How to Reduce a Lawn

Reducing the size of your lawn is a fairly easy task, but it takes some time. A smaller lawn has many benefits. It doesn't take as much maintenance and reduces the amount of water, herbicides and fertilizers that you need. It also frees up room for more landscaping ideas. There are several methods for reducing the lawn. You can kill it under black plastic, which also reduces the amount of nutrients in the soil. Or you can use organic layers, which increase the amount of nutrients and works well if you are adding new plants.

Black plastic sheeting
Large rocks
Rototiller
Grass clippings
Newspaper
Compost
Hoe

Instructions

Black Plastic
- 1
  Lay black plastic sheeting over the area of lawn that you are eliminating.
- 2
  Place heavy rocks around the edges of the sheeting to keep it in place.
- 3
  Leave the sheeting in place for around six months. The hotter the weather, the faster this will work.
- 4
  Remove the sheeting and turn over the top 12 inches of soil with a hoe. Break up any clumps of dirt.
- 5
  Work in compost or another fertilizer if you aren't going to plant something else in this location.
Organic Layers
- 6
  Lay 4 inches of grass clippings, topped with 4 inches of newspaper and topped with a final 4 inches of compost.
- 7
  Water the layers weekly to keep the organic materials moist and encourage them to break down.
- 8
  Leave the layers in place for four to six months.
- 9
  Plant trees or shrubs by digging a hole through the layers and planting the root system. The organic layers have the added benefit of adding nutrients, deterring weeds and conserving water.

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Instructions

Black Plastic

Organic Layers