If you’re anything like me, your lawn might not exactly be Instagram-worthy. In fact, mine turned into a patch of dead grass with weeds clinging to life. We stopped watering it years ago to conserve water, which was great for the planet — but not great for curb appeal.

After reading countless articles about paper sheet mulching and dreaming of a garden buzzing with pollinators, I decided it was time to turn this sad patch into something beautiful and beneficial. With this colder weather, now is the perfect time for decomposition to happen over winter. The goal? To easily transform my lawn without tearing everything up, pulling weeds, or using chemicals.

What is Sheet Mulching?

Sheet mulching is a popular gardening method to restore soil health and suppress weeds. The process is simple and beginner-friendly. After winter, this will be ready to plant.

How I Did It:

• Purchased the project materials, which included compost, arborist mulch, and brown kraft sheet-mulching paper.

• Watered the existing lawn thoroughly to kick-start decomposition the day before I dug the trench.

• Dug a trench border 15 cm deep and 30cm wide around the dead patch to help contain the mulch.

• Laid down a 7.62cm (3in.) layer of compost over the dead lawn.

• Laid down a layer of paper—I used brown kraft sheet mulching paper, but newspapers with non-toxic ink can also work (just be sure they’re safe). I purchased one roll for $30.57, which covers approximately 484 square feet with one layer. I only used part of my paper roll.

•Watered again, so everything sticks and begins to break down.

• Topped it off with mulch—I spread 7.62cm of arbor mulch — sourced locally. You can pick some up from your local nursery, or you can contact local arborists, who often give away chipped mulch for free.
That’s it! Now it’s just a matter of patience. Over the next few winter months, the layers will break down, smother the weeds, and feed the soil—all while keeping moisture in and reducing the need for watering. Even now, it looks better than before.

A Debate

Interestingly, while many researchers, Victoria Master Gardeners, and the Okanagan Xeriscape Society support sheet mulching, not everyone agrees. Linda Chalker Scott, at Washington State University, argues against sheet mulching with cardboard because it may contain chemical contaminants and restrict water and air flow to the soil. Additionally, work done at the University of British Columbia  Okanagan has shown that applying six inches of mulch — without the paper layer — can be effective for weed suppression and soil health. If you’re paper-averse or want to keep it even simpler, this is a great alternative. I wanted to ensure my vigorous weeds were suppressed sufficiently, so I chose paper.  

Final Thoughts

For me, this project has been a satisfying, low-cost way to give back to the earth, support local pollinators, and reclaim a forgotten corner of my yard.

Are you ready to give your lawn a second life?

Submitted by Sumer Seiki