Getting Rid of That Lawn - My Neighbors Aren't Happy

I've been systematically reducing the amount of turf in my front yard for the past several years. I work on it section by section.

I spend less time mowing and use far less water. I have no regrets and don't miss that turf at all.

Plant list mentioned in the video:

Hilltop Planting
Lemon Candy Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius 'Podaras 3' PP2,363)
Golden Rocket Barberry (Berberis thunbergii 'Golden Rocket' PP18,626)

Island Border under Tree
Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa 'Aureola')
Weigela florida 'Alexandra' (Wine & Roses PP10772 CBR2642)
Boxwood (Buxus microphylla japonica 'Winter Gem')
Sea of Gold™ Juniper (Juniperus x Pfitzeriana 'Monsan')
Cranesbill x 'Rozanne™'
Pulmonaria 'Silver Bouquet'
Heuchera 'Obsidian'
Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood')

Thanks for watching.

#gardeningtips #gardening #lowmaintenance #lawn #lawncare

[jeanneknight]

I love it when people replace the yawn. Bravo!

[ConswaMcGaga]

Anytime I see a home in a suburban area like this with a garden instead of a yard, it really maximizes the positive qualities of that kind of setting. Meaning you feel like you're in a idyllic natural setting, instead of a golf course with houses on it. Imagine what this street would look like if it was lush with a diverse array of plants. Keep up the hard work!

[daveku]

As a Landscape architect, I think you did a great job. Usually I tell people that if they are happy with their garden then that is all that matters. The heck with the neighbors.

[lanabisson]

Wow, your neighbors.... tell them if they want to complain about what they think youve done wrong they are welcome to pay for the upkeep of grass. I bet they will shut up when cars drive by slow and take pictures of you beautiful yard. Flowers help the pollinators. there are so many more benefits to a variety of plants compared to grass. not to mention all the run off from chemicals into our water systems from treating grass. Keep up the beautiful work, and ignore the ignorant judgmental comments from neighbors. They are just following an outdated standard of yard maintanence.

[MrTwarner]

I love the idea of slowly changing a grass monoculture into interesting, low maintenance, native plant islands. It’s almost like placing unique furniture or wall art in a room. Plus, it’s much more sustainable. It’s how my mom planned our yard in Michigan growing up, and I plan on doing the same once I go from renting to buying.

[Mulberry]

Lawns are so 20th century.

You are on the cutting edge. More and more people will be following your example.

[AmoebaAnatomica]

You have done a great job! I am from central Europe and it is "normal" or very common to have more of an ornamental garden with all sorts of perennials and shrubs. Even growing your own vegetables or having fruit trees (mostly for fun or occasional fresh veg and fruit, more than for being self-sustainable) is considered normal. I think you are doing your neighborhood service by saving water and helping insects. Don't worry about your neighbors :) lots of love from the Czech rep.

[bherrera]

Your neighbor sounds like my Dad. He was obsessed with his lawn & never understood why someone wouldn't want to mow 3 times a week & have large monthly water bills. You've done a beautiful job & it's exactly what I want to do, especially creating some front yard privacy.

[daisypeony]

I’m a Landscape Designer and I say BRAVO 👏🏻! Well done! Your beds are stunning and truly looks like a pro designed them! Yes there’s less grass but wow! The impact and plant choices are fabulous! Don’t you just love Proven Winners plants? Your beds are well planned, kept up, tidy and fit the yard perfectly!

[JosTXGarden]

I’m slowly eliminating my lawn too, here in Houston. In my last new expansion, I planted only native plants, so not only is my lawn smaller, which is good for many reasons, but adding natives helps wildlife— especially birds (and butterflies) . If birds don’t have native plants, they don’t have the insects and berries that they rely on. The more nonnative plants we put in, the fewer birds there will be. A recent study done on this had shocking and devastating results. Our bird population is plummeting. Your garden is magnificent. I hope going forward you will consider adding native plants to your beautiful beds. Bonus: they grow naturally in your area, so they don’t need supplemental watering. Butterflies need specific plants for their caterpillars to eat—think monarchs and milkweed— and if you want to see beautiful butterflies in your yard, planting native host plants is the way to do it. Happy gardening!

[taraacevedo]

Your yard is gorgeous. Your neighbor should be so thankful to live near someone that puts such thought and care into their yard! 😊

[calamityjenn]

You took a a boring yard and made it fantastic. Such a wonderful transformation! It's so vivid and full of texture and life. The variety of plants is like eye candy. It's a shame your noisy neighbors with their two bits are lacking any sort of imagination.

[RandomJane]

I think it looks better than a boring expanse of unbroken green lawn.

[rabbitgear]

We all have some neighbors that are still living in the stone age. You keep up the good work on your garden. It's lovely and worth being proud of. As a kid I remember watching my father getting cooked under the hot sun on his tracker mower, his eyes red and watery from the allergies, and endlessly complaining about his sore back after needlessly mowing the massive unused pastures and think that I didn't want that for my life.

[nicoleeboo]

I was a mail carrier for a few years, so got to see all sorts of houses in all sorts of neighborhoods, and let me just say that the homes that had added more plant-beds instead of grass looked WAY better! Your yard looks great, and I applaud you for not cussing out the neighbor holy shit the nerve of some people...

[a.sobriquet]

I’m really simply shocked by your neighbors’ response. I had thought by now most Americans knew how environmentally unfriendly lawns are. You’ve made a beautiful garden and given many people inspiration!

[YeahPoncho]

we are also avid gardeners and we've transformed most of the lawn into native perennials and bushes. our yard is registered as a wildlife habitat and a monarch waystation, we have 2 ponds, and we purposely plant native host plants for lepidoptera of all kinds.

I think what you've done with your yard is absolutely beautiful, and if your neighbors are mad about it, they can just stay mad!! you've worked so hard and done wonderfully!

[sinkintostillness]

How can anyone complain, look at the difference! Drab dry grass (in the season that matters- more people out walking etc...) to abundance! Absolutely beautiful. My trouble is I want ALL the plants so find it hard to settle on a plan.

I love that you are showing your fails as well as wins, and are showing it takes a few seasons for it to really take off.

[cmbooks]

You are a landscape wizard. Your neighbor is an invasive clod, sort of like a pesky weed. Your yard is beautiful and grass is a pain and expensive. I have been reducing my backyard this year and you give great inspiration. Thank you

[hijklmnop]

I love that this method of creating plant islands also means... walking paths! It must be so delightful to walk around the different islands and feel like you're always turning a new corner to see what plants are along the next curve. Keep up the good work!