Life After Lawn

Life After Lawn

These "Life After Lawn" homeowners made the decision to take out their front lawns and replace them with sustainable landscapes. Learn more about their stories.

About My Garden

Terry Davison, south Davis resident, describes the evolution of her front and backyard landscapes.

Life After Lawn Advice: Plant for Year-round Color

The Bayon’s front yard displays Eva’s passion for and education in botany. An avid plant collector, Eva and her husband have created a miniature rock garden in their relatively small yard with the artistic placement of boulders and rock mulch, all anchored and softened by a variety of perennials that range in size, color and growing habits.

Life After Lawn Advice: Learn by Doing

Mona and Frank Demasi

Many succulents are well adapted to low-water landscapes because their thickened leaves store water, providing them the ability to survive dry, hot climates. Softer leaved succulents like Echeveria prefer shade in our region while the larger, cold-hardy Agave and Aloe species do well in full sun.

Life after lawn advice: Shop the Arboretum plant sales

Ria takes the commitment to water savings seriously; first renovating her backyard two years ago, and last fall tackling her front yard. Birch trees and high-water turf were removed. Now this east-facing front yard features subtly sloped areas behind two curved walls. This additional hardscape creates a structure for spreading mats of white lantana and red verbena whose long-lasting blooms add color and attract a variety of butterflies.

Life after lawn advice: start with a plan

A year and half after Stacey Parker, GATEways horticulturist for the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, took out her front lawn via cardboard sheet mulching, her yard continues to thrive. Her advice to homeowners looking to do the same: start with a plan.

Life after lawn: Replace your lawn and feed the world?

Now, as landscapes are being revamped due to the drought, and lawns are removed or let go, the UC Davis campus, the city and its residents are in a position to serve as an example of how urban areas — particularly urban areas in the heart of agricultural country — can support global crop production through small changes in landscape choices.