Lawn Replacement

Lawn Replacement involves converting your lawn to a naturescape with native plants.  Native plants can include trees, shrubs, grasses and/or wildflowers.  

Stormwater Benefits

• Improves rainwater infiltration

  • • soils in lawn areas tend to be more compacted than other landscaped areas

    • replacing lawns improves the ability for rainwater to soak into the ground, in turn reducing stormwater runoff

• Erosion reduction

  • • replacing lawns with a mixture of native plants with deep root systems that work together improves the stablity of the soil and reduces the potential for erosion

• Reduces pollutants flowing into waterways by reducing

  • • herbicides and ferilizer use in lawns

    • gasoline spillage when filling gas powered motors 

Other Benefits

• Reduced need for irrigation

  • • lawns require regular watering

    • once established native plants are adapted to our local climate with minimal irrigation 

• Habitat

  • • native plants provide critical habitat for our native birds, pollinators and other wildlife

• Saves time

  • • reduces the need for regular mowing and other lawn care 

• Pollution Reduction

  • • reduces the need for air-polluting mowers and leaf blowers 

How to implement

• Identify utilities by calling #811 or http://call811.com/before-you-dig 

• Either sheet mulch or strip the lawn (mechanically or manually)

  • • sheet mulching is a passive method that can be done at any time of year, but requires that you wait 6-12 months before planting (note: this is our preferred method because it improves soil health and its ability to manage stormwater)

    • stripping the lawn should be done in dry weather and may require that you amend the soil to reduce compaction

    • details of conversion methods are outline in the links below

• Install native plants or seed a Meadowscape

• Water plants during establishment and during period of drought

• Continue care of the plants including weeding and interplanting as needed

• Enjoy as the plants mature and you see an increase in pollinators & other wildlife 

Other Resources

Meadowscaping Handbook (West Multnomah SWCD)

https://wmswcd.org/projects/the-meadowscaping-handbook/

Sheet Mulching How to (Tualatin SWCD)

https://tualatinswcd.org/sheet-mulching-made-easy/

Grass Removal (California Native Plant Society)

https://www.cnps.org/gardening/prepping-and-planting/grass-removal

All stormwater stars recommendations are voluntary. The landowner or project manager is responsible for its own actions and for any damage or third-party liability arising from the their activities related to recommendations provided.  It is the responsibility of the landowner or manager to pursue and secure any required permits.