A great option is to replace part of your lawn with trees, hedges, ground cover, or a garden. When well-designed, these add beauty, privacy, shade, value, and habitat for songbirds and butterflies. With deeper roots, these also absorb more rainwater than grass and reduce flooding. Many people replace a bit of lawn each year. A great spot to eliminate grass might be where rainwater leaves your property. A bed of shrubs or flowers there could absorb and filter large amounts of stormwater. Another approach is to use mulch beneath trees instead of grass. Grass competes with trees for water and nutrients, and lawnmowers damage tree trunks. Mulch is healthier for the tree and adds beauty. When you’re ready… Use a rope, hose, or yarn to outline your new landscaping bed. For large areas, rent a sod cutter or hire a landscaper to remove the grass. For small areas, smother the grass with cardboard or a few layers of newspaper covered with mulch or autumn leaves. Let this area rest for several weeks or over the winter. Once the grass has died, and the paper has softened, you can plant directly into it. Or smother the grass with black plastic or a tarp anchored by rocks. Don’t let water sit on this for more than a few days, or you will invite mosquitoes. Or kill the grass with Roundup or similar. Pay close attention to the label before you buy and apply. Season and weather will impact which product to use, how to safely use it, and how long to wait before you plant.