He Removed a Mature Tree and Replaced the Lawn With Artificial Turf
Want to rethink a front yard after a mature tree and damaged paving force a major reset? Reddit user u/kelpangler spent three years rebuilding the space, combining professional help for the heavy work with his own planting, concrete planters, turf installation, and rocks gathered from the property.
Tree removal, demolition, a new wall, and pavers formed the main construction work, while the later stages introduced a new approach to how the yard uses planting, open ground, and the route from the street to the house.
Mature Tree Stood Beside Cracked Concrete
The original front yard centered on a mature tree planted between the house and street, with its canopy extending across much of the property. Grass, shrubs, brick paving, raised beds, and container plants filled the ground around it.
Cracks and displaced sections are visible in the concrete near the tree. The homeowner said the tree had damaged the front yard and driveway, which led to the decision to remove it and rebuild the area from scratch.
Tree Removal Left an Open Patch of Soil
Removing the tree and surrounding vegetation exposed most of the front yard. Bare soil now occupies the former lawn and planting area, while the brick walkway and damaged concrete remain around the perimeter.
The house, front steps, and established plants near the entrance stayed, but the center of the yard was cleared for a new layout.
New Pavers and Mulch Changed the Shape of the Yard
Gray pavers replaced the old concrete and brick surfaces, following a broad curve from the street toward the house. A low wall runs across the front boundary, creating a raised edge between the yard and sidewalk.
Bark mulch covers the ground beside the pavers, while young trees in nursery pots begin to show where planting would return after the demolition.
Concrete Planters Moved Trees Toward the Perimeter
Large square concrete planters now line the wall, each holding a young tree above the surrounding mulch. The homeowner built these planters as part of the work completed without the landscaper.
A curved paver border encloses the prepared center section, setting the exact footprint for the artificial turf. Rocks collected from the property form another edge between the future turf and planting bed.
Artificial Turf Replaced the Lawn
Artificial turf fills the curved center section, bordered by gray pavers on one side and a line of large rocks on the other. Container trees, ornamental grasses, mulch, and planting beds surround the green surface instead of returning one mature tree to the middle of the yard.
The turf became one of the main points of debate after u/kelpangler shared the project. Commenters questioned both the synthetic lawn and the loss of the mature tree, while the homeowner maintained that the tree needed to come out because of the damage it had caused.
Would you choose the artificial turf, or plant a natural lawn here instead?
All image credits go to Reddit user u/kelpangler.