Ready to lose your lawn, but not sure where to start?

It's surprisingly easy to replace your lawn with a healthy garden that works for you. By using Bay-Friendly practices, you can conserve natural resources, prevent pollution, and save time and money.

Bay-Friendly has successfully educated hundreds of landscape professionals and home gardeners in the innovative technique of sheet mulching, a simple method used to enrich the soil in planting areas, establish a new landscape or garden area, or remove a lawn without herbicides.

If you've been considering replacing your thirsty lawn with a more eco-friendly alternative, you've come to the right place!

Whether you're looking to do it yourself, or hire a professional to assist you, we've got great resources to get you well on your way to a beautiful, healthy, Bay-Friendly garden.

▪ Rebate Information (to right)
▪ How To Resources
▪ Model Lawn Conversion Designs
▪ Hire a Professional
▪ Sheet Mulch Packages for purchase (available through Alameda County Nurseries)

Lawn Conversion Rebate Programs:

Interested in replacing your lawn, but worried about up front costs?

Several Bay Area water agencies are currently offering rebates for lawn conversion and/or weather based irrigation controllers for both residential and commercial landscapes. The Bay-Friendly Coalition is partnering with these water agencies in an effort to encourage the widespread adoption of more Bay-Friendly, water-efficient gardens and landscapes.

Click here for full list of rebate programs.

Residential rebates up to $2500

Commercial rebates up to $5000

HOW-TO'S

Video Slideshows

Sheet Mulching - watch this slideshow to learn an easy method to remove and replace your lawn without herbicides

Drip Irrigation Sprinkler Retrofit - watch this slideshow to learn how to convert your lawn sprinklers to more efficient drip irrigation

Instructional Handouts

Sheet Mulching - download this PDF for step-by-step illustrated instructions to remove and replace your lawn without herbicides

download sheet mulching instructions

Drip Irrigation Sprinkler Retrofit - download this PDF for step-by-step illustrated instructions to convert your lawn sprinklers to more efficient drip irrigation

download sprinkler conversion instructions

MODEL LAWN CONVERSION DESIGNS

StopWaste.Org worked with Bay-Friendly Qualified Professionals to develop plans for Alameda County homeowners to convert their lawns to Bay-Friendly landscapes.

If you’re seeking ideas and inspiration for your own lawn conversion project, take a look at these three model designs by clicking on the images to the right.

Each includes:

• Concept plan: shows overall layout in color

• Planting plan: shows plant layout, species, spacing, and sizes, and includes notes on soil preparation and how to plant

• Irrigation plan: shows how to divide planting areas into irrigation zones, and includes helpful notes and technical guidance

For More Examples of Successful Lawn Conversions - Sunset Magazine highlights a diverse sampling of lawn conversions, front and backyards, in their 21 inspiring lawn-free yards photo gallery.

Corner Curb Appeal
Dublin, CA

Design by Georgia Madden

Back Yard Meadow Oasis
Fremont, CA

Design by Four Dimensions

A Small Yard with Everything
Castro Valley, CA

Design by Larrance Landscapes