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I absolutely hate all the grass in my front garden. I can't maintain it and I don't like how it looks. I'm on a budget and thinking of ripping out the lawn (what's left of it) and starting again. I'm really in need of some ideas as to where to start, simple and affordbale DIY options to transform the garden that will be low maintenance in future (and look nice)!
Ideas welcome.
On the grass itself, what's the best way to remove it?
Thanks for all the help!!
Hi @Starter1503,
Since you already dislike the lawn and don't want to deal with high maintenance, shifting most of the space over to garden beds with hardy plants will not only look great but also be much easier to look after in the long run.
A good starting point would be to sketch out some simple shapes for the beds. You don’t need anything complicated — soft curves or large sweeping sections can make the space feel bigger and more designed, even on a tight budget. Once you’ve marked out the shapes, you can remove the existing grass where the beds will go. The easiest method for removing it without too much cost is to use a sharp spade to cut and lift the turf, or if you want to make it even simpler, you could lay thick sheets of cardboard directly over the grass and cover it with a thick layer of mulch. Over time, the grass underneath will die off, saving you the work of digging it all up straight away.
For the beds themselves, focus on tough, drought-tolerant plants to keep the garden low care and budget-friendly. Things like native grasses, westringias, lavenders, or succulents are great picks. You can plant sparsely at first and fill the gaps with mulch, adding more plants later as budget allows. Mulch is key — it keeps weeds down, holds moisture in, and gives everything a neat, finished look straight away. Pine bark, eucalyptus mulch, or even coarse wood chips from Bunnings are good options that won’t break the bank.
If you want a little extra character without a lot of cost, you could use some cheap edging (like treated pine garden edging or pavers) to frame your garden beds. Even a simple gravel path winding through the space would add loads of style and can be done quite cheaply if you use road base and top it with a fine gravel.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
Hi @Starter1503,
I trust you found Mitch's advice helpful. Please let me know if you would like me to tag other members for further advice.
I would also encourage you to check out resources like How to improve your home's street appeal by @Nailbag as well as the Top 10 most popular front yard projects by Bunnings Workshop community members and How to plan a garden makeover by @Adam_W.
Jason
Thanks everyone. My partner decided it to dig up the lawn and hired this kanga thing but it’s still hard work. Here is a progress photo part way through.
I’ve ignored all the advice and not planned what to do once the lawn is gone so that’s the next step! Will keep you updated!
We’ve now dug up a section and I’ve decided I want to make the crazy pavers look. Once I’ve got sand down, can I just put them on top and then use grout? Can I also lay them over existing pavers?
Hi @Starter1503,
If you're after the crazy paving look, it's best not to lay the pavers directly on sand if you plan to grout between them. Grout requires a stable base—otherwise, movement in the sand can cause it to crack and break out over time. For a longer-lasting result, you'd want to lay the pavers on a mortar bed or a concrete slab, then grout between them with a flexible outdoor grout or mortar mix. Here's a helpful step-by-step guide: How to pour a concrete slab.
As for laying over existing pavers, it is possible, but only if the existing surface is very stable and flat, like the area of pavers at your door that is on a concrete slab. You’d likely need to clean and possibly prime the surface, then bed the crazy pavers into a mortar mix on top. Keep in mind this will raise the finished height, so be aware of any thresholds or drainage considerations.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
