Converting turfgrass lawns into gardens that support local wildlife can reduce environmental impacts such as air pollution from gas-powered equipment and chemical runoff from fertilizers and weedkillers.
Turfgrass in the U.S. covers an estimated 40 million acres — roughly the size of Georgia. Gas-powered yard equipment emits 30 million tons of air pollutants annually (EPA). North America has lost one-quarter of its birds and one-fifth of its butterflies.
Entomologist Doug Tallamy calculated that halving U.S. lawns and adding native plant gardens could create more habitat than Yellowstone and a dozen other major national parks combined.
Steps to Convert Your Lawn
1. Choose a Spot
Start small — along a fence, sidewalk, or around a tree ("soft landing" for caterpillars).
2. Plan Your Plants
Select native plants suited to your region, light, and soil conditions. Check local rules (HOAs, city codes) for restrictions.
3. Kill the Grass
Methods include smothering with cardboard or plastic, sod cutting, digging, or herbicide. No need to remove dead grass if using covering methods.
4. Acquire Plants
Buy plugs (small plants) from native plant nurseries, attend pop-up events, join local native plant groups for swaps/free seedlings, or start from seed.
5. Plant and Wait
Space plants so they touch when mature; mulch; avoid extra soil. Perennials often "sleep, creep, leap" — little growth first year, more second, thrive third.
6. Maintain
Weed, water young plants, leave stems and leaves in winter for insect habitat.
What Experts Say
Stacia Stelk (Deep Roots KC): Starting small can reduce overwhelm; expansion is possible as comfort grows.
Jeffrey Popp (Anne Arundel Watershed Stewards Academy): Plug plants are relatively inexpensive and grow fast.
Paula Diaz (master gardener): Spacing plants so they touch reduces mulch and weeding; gardens attract birds, frogs, and other life.