Successfully Replacing Your Lawn with a Garden
Alright, I know that lawn area may be the pride and joy of your life because you have invested so much time and money so why shouldn’t you be proud as your hard work has paid off. A lawn can do a whole lot to increase a property’s value, I have seen lawns that appeared to be picture perfect with so much green and well-manicured.
Even though your lawn looks really polished you may be thinking of adding a garden but the challenge is your lawn has taken up all of that available space so the question is what do you do? while a well-maintained lawn has its place why not enhance the beauty of your lawn by making space for a garden adding flowering plants to create a garden oasis that says home sweet home.
I know what you are thinking and you are right so let’s get down to the harsh reality as painful as this may sound removing a part of your lawn to create a flower garden will work wonders. The bright side of removing a part of your lawn is that you will not be only enhancing your properties value but you will also be able to save a few bucks.
Maintaining a healthy lawn on a yearly basis calls for maintenance which includes fertilizing, mowing, ensuring that the right amount of water is applied, spraying for bugs and disease which can and will have you digging deep.
So if you’re sold on what I have said then let’s dig deeper as we take a closer look at removing a part of your lawn to make space for a garden.
Creating a garden bed by using these 4 methods to remove weeds
Solarization
This method involves using landscaping plastics to smother grass, mark out the area with landscaping paint that is to be moved and replanted. Next, cut your grass as low as you can, this technique will speed up the process because there will be less grass to eliminate.
Once the marked area has been cut, with a rake spread the grass clipping evenly because the goal is once you place your landscaping plastic you want it to sit as level as possible. However, if there remains a build-up of grass even after you have raked, some of that grass can be hauled away and taken to another part of your yard to be used as mulch or added to your compost pile but ensure that your grass is disease and weed-free before using in your compost pile or other parts of your yard?
Now that the area is leveled move to the next step which is watering the grass, give it a real good soaking because the moisture along with the rise in temperature of the soil once the plastic is laid will kill insects that inhabit the soil along with weed seeds and disease.
The soil has been soaked now place your plastic ensuring it is leveled as mention earlier, with clips or rocks to secure the landscaping plastic to the soil. Leave the plastic in place for about 4-6 weeks, give it a little patience. Once you remove the plastic you are all set to grow your garden, this method, however, is most effective when the temperature is hot.
Herbicide
The use of herbicides will also do the job for you, be careful with handling herbicides and only spray on days when winds are not high to avoid drift off. Wearing the proper safety gear is also a must, garden gloves, goggles along with a respirator is whats needed.
Once again mark the area where you decide to place your garden, before using herbicide read and follow the label for proper mixture and how to use it. Once the herbicide has been mixed and it’s time to spray hold the nozzle or wand to the ground or just a few inches above the lawn spraying in swaying positions from side to side getting full coverage.
As a bonus cut your lawn as low as possible first before applying herbicides that way you will use less herbicide making the process quick and easy also don’t apply herbicides just before or when after it rains. Once the grass has died, with a hoe and a rake remove the grass and wait for about a week before planting to play it safe. For more on weeds refer to the category section of this website.
Removing sod by hand
This is a laborious way to remove a part of your lawn, but the good news is if the area is not that big you won’t have to work hard. If you can get one or two-person to assist that would be better, soak the area where the lawn will be removed.
This will soften the soil making it easier to work with, next with a machete cutlass begin to remove the grass. A flat or square mouth shovel will do just as well, as you remove the pieces of grass’ sake of the soil but throw the grass in a wheel burrow to be hauled away. Continue until the entire area that is to be replanted is complete.
Cardboard and newspaper
This method is so simple and effective provided you have sufficient cardboard and newspaper. As mentioned already with garden spray paint mark out the area that is to be used for your garden, cut the lawn as low as possible as you can get it.
Place sheets of cardboard and newspaper over this area, this method works best in weather that’s not rainy and windy. Once you have placed down cardboard and newspaper secure with rocks so they don’t shift out of position.
What I love about this method is that as the law is smothered because cardboards and newspapers are natural organics (drive from Trees) will decompose adding nutrients to the soil making your planting area fit for your garden.
The final word on how to plant a garden over grass
There are other methods that can be used but these are some of the most effective and inexpensive ways in removing parts of your lawn to grow a garden. If you have decided to remove part of your lawn for the purpose of installing and growing a garden then you have come to the right place to learn how to do just that. With any one of these methods, you are sure to have success.
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About the author
Norman loves being in the garden, both at home and for his job....
he is 'Natures Little helper' being outdoors, growing his vegetables and flowers from an early age.
Now having spent over 22 years in the profession he want to give some of his knowledge to others...
his vast array of hints and tips you will find scattered over this site will help you no end growing plants in your garden.
I recently relocated and I have been looking for ideas to improve the landscape of the new place. Good thing I came across your article. I gained fruitful information about gardening and herbicide. I am going to legit start with my plant garden. Great article it really filled many blanks.
Thanks so happy to help and wishing you the best of garden success.
Thank you for the helpful article on replacing part of your lawn with a flower bed. I think a flower bed finishes off a lawn so much better and looks much prettier than just a lawn. I prefer the final method that you describe of using cardboard and newspaper to kill the grass in the area, as it is far more eco friendly than spraying chemicals.
I have successfully used newspaper to kill weeds in a specific area, so can see that this would be a great way to prepare a new flowerbed from your lawn.
It is good to bring that flavor by mixing it up a bit that way you can have a garden paradise that says home sweet home and yes it is better to go the eco friendly way. I am so happy to help.
After reading your article, I wish I had the space to keep a garden. As a child my dad loved gardening and I loved watching him. Flowers, fruit, vegetables from one own’s garden is indeed one of the most satisfying things in life. We have become so dependent on grocery shopping Hence, I love going to markets where I know it comes directly from the land.
Its great to have a garden that way we can feed both ourselves and our family also teach our kids on the importance of growing our own foods we must pass the baton on to the next genetation.