li>
- Wood chips \u2014 improves clay and silty soil<\/li>
- Wood ashes \u2014 raises soil pH<\/li>
- Blood meal \u2014 increases nitrogen<\/li>
- Bone meal \u2014 increases phosphorus<\/li>
- Seaweed \u2014 increases potassium<\/li><\/ul>
Mix in inorganic soil amendments <\/strong><\/p>
- Pea gravel \u2014 improves clay and silty soil<\/li>
- Shredded rubber \u2014 improves clay and silty soil<\/li>
- Gypsum \u2014 improves clay and silty soil<\/li>
- Sulfur \u2014 lowers soil pH<\/li>
- Garden lime \u2014 raises soil pH<\/li><\/ul>
If you noticed some grubs or pest larvae while digging up your turf, you might want to consider arming your garden with some organic pest control methods<\/a> like neem oil, Diatomaceous Earth, and beneficial nematodes to keep pests at bay. <\/p>
Pro Tip: <\/strong>Avoid mixing sand and clay, which could create a thick concrete-like layer instead of loosening up the soil as you intended. <\/p>
![\"Plant](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/7008289217_108bf9e65a_c.jpg\")
Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USA) | USDA<\/a> | Flickr | Public domain<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> 5. Choose your plants<\/span><\/h3>
Now your landscape is like an empty canvas, ready to become a beautiful work of art. Fill the space with a field of wildflowers<\/a> or a colorful vegetable garden<\/a>. You can attract butterflies<\/a> and bees to your garden with native plants<\/a>, and have your backyard buzzing with life. <\/p>
Decide what plants you\u2019ll be growing ahead of time to make the most out of your garden design. When buying plants, check to see whether what you\u2019re buying will last just a season or for years to come. <\/p>
- Annuals<\/a> \u2014 live for a certain period of time, often just a season<\/li>
- Perennials<\/a> \u2014 survive summer and winter to grow year after year<\/li><\/ul>
Cut down the work of having to replant every year by filling your garden with some perennials. Figure out your USDA hardiness zone<\/a> ahead of perennial shopping to determine whether or not the plants can withstand your region\u2019s environmental conditions. <\/p>
Before you go plant shopping, know your:<\/p>
- Hardiness zone<\/li>
- Garden sunlight levels<\/li>
- Average regional rainfall<\/li>
- Yearly temperature lows and highs<\/li><\/ul>
Here are some common garden plants<\/strong>, for inspiration:<\/p>
- Perennials<\/a> \u2014 survive summer and winter to grow year after year<\/li><\/ul>
- Annuals<\/a> \u2014 live for a certain period of time, often just a season<\/li>
- Feed plot gardens: a garden dedicated to feeding critters like deer and rabbits<\/a>, can help keep them out of your other garden(s), best planted by the edge of your property<\/li>
- Edible garden<\/a>: a garden full of edible vegetables, herbs, fruits, and even flowers, best planted close to the kitchen<\/li>
- Pick a location<\/a><\/li>
![\"A](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rsz_2490111998_fef5123dcf_c.jpg\")
![\"Seniors](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/seniors-garden-5_800.jpg\")