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nolawns:design [2026/07/08 14:58] – [Draw a plan!] greatwhitebuffalo41nolawns:design [2026/07/08 21:05] (current) – greatwhitebuffalo41
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-< Return to [[nolawns:thelearningcenter|No Lawns: The Learning Center]]+[[nolawns:thelearningcenter|<Return to No Lawns: The Learning Center]]
  
 ====== No Lawns Design ====== ====== No Lawns Design ======
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 Many people struggle with the design aspect of no-lawns. Removing lawn-space is a great idea if it's not being used, but what do you replace it with? This page is dedicated to resources to help with designing a no-lawn yard. Many people struggle with the design aspect of no-lawns. Removing lawn-space is a great idea if it's not being used, but what do you replace it with? This page is dedicated to resources to help with designing a no-lawn yard.
  
 +===== 1. Resources =====
  
-===== Resources ===== +==== 1.1 North America ====
- +
-==== North America ====+
  
   * **Wild Ones Garden Designs** - These should really be called yard designs since they show real yards that have been designed to be practical while also including a ton of native species. If you live in between several of the cities here, take a look at all of them and see which plants are native in your area. From Wild Ones:Each design   * **Wild Ones Garden Designs** - These should really be called yard designs since they show real yards that have been designed to be practical while also including a ton of native species. If you live in between several of the cities here, take a look at all of them and see which plants are native in your area. From Wild Ones:Each design
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   * //**Prairie Up!**// by Ben Vogt is one of the few books that actually takes a no-lawns approach and shows you how to do it.   * //**Prairie Up!**// by Ben Vogt is one of the few books that actually takes a no-lawns approach and shows you how to do it.
  
-==== Europe / UK ====+==== 1.2 Europe / UK ====
  
   * //**Naturalistic Planting Design**// by Nigel Dunnett. Mostly UK based. Not strictly focused on native plants, but makes good points about design. He's also very active on Instagram.   * //**Naturalistic Planting Design**// by Nigel Dunnett. Mostly UK based. Not strictly focused on native plants, but makes good points about design. He's also very active on Instagram.
   * //**Piet Oudolf**// has written multiple books on designing natural gardens. He's a Dutch gardener but his work is broadly focused on increasing biodiversity in our landscapes.   * //**Piet Oudolf**// has written multiple books on designing natural gardens. He's a Dutch gardener but his work is broadly focused on increasing biodiversity in our landscapes.
  
-===== Design Strategies =====+===== 2. Design Strategies  =====
  
 ==== Define your spaces ==== ==== Define your spaces ====
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 These are things to keep in mind when making a plan. These are things to keep in mind when making a plan.
  
-===== Know your region's Keystone Species =====+===== 3. Know your region's Keystone Species =====
  
 The National Wildlife Federation has great data here on which plant genera are most essential for wildlife in each region of North America (if anyone knows of similar data for other areas, message the mods). Landscapes that have these plants will provide habitat to native insects, birds, and animals that cannot exist in a normal yard. The National Wildlife Federation has great data here on which plant genera are most essential for wildlife in each region of North America (if anyone knows of similar data for other areas, message the mods). Landscapes that have these plants will provide habitat to native insects, birds, and animals that cannot exist in a normal yard.
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 The Audubon Society has a great article here which explains how native plants => native insects => native birds. The Audubon Society has a great article here which explains how native plants => native insects => native birds.
  
-===== Draw a plan! =====+===== 4. Draw a plan! =====
  
 We aren't aware of any landscaping software that is easy to learn for beginners. If you know of one, let us know! We aren't aware of any landscaping software that is easy to learn for beginners. If you know of one, let us know!
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   - If you have a steady hand, you can also just try free hand drawing your yard and then scanning it. I found both of these methods to be faster than drawing a template in SketchUp.   - If you have a steady hand, you can also just try free hand drawing your yard and then scanning it. I found both of these methods to be faster than drawing a template in SketchUp.
  
 +----
  
------+[[nolawns:thelearningcenter|< Return to No Lawns: The Learning Center]]
  
  
-[[nolawns:thelearningcenter|< Return to No Lawns: The Learning Center]]