Services

It’s simple to turn a lawn into a prairie. A beautiful, fully-developed plant community that provides a habitat for birds, butterflies, and other native species can be established in three years. Whether you need a bit of guidance, a full-service installation, or something in between, Prairies Over Lawns is here to help you reach your goals.

Initial consultation

To begin, we offer a free 20-minute consultation during which we visit your space, determine your goals and expectations, and chat more about our process. When you request an initial consultation, we will contact you to schedule a day and time that works for you. Cost: free

Self-guided prairie plan

Want guidance on how to transition from a lawn to a natural ecosystem yourself? Let us design a personalized prairie plan that includes plant, seed, and mulch selection, where to source materials, as well as a guide for planting, watering, and weeding to help you create a thriving habitat for birds, insects, and native wildlife. Cost: $350

Full-service installation

Looking to transform your parkway or yard into a prairie? We’d love to schedule a time to come see your space, take some measurements and drawings, and give you an estimate! Our services would include smothering your grass, composting it back into the soil, spreading mulch over it, and then planting native perennials that will either spread through their root systems, or seed themselves, to fill in the rest of the lawn, leading to a prairie ecosystem. Cost: Prices can vary based on your space, goals, and labor needs.

Small-service installation

Looking to transform a small part of your yard into prairie? Every little bit helps! We can work with you to create a simplified plan that meets your expectations. Cost: Prices can vary based on your space, goals, and labor needs.

Stewardship

For Prairies Over Lawns clients who have used our design or installation services, we can return to ensure the prairie’s development through weeding, evaluating how well the plants are doing, and possibly successive seedings.

Workshops

From time to time, we offer workshops on what prairies are, why they are important, and how you can plant your own to help bring back biodiversity, trap more carbon, spread beauty, and heal the land. Includes hands-on instruction — as a community we transform lawns into a native Illinois prairie! Cost: see our events page for details.