A Florida homeowner swapped lawn grass for old soaked cardboard, mulch and native plants without digging up the lawn; the result was a low-maintenance front yard ecosystem where pollinators, birds, edible plants and people could coexist

Traditional lawns can require regular mowing, irrigation and maintenance, especially in warm climates. But one Florida homeowner found a different way to rethink a front yard: instead of removing the existing grass, the project built a new landscape directly over it.

The transformation relied on soaked cardboard, organic material and mulch, followed by paths and a mixture of plants intended to benefit wildlife as well as people. The approach created a more layered garden while avoiding the need to dig out the entire lawn.