We would like to clear out the grass from our front yard. It is 36×75 feet. The plan is to plant a bunch of wildflowers, perennials where we can (build upon each year, with a bird bath in the middle of the yard to act as a sort of roundabout). Very cottage garden vibes with a mulch or stone path throughout to access doors, driveway, and backyard. Should we rent a sod cutter or attempt cardboard with compost on top. We are in zone 5B and spring is upon us so initially were thinking sod cutter. Thoughts?? 🌷🙏
by morialice
6 Comments
Hello fellow 5b’er! I’d go the cardboard with compost/mulch/chip drop on top. You can buy giant rolls of brown paper (usually used for floor protection on construction sites) for fairly cheap to cover a large area.
With the rainy seasons we get, if you cut out all the sod a ton of dirt is going to wash into the street, neighbors might not be thrilled about that.
Happy planting!
I have been reclaiming an area of my yard for a little over two years now using the wood chip and cardboard method. Its effective and cheap. See if you can get a chip drop (its called that its a website) Check on your city ordinances first before you start to avoid obnoxious neighbors complaining. I would personally not start with the entire front yard, but layout beds, using cardboard, then put wood chips on top and plant your perennials through the cardboard. If it looks like you are trying to create a landscape, they will be less likely to fine you if your town has any laws against unkempt front yards. You’d be surprised how many people come on here complaining that they’re about to be sued or fined for trying to do right by nature.
See if you can find someone to buy the sod. If so get a cutter. If not cardboard worked great for me to blanket kill a large area of grass. Just remember to keep it wet so the new seeds you put down can penetrate the cardboard with their roots. I had a patch die out because my under cardboard dried out and the roots stayed on top.
I’ve been considering a rear-tine tiller to not have to deal with sod. You’ll probably get a lot of annoying regrowth with how large that area is though….
Cardboard + compost will kill the grass. Some hardier weeds will poke through (bulbs, some dandelions). It’s probably less labor? Gotta find a LOT of cardboard
Sod cutter u gotta deal with the sod after. If you’re hauling it elsewhere it’s a lot of lifting and sod is heavy.
Taking away the sod will produce an attractive result faster. Sheet mulching a space this big is a ton of work and will have a lot of ugly periods where your yard looks very bare and there is visible cardboard covering things.
**But** **the benefit of sheet mulching though is you preserve your natural topsoil.** If you cut out the sod you’re removing literally tons of organics from you soil, and if you want it productive you either need to add those back it through chemical fertilizers (or bought compost), or wait for them to make their way back in naturally, which would take years.
So your question is – do it fast and rely on a lot of chemicals (which are going to run off and be a problem in the stormwater), or do it slow but much more naturally.
I think you can see my preference. I think artificial fertilizers are crappy. Their production is horrible for the environment, and the runoff into stormwater causes massive problems in rivers and streams. Yeah, you don’t see those stream problems, but you’re externalizing that cost on all your neighbors.
My suggestion is if you’re going No Lawn, do it the natural way. Preserve the natural organics already in your soil and let their decomposition be the fertilizer for your wildflowers.
Sod cutter. That is a healthy looking lawn and will take a while to kill.
If you plan to add mostly woody perennials and trees, cover the bare soil with a thin layer (one inch or less) of compost, then arborist chips. If you plan to plant more herbaceous meadow plants, skip the chips.
Sow cover crops, if you do not have plants or seeds to cover the whole area.