Hey Heidi,

I love this question, and I feel like I'm in a similar situation. One option would be to hire someone who specializes in this type of sustainable landscaping. One group you could check is Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional's "Find a Pro".

If hiring a professional is out of the budget, I would suggest an incremental approach. Adding a few wildlife supporting plants can be a huge change. In Maryland, we estimate there are between 25000 and 50000 unique insect species with more than 25% of them being specialists. Planting a native plant will attract these specialists, which will attract other wildlife that feeds on them, and this is how we establish food webs. For migrating birds, even a single plant providing the right mix of proteins, sugars, and fats with a berry they prefer increases their survival rate up to 30% according to the National Wildlife Federation.

Assuming you want the most impact for the least cost, I have found that seeds work great in sheet mulch over lawn in the fall, and plugs work great in spring or fall. We have an article here on sheet mulching. A lot of sheet mulching resources talk about how to manage weeds, but a weed is just a plant you don't want where it is, so the same will apply for your grass!

The Baltimore County Master Gardeners are working on a new garden showcasing lawn alternatives and how to implement them. This is part of the Demonstration Garden at the Baltimore County Agricultural Center. There are also some case studies here that provide some examples of what others have done and found successful.

However you approach it, I hope you're encouraged by the progress you make. Every little change can make a profound difference over time.

- Josh