For many homeowners, traditional lawns are more hassle than joy. Often times thirsty, high-maintenance, and underused. But what if that stretch of turf could be transformed into something far more rewarding? Enter Carley Gethin, owner and designer of Wild Canyon Landscapes, who has been helping Los Angeles residents turn their lawns into sustainable, pollinator-friendly, and downright beautiful gardens through the city’s Turf Replacement Program.
With a mix of California-native plants, clever layering, and eco-minded design, Carley shows that removing your lawn doesn’t mean sacrificing style. From playful spaces for kids to fragrant hedges and vibrant blooms, a thoughtfully planned garden can conserve water, attract wildlife, and create a space you’ll actually want to spend time in. In fact, fall is the perfect season to rethink your outdoor space. Here, Carley inspires us to finally tackle this garden project with ease.
Sylvia Hardy/@slh_studio
Tapping into the Turf Replacement Program
For homeowners curious about turning their lawns into sustainable landscapes, Carley stresses the importance of approaching the program strategically. “A common misconception is that the turf rebate is about replacing lawns with artificial turf and/or rock only,” she says. “The program is an opportunity to beautify your yard with California-appropriate plants and enhance the environment, while saving the homeowner money on irrigation.”
Carley’s top tips for maximizing the rebate:
Plant small, think big
Install plants at their smallest affordable size and allow them room to grow. “Remember the three-year rule of landscaping: no, grow, show. The first year a plant will establish, the second year it will start to grow, and the third year is the time you will see the true beauty of the plant shine. Gardening is an opportunity for us to practice patience!” she says.
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Prep for weeds
Expect some manual-pulling as the garden establishes. Mulch is your friend—apply 2–3 inches around plants to suppress weeds and retain moisture.
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Plan your irrigation
Switch from overhead spray to drip or emitter systems for efficient, deep watering. Once established, native plants thrive with minimal supplemental water.
“Weeds are normal,” Carley notes. “When the soil is prepped appropriately and plants are irrigated close to the base of the plants, weeds should be minimal, but in projects where a whole garden is established at the same time, there are going to be some weeds. Expect to hand-pull as you go to avoid them taking over the space.”
Sylvia Hardy/@slh_studio
Designing Around Limitations
Designing a modern, layered garden on a large, urban site comes with its challenges. Carley had to balance HOA guidelines, safety, and sustainability while creating a visually compelling landscape. “Working on a plan is kind of like creating your own jigsaw puzzle,” she explains. “You add in all the constraints: property lines, setbacks, paths of desire, the views you either need to maintain or block, the low-water plants you want to use balanced with the low-water plants the HOA will approve, the eventual size of trees and plants. That provides a framework to get creative within.”
The resulting design combines structure and whimsy: Arbutus trees and grasses form a layered buffer along a busy street, while Bay Laurel hedging, colorful native Verbenas, and nearly native Pride of Madeira provide fragrance and texture within. Permeable gravel paths and decomposed granite define playful spaces for children, while carefully mulched beds retain moisture and suppress weeds.
“Even in the city you can create your own sanctuary,” Carley says. “Layering is really important when you need to create barriers and do not have the opportunity to use tall walls and fencing.”
Sylvia Hardy/@slh_studio
Practical Tips for Removing a Lawn
Fall is the ideal time to start a turf replacement project. “We want to get our new plants in the ground, particularly natives, before November to take advantage of the rainy season and their growing seasons,” Carley says. Planting in summer requires more irrigation and creates conditions that encourage fungi, increasing the risk of plant failure.
For lawn removal, Carley recommends methods that preserve soil health: smothering turf with black plastic, scraping topsoil carefully, or using the “lasagna method” of cardboard and mulch. Avoid chemical treatments. Once the grass is removed, amend soil with compost and mulch to support long-term plant growth.
Sylvia Hardy/@slh_studio
Planting for Beauty and Sustainability
Creating a lush, modern garden without a lawn requires layering plants from low to high, spacing them appropriately, and choosing a cohesive color palette. Carley often incorporates a mix of native and “nearly native” plants:
- Shade-friendly: Bush Anemone, Pitcher Sage, Heuchera ‘Wendy’
- Full-sun: Bay Laurel, Pineapple Guava, Canyon Prince Wild Rye, Atlas Grass, Yarrow, Verbenas, Phlomis Fruticosa, Salvia clevelandii
“Native gardens can look incredibly polished when designed with repetition, structure, and texture,” Carley explains. She recommends grouping plants in drifts, maintaining consistent colors, and planning for full size at maturity, especially in front lawns regulated by HOAs.
Sylvia Hardy/@slh_studio
The Bigger Picture
Replacing turf isn’t just about saving water, it’s about reimagining how you live in and interact with your outdoor space. “What I love about being a landscape designer is being part of the process and engaging clients to love their plant selections and become invested in the process,” Carley says. “Encouraging nature into your space—butterflies, hummingbirds, and that sensory experience of different smells and textures—can really help people love the space they are in.”
A thoughtfully designed garden can be a haven for play, relaxation, and connection. For this particular project, layered plantings, fragrant hedges, and permeable pathways created not just a beautiful front yard, but a safer, more welcoming environment for children and neighbors alike. Imagine sipping your morning coffee surrounded by native blooms, hosting friends under the shade of Bay Laurel, or watching pollinators flit through your garden as the sun sets.
Programs like LADWP’s Turf Replacement Program make these transformations accessible, even for those who haven’t worked with a designer before. “By providing a free design service to help people change out their lawns, LADWP removed that barrier to the process,” Carley notes. “With smart design, we can create a similar look and feel as a traditional lawn—but with less water and more life.”
Even a small change—removing a patch of turf, adding a butterfly-attracting native, or creating a quiet corner for reading—can have a big impact. A garden designed thoughtfully is not just a landscape; it’s a space for living, connecting, and thriving.
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