[jshorty]

This sort of approach is only really viable in certain climates and with certain starting conditions, ideally away from extremes in temperature and drought where seedlings can compete with what's already established. I live in the (climate change pending) sun-baked former prairie of East Denver and a laissez faire approach to the vegetation in my yard is a virtual guarantee that invasives (kochia, bindweed, curly dock) will completely dominate.

I've found you don't have to be totally organized about it uprooting the worst of the noxious weeds, scattershot planting of desirables, and watering unpredictably around a busy life schedule, but this still takes a lot of time and energy. At that point, if you value your time and energy, you find yourself needing to make plans and genuinely care about the process.