Oklahoma homeowner turns full lawn into pollinator haven with husband-built 'witchy' garden shed

An Oklahoma homeowner is winning over Reddit with a backyard that looks like equal parts wildlife sanctuary and storybook set. 

A "witchy" shed built by their husband and brother now anchors the space, where native planting beds have replaced most of what used to be a conventional lawn, turning the yard into a pollinator habitat. 

What happened?

In a post on the r/gardening subreddit, the homeowner shared photos of the space with the caption: "My back yard. Getting my certification for a pollinator garden. We have everything except our bat boxes." 

The native and pollinator beds cover three to four times as much space as the remaining lawn. The homeowner said the yard is maintained without pesticides and now attracts about a dozen bird species, as well as squirrels and toads. They added that they are still working on bat boxes and a creature/decomposition habitat made with rotted logs. 

The post also prompted discussion about how the garden came together. When one person admired the shed, the homeowner replied: "3 OLD people. We were 64, 66, and 70 years old. Completely finished in 30 days." 

And when another commenter questioned the remaining grass, the original poster explained: "I try to offset as much as possible. The entire 1/3 of an acre was grass when we bought it."

Why does it matter?

Even replacing part of a lawn can reduce mowing, watering, and chemical use, lower water bills, and cut the time and money spent on upkeep. 

Yards planted with native species provide food and shelter for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife that traditional lawns often lack. 

Homeowners looking for lower-maintenance alternatives have several options, including native plants, clover, buffalo grass, and xeriscaping. In many cases, combining those approaches can keep a yard attractive while using fewer resources. 

What are people saying?

Commenters were especially taken with the shed.

One Reddit user wrote: "That witches hut, errr...garden shed!"

Another commenter joked: "Can I live in your shed?" 

"Looks magical! Really well considered. And this isn't a critique, but along with bat boxes, look into building chimney swift structures if they'd normally nest in your area," another user commented.  

Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.