Change it altogether!
If you want to completely remove your lawn then the chances are it’s because you want to save time. Paving or gravelling over the area may seem like the easiest options but this can become expensive if you’ve a large area to change, and you may still end up spending a lot of time weeding, cleaning and repairing. So try these alternatives instead.
Veg garden
Vegetable gardens are easiest to manage when they’re divided up into sections and this can easily be done with a lawn. Mark out the areas where you’d like veg beds, using string or a marking spray, then the existing grass in between can act as the paths. Just make sure the beds are small enough to be able to reach the centre without having to tread on the soil.
Gravel garden/ dry garden
If your lawn is always drying out and the grass is quick to die back, try making a dry garden instead. Choose drought-tolerant plants such as eryngium, echinacea, lavender and erysimum. Any plant with silver leaves will also be suitable. Plant the plants and cover the area with a membrane, cutting holes to fit the plants. Then cover with a mulch.
Bog garden
This is the easiest solution if you’ve a lawn that fails to look good because it’s always flooding. Choose plants that love to be sitting in water. Astilbe, gunnera (if you have lots of space), and any plants that are sold in the garden centre or nursery as ‘marginal’ pond plants will enjoy these conditions.