Sask. Green Thumbs share tips on how to get rid of the grass and grow food in the front yard

More and more gardeners are foregoing lawns and instead creating a garden with greater biodiversity, say two experts from Saskatchewan.

Some grow vegetables on their front lawns or transform their gardens into small prairie ecosystems by introducing native plant species.

The benefits are numerous, from lowering water bills to attracting more insects and wildlife for biodiversity, says Sandra Walker, a Saskatoon-based ethnobotanist and author of The path to wild food.

She says the grass commonly used in lawns is actually an invasive species and that using native plants instead helps protect local ecosystems.

“What I have in my front yard is stuff you would find in the woods or along riparian areas – in the original prairie. And those kinds of areas are some of the most rapidly disappearing ecosystems on the planet.”

Before: A freshly planted front yard in Regina. Green thumbs say more and more people are turning their front yards into gardens for food and plants from the Prairies. (Submitted by Candace Benson)

A company has even emerged that helps people transform their front yards into vegetable and flower gardens.

“People would like to do something different with their lawns, but maybe they just don’t have the knowledge or time to do it,” says Candace Benson, co-owner of City Street Farms in Regina.

“Basically, we work with the homeowner. He provides the space, pays his water bill and then we do all the work.”

The homeowner can also enjoy baskets of produce and bouquets from his own garden. City Street Farms takes the rest and sells it at the Regina Farmers' Market.

If you're looking to make the switch, here are five tips on how to create your own front yard garden and improve biodiversity.

Kill the grass

The first step in turning your lawn into a garden is to remove the grass, Walker said.

At the end of the season, simply place a thick tarp over the area you plan to use as a garden or to plant prairie plants.

“Just lay it over that area for at least a couple of months, maybe all summer and all winter,” Walker said. “That will kill your grass in a really passive way. And then you can just dig right into it.”

Start small

Don't tear up your entire lawn yet. Start with a small patch of garden. If it goes well, expand it next year.

“You could have your own garden, use your neighbor’s garden and go from there,” Benson said.

“So it's a great way to learn without having to invest too much in something that you might not end up liking as much.”

After: The same garden in Regina with plants sprouting and blooming. (Submitted by Candace Benson)

Potatoes first

The potato is a great first plant for a new garden because it helps prepare the soil for the next season, Walker said.

“And that way you get rid of a lot of grass, because you have to pull it out again next year,” Walker said. “So people often say: plant potatoes and everything will be fine next year.”

Get to know your neighbors

Pass on your knowledge to your neighbors, maybe they will return the favor.

“I’ve learned so much from the people in our neighborhood,” Walker said.

“You start tapping people on the shoulder and asking them for a little help – 'Hey, do you know about this? And what could we add here?'

“It's pretty remarkable that there seems to be a growing community in Saskatoon that's interested in this.”

Your garden will tell you what to plant

Choose plants that suit the environment of your garden.

Maybe your garden is in the shade?

“Don’t put a plant in a place that wants to be in the sun,” Walker said.

“There are also a lot of small sedges growing in front of my house, which are native here. It's not grass, but it looks like grass.”

“And if you've had a long lawn, it should look like this. Most people probably wouldn't even notice a difference.”