Alameda HOA Responds to Drought with Lawn-Free Landscape
The Casitas Alameda Homeowners Association, a community of more than 400 homes, used sheet mulch to replace a large swath of lawn with colorful, climate-appropriate plants. The new landscape is expected to use two-thirds less water than the lawn.
Water Conservation Success in Hayward
Bay-Friendly landscaping along a five-mile stretch of Route 238 will save more than two million gallons of water annually.
Come help convert a lawn into a garden using sheet mulch, all in one day!
Artificial Turf: Not a Sustainable Solution
Want to beat the drought and spruce up your property? Artificial turf is not the answer. Here are some problems with plastic grass:
- WASTE. If replacing lawn, for every acre of artificial turf installed, about 87 tons of existing grass and soil get hauled to the landfill. And when you're through with a synthetic lawn, landfilling is most often the only disposal option.
- WATER. Plastic grass needs to be cleaned periodically with water (and sometimes soaps or chemicals). And water may be needed to cool it down on hot days.
Sheet Mulching: Step 8 Mulch
Apply the top layer of mulch over the compost layer. The mulch mimics the newly fallen organic matter of a forest and helps suppress weeds.
Sheet Mulching: Step 7 Compost
Compost builds healthy soil and provides a medium for plants. Learn how to put compost on top of the cardboard layer.
Sheet Mulching: Step 6 Cardboard
Cardboard will smother your grass and act as a weed barrier while it gradually decomposes. You can either use salvaged boxes or buy rolls of "B Flute" cardboard.
Sheet Mulching: Step 5 Pre-Planting
Plant 5-gallon and larger plants before installing the sheet mulch layers.
Sheet Mulching: Step 4 Trenching
Learn how to dig a trench around the edge of your lawn so that the mulch stays in your yard and doesn't spill onto the sidewalk.
