She replaced her lawn with a pollinator paradise and never looked back. Jenny McCoy, a garden designer based in Des Moines, Iowa, inherited a standard 1950s sloped front yard when she bought her midcentury ranch home. Thirteen years later, that same patch of grass has become a layered garden full of blooms, native plants, and visiting wildlife. Her transformation offers real, practical inspiration for anyone considering swapping turf for front lawn flowers. Here are seven specific reasons why making that switch can change your outdoor space for the better.
How did Jenny McCoy start transforming her front yard?
Reason 1: Starting small builds momentum and confidence
McCoy did not rip out her entire lawn in one weekend. She began by replacing small sections of turf with pollinator-friendly plants and native species. The results came quickly. Those first flowers and grasses filled in fast, and the visible progress encouraged her to keep going. This gradual approach works well for any homeowner who feels unsure about a full-scale lawn removal. When you see the first patch of soil turn green with new growth, the next step feels less intimidating. The principle is simple: small wins create momentum. Over the course of several growing seasons, McCoy expanded the planted area until the original lawn had almost entirely disappeared. The method she used is repeatable. You do not need a master plan on day one. You just need a shovel, a few starter plants, and the willingness to watch what happens.
What design technique makes her garden stand out?
Reason 2: Curving patterns and repeating shapes create a welcoming front garden
McCoy arranged her plants in gently curving, repeating patterns that wrap around the front steps. This design choice gives the garden a cohesive look that the eye can follow easily. She calls it a patchwork effect, and it softens the transition between the street and the front door. The curved beds guide visitors naturally toward the entrance. Straight lines and rigid squares often make a small front yard feel boxed in. Curves do the opposite. They suggest movement and flow. McCoy planted her flowers and grasses in clusters that echo one another, so the garden reads as a single composition rather than a random collection of pots and beds. This technique works on any sloped or flat property. The repeating shapes create rhythm, and the curves make the space feel generous even when it is compact.
Why does she avoid deadheading?
Reason 3: Leaving seed heads invites birds and reduces garden chores
Most gardeners reach for pruners the moment a flower fades. McCoy does the opposite. She lets spent blooms stand through the season and into winter. The dried seed heads attract birds, especially finches, that come to feed. This choice turns the garden into an active wildlife habitat long after the petals drop. It also cuts down on maintenance. Deadheading every spent flower takes hours across a large garden. By letting plants complete their natural cycle, McCoy saves time and gives local birds a reliable food source. The seed heads also add visual texture in the colder months when flowers are scarce. A garden does not have to look tidy every day to be beautiful. Allowing some wildness creates a richer, more dynamic space.
How does she manage water runoff on the slope?
Reason 4: Deep-rooted grasses stabilize sloped ground naturally
The front yard slopes downward, which creates a runoff problem. Water flows quickly over bare soil or short turf, carrying topsoil with it. McCoy solved this issue by planting long-rooted grasses, including big bluestem. These native grasses send roots deep into the ground. The roots hold soil in place and slow down water movement. Instead of racing off the slope, rainwater soaks in where it falls. This simple biological solution replaces the need for retaining walls or drainage pipes. The grasses also add height and movement to the garden. They sway in the wind and provide vertical contrast to the rounded flower shapes. For anyone with a hillside or sloped front yard, deep-rooted natives offer a low-cost, high-impact fix for erosion and water loss.
What color palette does she favor?
Reason 5: A restrained palette of pinks and purples creates harmony with one bold accent
McCoy generally sticks to flowers in soft pinks and purples. This limited color range gives the garden a calm, unified appearance. Plants like the ‘Beverly Sills’ bearded iris bloom in midspring and again in late summer, pulling the palette through the whole growing season. The consistency of color means that even as different plants take turns blooming, the overall look stays coherent. One exception breaks the pastel rule. Oriental poppies appear in late May with a vivid red that stands out sharply. McCoy compares them to the statement shoes in an outfit. That single jolt of red prevents the garden from feeling too predictable. The lesson is useful for any gardener. Repeating a narrow color scheme most of the time keeps the space restful, while one deliberate contrast adds energy without causing visual chaos.
How does a sloped front lawn become an advantage for drainage and plant diversity?
Reason 6: A slope improves drainage and supports a wider range of plants
Most homeowners see a sloped lawn as a problem. McCoy saw it as an opportunity. The grade of her front yard naturally drains excess water away from the foundation, which means she can grow species that would rot in flat, poorly drained soil. Many native wildflowers and grasses evolved on hillsides and open prairies. They thrive on slopes. The elevation also gives each plant better exposure to sunlight, especially those at the top of the bed. Lower-growing flowers do not get shaded out by taller neighbors because the terrain lifts them. The slope adds visual drama, too. When you stand at the street, you see the garden in layers rather than a single flat surface. That depth makes the front lawn appear larger and more lush than a flat plot of the same size.
You may also enjoy reading: Where Royal Flower Bouquets Really Go.
What role does plant spacing and closeness play in reducing maintenance?
Reason 7: Dense planting crowds out weeds and reduces watering needs
McCoy nests her plants close together. The leaves and stems touch, forming a living mulch that shades the soil. Weeds struggle to germinate in the dark spaces between the plants. This tight spacing means less weeding for the gardener. It also keeps the soil cooler and slows evaporation, so the garden requires less frequent watering. The close quarters do not make the plants compete aggressively because McCoy selected species that coexist well. Contrasting flower forms help, too. The fluffy ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ peonies, delicate poppies, and upright catmint spires each occupy a different visual layer. They share space without crowding one another out. The result is a garden that feels full and generous from the first spring flush to the last autumn seed head.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my front yard soil is poor or compacted—can I still grow a flower garden?
Yes, but you will need to improve the soil before planting. Work in compost or aged organic matter to break up compaction and add nutrients. Many native plants, like the big bluestem McCoy uses, tolerate lean soil once they are established. Starting with a small, well-prepared bed is more effective than trying to fix the whole yard at once.
How do I choose flowers that bloom in succession for continuous color?
Select plants with staggered bloom times, starting with early bulbs in spring and ending with late-flowering perennials in autumn. McCoy uses ‘Beverly Sills’ bearded iris for midspring and late summer color, and she relies on native coneflowers to carry the show into fall. Read plant labels for bloom windows and combine early, mid, and late performers in each bed.
Why does planting closely together help with weeds and watering?
When plants are spaced tightly, their leaves and stems shade the soil surface. Sunlight cannot reach weed seeds, so fewer weeds sprout. The shade also slows moisture evaporation, meaning you need to water less often. This approach works best when you choose plants that grow to similar heights and do not aggressively outcompete their neighbors.
