How to convert a lawn in phases without losing the use of the garden

Converting a lawn can be phased without taking the garden out of use straight away. The safest process starts by identifying little-used areas, testing new forms of management and extending the solutions that work. This approach reduces risk, allows costs to be compared and gives time to adjust expectations.

For a few weeks, it is worth observing movement, play areas, shade, irrigation gaps, slopes and areas where mowing is difficult. The map of use rarely matches the geometric shape of the lawn. There are corners, narrow corridors and surfaces under trees that can be converted without affecting the main experience.

Recording mowing hours, water consumption and recurring problems creates a baseline for assessing the conversion. Without this reference, it is hard to know whether the new solution has really improved performance.

A first trial can be simply to raise the height or reduce the frequency of mowing in a controlled area. Another option is to create islands of planting and keep a short strip around them. The test should have a clear edge and last long enough to cover at least one growing season.

If the aim is to establish a meadow or ground cover, the soil should be prepared sector by sector. The garden stays usable while one area is being established. Temporary paths and signs help to prevent early trampling.

After assessing cover, weeds, use and acceptance, the solution can be repeated in other sectors. The extension should respect differences in aspect and soil; there is no need to use the same mix across the whole property.

Each phase should update the irrigation and maintenance plan. Converted sectors cannot go on automatically receiving the same irrigation time or the same mowing. Success depends on the infrastructure keeping pace with the new landscape.

The most common mistakes are converting the whole area in one go; testing in an atypical area and generalising the result; keeping the previous irrigation programme; and not setting aside a budget for corrections in the first year.

At Diaplant, the conversion can be phased over two or three years, preserving the most-used areas. Each stage should have clear boundaries, a maintenance calendar and criteria for deciding on expansion.

Converting in phases lets you learn from the garden itself. The best solution is not the fastest, but the one that keeps the garden in use and improves performance with real data.

• Ecological restoration and biodiversity-friendly management of urban grasslands – A global review on the current state of knowledge. (2024).
• From urban lawns to urban meadows: Reduction of mowing frequency increases plant taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity. (2018).
• Adding a mosaic mowing regime to urban lawns is the key to city biodiversity management for pollinators. (2024).