That massive yard that many homeowners dream of having creates a lot of money and work to maintain. Reducing the size of the lawn, or lawn, way less money and time spent on fertilizing, mowing and watering the outdoor area. Less grass lowers water use, which benefits the environment and saves money on water bills. A more compact lawn doesn’t have to affect the space’s functionality if you plan the reduction to fit your own needs.

Examine how you use the lawn. Notice the areas of the lawn which are infrequently used or places where you can do with no grass. By way of example, the grass in an area where you’ve got a fire pit can be replaced with pavers to decrease the lawn’s size.

Mark the area you need to remain as grass using wooden stakes. Choose the size of this remaining grassy area depending on how you are going to use it, such as a play area for children or a place for the dog to relieve itself.

Plan the use for every remaining wooded area you need to eliminate. Options include a patio, hedge, water feature or children’ play area. Ideas for covering the ground contain stone, indigenous ground cover crops and shrubs.

Kill or eliminate the grass in the designated areas. Kill grass by covering it with black plastic or layers of cardboard and mulch. This technique takes around six months to completely kill the grass. For quicker grass removal, eliminate the grass by cutting it out with a spade or by tilling the area.

Install hardscape features you planned, such as fences, fire pits, patios and walkways.

Plant ground cover or shrubs you opted to replace the grass. Water the new plants to provide them a strong start. Mulch around the plants if desired. Mulch keeps weeds from growing in planted areas.

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