Hey everyone! We just moved into a new place, and our garden is currently just a plain lawn with a path on one side and a bare bed along the shady fence. Last year, we built a raised bed with wooden sleepers to grow strawberries, and earlier this year, I dug up a big patch of lawn, but it was super tough work. My husband suggested covering the lawn with woodchip to kill the grass, which will eventually feed the soil, but it seems like that won't help with planting. We really want a blank slate to create a garden with lots of different textures and heights. Besides hiring a digger (which probably wouldn't fit in the alley between us and the neighbors), what's the easiest way to tackle this?
5 Answers
If you're looking to kill off the grass, cardboard works really well (just make sure to remove all the plastic tape!) and let it sit for a bit. After some time, both the cardboard and the grass underneath will break down into the soil. Now’s a great time to do this if you’re ready to start fresh!
Start by marking out where you want your beds and paths with string, and take it slow. Think about where you’d like to have your seating areas and lay those out first. Pay attention to the sun's movement and plan accordingly. Once you lay down your paths, you’ll have a better sense of the space and where to stop and enjoy your garden!
Have you checked out r/nolawns? It’s US-based, but there’s a ton of useful info that can be applied in the UK too. A good tip is to break the project up into smaller sections—like tackling just 2 square meters at a time. It makes it feel less overwhelming and gives you that satisfaction of checking things off as you go! Good luck with it!
You could try using a turf lifter or cutter to remove the grass. Just a heads up, you might lose a bit of soil doing it, but that’s easy to replace. Another method is to lay down cardboard over the grass and put soil on top, though that can be a lot of work if you have a big area to clear.
You could also consider renting a rotavator. A petrol one is preferable, but there are electric options available too, which can make the job a lot easier!
Great idea! Plus, you can use the cut grass to fill the bottom of raised beds. Lay it grassy side down; it’ll break down into good soil over time. Cover it with cardboard and add fresh compost before planting. I’ve done it plenty of times, and it saves on disposal and compost costs!