Ten Speed Press Lawn Gone!: Low-Maintenance, Sustainable, Attractive Alternatives for Your Yard

Why I picked up Lawn Gone

A few summers ago, I got tired of throwing water, time, and weekend energy at a patchy lawn that never looked as good as I wanted. I wanted something lower-maintenance, more resilient in heat, and more interesting to look at than a green rectangle. Lawn Gone became my planning companion for that transition, and it earned its keep.

This is a practical, picture-rich book about replacing turf with something better—paths, groundcovers, shrubs, edibles, play areas, or a mix of all the above. It’s not a manifesto; it’s a handbook. I used it to plan, budget, and execute a lawn removal and replanting project in my front yard, and I kept referring back to it as questions came up.

How the book is organized and why that helps

Lawn Gone starts with planning—what you want to use the space for, how much maintenance you’re willing to do, and what your climate and soil can support. That framing was crucial for me. Rather than jumping straight to plant lists, the book pushed me to measure sun exposure, identify drainage patterns, sketch circulation paths, and decide where I wanted seating or play space. It also nudged me to price out materials early. That saved me from overspending on hardscape before I’d sourced plants.

The meat of the book covers:
- Ways to remove turf with clear pros and cons: sheet mulching, solarization, smothering with cardboard, and sod-cutting
- Hardscape options (gravel, decomposed granite, permeable pavers, flagstone) with notes on installation and maintenance
- Planting strategies by region and USDA zone, including groundcovers, shrubs, perennials, and a smattering of edible ideas
- Maintenance expectations and how to prevent the new landscape from becoming a weedy mess
- Practical guidance for dealing with HOAs and city ordinances, plus a reminder to check setbacks and visibility rules

It’s full-color throughout, with plenty of before-and-after photos that are more informative than aspirational. The images helped me visualize spacing and scale—how big a path actually looks at three feet wide, how groundcovers knit together, and what a “no-mow” front yard looks like in different seasons.

What I actually changed in my yard

I removed about 600 square feet of turf and replaced it with a meandering crushed-granite path, a small seating nook, and mixed planting beds. Lawn Gone’s step-by-step turf removal options were invaluable for deciding where to use which method:
- In a sunny strip that baked all day, I used solarization (clear plastic for six weeks in peak summer) to knock back a tough patch of bermuda.
- In the larger main section, I used the book’s sheet-mulching approach: scalp the lawn, layer cardboard, add compost, then mulch. It was quieter, cheaper, and easier on the body than digging.

For plants, I leaned on the book’s zone-based suggestions to cross-check what I’d shortlisted from local nurseries. I ended up with a foundation of native grasses and small shrubs, with low, traffic-tolerant groundcovers along the path edges. I also took one tip to heart: avoid “thug” plants that spread aggressively. That single warning probably saved me a season of grief.

Irrigation-wise, I followed the guidance to set up simple drip lines under mulch and keep overhead watering to a minimum. The maintenance now is an occasional seasonal tidy, spot weeding, and a light top-up of mulch once a year. It’s less work than weekly mowing, and I actually enjoy it.

The guidance that stood out

• Planning and pacing: The book encourages phasing a project, which made my budget manageable. I did the hardscape first, planted backbone shrubs and grasses in fall, then filled in perennials the next spring.
• Shade problem-solving: There’s a thoughtful section on yards that have grown shadier as trees mature. I reworked a corner under a live oak with mulch, flagstone steppers, and shade-tolerant groundcovers, following the book’s examples for root-friendly installation.
• Rules and neighbors: I don’t live in an HOA, but the municipal setbacks and sightline rules still mattered for curbside plant heights. The book’s checklists kept me out of trouble and helped me explain the project to a skeptical neighbor.
• Budget and materials: The quick comparisons of gravel, DG, and pavers—cost, drainage, installation complexity—were clear and accurate. I found the maintenance notes especially honest; DG shifts and needs edging, and the book doesn’t pretend otherwise.

Where it falls short

• Regional tilt: The author’s Texas roots show. The overall principles are universal, but some plant palettes and materials guidance are strongest for warm, dry climates. If you’re in the Upper Midwest or a prairie region, you’ll want to supplement the plant lists with local recommendations from native plant societies or extension services.
• Water-wise emphasis varies: Lawn Gone absolutely makes the case for using less water, but the plant examples sometimes prioritize visual drama over maximum drought tolerance. If conserving every gallon is your top goal, you’ll want to cross-reference with xeric or regionally native lists and eliminate marginal thirstier choices.
• Not a deep design curriculum: You get practical layout tips and inspiring photos, but this isn’t a full landscape design course. For advanced grading, drainage engineering, or complex retaining structures, you’ll need additional resources.
• A bit dated: Published in 2013, some cultivar availability and USDA zone mapping have shifted. The fundamentals are solid, but I still checked plant names and ranges against current nursery stock and updated zone maps.

What it does exceptionally well

• Makes the leap from idea to action: Many books inspire; this one gets you measuring, marking, and calling for mulch deliveries. The step-by-step sections are detailed without being overwhelming.
• Balances aesthetics and function: Seating nooks, kid-friendly play areas, and edible pockets are all acknowledged. It’s not “rip out everything and plant gravel,” nor is it a lush fantasy that ignores water and maintenance.
• Realistic maintenance advice: There’s a candid discussion about getting through the first year of establishment—watering schedules, weeding, and when to cut back. That honesty matters more than glossy photos.
• Clear, readable layout: The page design, photo captions, and font size made it a comfortable field companion. I could flip to the right section with dirty hands and find what I needed quickly.

Tips I’d add after using Lawn Gone

• Pair the book with local expertise: Call your extension office or native plant society to refine plant lists, especially for pollinator value and regional disease pressure.
• Start with soil: The sheet-mulch methods work, but success hinges on compost quality and mulch depth. Don’t skimp.
• Test small, then scale: Try one removal method in a corner before committing it to the whole yard. You’ll learn a lot about your soil, weeds, and sun exposure.
• Plan for edges: Crisp transitions—steel edging, stone, or a mowing strip—make any lawn alternative look intentional and help contain gravel and groundcovers.
• Time your planting: Get structural plants in during fall if your climate allows, then fill in come spring. Establishment is easier and the results are better.

Who will get the most value

Homeowners ready to reduce or eliminate lawn and looking for a practical, approachable guide will get a lot from Lawn Gone. It’s especially helpful if you’re working with small to medium suburban lots, need to navigate rules or neighbor expectations, and prefer a step-by-step process with visual examples. Seasoned landscape pros won’t find new technical details here, but they may appreciate how clearly the book communicates concepts to clients.

Bottom line

Lawn Gone helped me replace a thirsty, high-maintenance lawn with a landscape that uses less water, offers more texture and habitat, and demands fewer weekend hours. It’s pragmatic, well-illustrated, and grounded in real-world constraints like budgets and city rules. The regional bias and publication date mean you’ll want to cross-check plant choices, especially outside warmer, drier zones, but the core methods and planning advice are timeless.

I recommend Lawn Gone for homeowners who want an actionable, confidence-building guide to transforming turf into something more functional and sustainable. Pair it with local plant resources and you’ll have everything you need to make the change stick.