From dull lawn to thriving vegetable garden

There are several methods you can use to transform your lawn into a vegetable garden. What they all have in common is the first step: removing the grass and roots. You can, of course, dig up the grass and roots, but it’s often easier to lay a thick layer of cardboard over the area—and then cover the cardboard with soil. The grass will die from lack of light, and as the cardboard breaks down, the vegetable roots will gain access to the soil underneath.

Once you've dealt with the grass, the possibilities are endless: you can grow directly in the ground, in planter boxes, or raised beds—simply design your vegetable garden in the way that best suits your space.

Sometimes, simple in-ground beds are all you need. Just make sure the layer of soil and compost is at least 20–30 cm deep—and even deeper if you’re growing plants with deep root systems. It’s also smart to go for fairly wide beds; if you choose beds that are 75–120 cm wide, you can easily reach the entire bed from the sides.

When it comes to soil, you can use store-bought soil, try mulching methods, or build so-called "hugelkultur" beds.

When you grow vertically—such as in pallet collars—you spare your back and can more easily replace the soil when needed. You can also grow in large containers, homemade wooden boxes, or more advanced beds with stone or brick borders. Just like with in-ground growing, start by laying cardboard at the bottom to suppress grass and weeds.

As you grow, plants will deplete the soil's nutrients, so make sure to fertilize and refresh the soil regularly. This is especially important when the soil volume is limited, as in containers and raised beds. Be sure to check out our articles on growing in planting boxes for more tips.

Many vegetables thrive best when they’re moved around from time to time. That’s because diseases and pests specific to certain crops can establish themselves in the soil if you grow the same plant in the same spot year after year. That’s why it’s smart to have multiple beds or zones and rotate where you plant your vegetables each season.

Vegetables also have different nutrient needs, and you can take advantage of this by letting nitrogen-fixing plants—such as beans—grow in one spot one year, then follow with nitrogen-loving plants the next. Or do the reverse: plant something that depletes the soil one year, followed by a crop that prefers poor soil the next.

When planning your vegetable garden, it’s important to include garden paths or walkways so you can easily work in the beds without stepping on them. It's often practical to build paths using cardboard or landscape fabric as a base, then cover them with materials like paving stones, sand, gravel, or bark—depending on what suits your garden best.

Garden paths not only make it easier to plant and water, but they also act as natural barriers against slugs. Gravel and sand are particularly effective, as slugs don’t like crawling over rough surfaces.

Turning your lawn into a vegetable garden isn’t difficult—and the more organic matter you add over the years, the better your soil and harvest will become. With just 200 square meters, you can actually grow enough vegetables to feed one person for an entire year. Much better than mowing the lawn, right?

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