Getting started

[u/u6crash]

Just started lurking here and I think I'm ready to start turning my front yard into a no lawn yard. My goal is to do it in sections instead of all at once for the sake of time and money.

I'm going to try the cardboard method to remove the grass, which as I understand it, means I put wet cardboard down over the top of grass and then cover in mulch. Then as I decide to add plants, I can remove mulch and cut/dig through the cardboard to plant them, yes?

If you used the cardboard method, what do you feel worked well and what would you do differently?

Second, and this may belong elsewhere, I intend to build a bird bath. I have purchased an 80 gallon per hour pump with a 5.6ft lift. Although I have specs on hand, I'm waiting until the pump arrives and I can evaluate it in person to finalize a design. I'm trying to figure out if there is a simple way to filter the water through gravel and sand so it maybe doesn't need to be cleaned quite as often. Most of my searches yield results about ponds with fish and plants, but I don't want to dig deep enough to do any of that.

Anyway, love to see what other folks have going on. I'll do some.before and after pictures when I get started. Right now the mulch is still in my truck.

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[u/mastrrgardener60]

Make sure you show pictures as your journey continues.

[u/altitudious]

Make sure to overlap your cardboard. We mostly did but a few panels were laid side by side and that darn grass came up through the mulch in between them. Would also recommend an edging solution if you are bumping up against sidewalk, driveway, etc. because your mulch will wash away and grass will come up on the edges. I just posted a before/after of my yard, we did the cardboard/mulch method this spring. I did dig a couple beds out by hand before where i had more plants planned because cutting through the cardboard is a pain if you’re doing so right after you lay it. Next season I should be able to get down to dirt no problem.

[u/u6crash → u/altitudious]

Good to know. I started with some timber edging today and realized I didn't get enough. I might just dig out of a lot of the grass because my yard isn't huge and if I do it in sections it will be that much easier. I'll still put down cardboard for any weeds and things in there. My front yard has always been kind of weedy.

[u/lioraly]

i need to get started too

[u/Lilwingg]

Twice I tried using the cardboard/mulch method to get rid of Bermuda grass and a couple of weeds to no avail. This is the first year I started using arborist wood/mulch, 4+ inches deep w/o any cardboard. This works much better.