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The Organic Lawn Care Manual: A Natural, Low-Maintenance System for a Beautiful, Safe Lawn [Paperback]

Paul Tukey
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)

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Book Description

January 30, 2007
In the modern suburban landscape, beautiful, green lawns are perhaps the most ubiquitous feature of all. It’s difficult to imagine a friendly neighborhood without broad, clean stretches of neatly shorn grass. More and more in recent years, those lawns are evolving into organic systems as homeowners — concerned about the long-term effects of chemicals on their children, their pets, and the environment — turn to natural methods to keep their yards healthy and inviting, and, yes, still green and lush, too.

Paul Tukey, a self-confessed mowing addict, answers the growing demand for organic grass with a comprehensive volume of natural lawncare information. Step by step, he takes readers through the many elements that work together to form a healthy, organic lawn. Well-treated soil, fed properly with compost and natural fertilizers, is the foundation of every great lawn. Plant it with a grass cultivar matched properly to the climate and sunlight, nourish the soil and grass with the proper amount of water, and maintain the height with a good mower equipped with a sharp blade. A beautiful, naturally maintained lawn can be as simple as that.

An organic, healthy lawn is the best defense against weeds and pests, but when unwanted visitors creep in, Tukey is ready with Weed and Thug ID Guides and advice on dispatching them naturally or learning to live with the benign offenders. Tukey also provides helpful advice for lawnkeepers making the transition from a synthetic to an organic lawn system. It’s all here — everything today’s homeowner needs to keep his lawn off drugs, and make it an inviting living and play area for the whole family.

Frequently Bought Together

The Organic Lawn Care Manual: A Natural, Low-Maintenance System for a Beautiful, Safe Lawn + The Lawn Bible: How to Keep It Green, Groomed, and Growing Every Season of the Year
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

For homeowners tired of their chemical-saturated lawns, this book provides step-by-step guidance for "get[ting] your lawn off drugs." Tukey, a lifelong lawn lover, started mowing as a teenager, and as the owner of a successful lawn care company, he was well entrenched in the "weed 'n' feed" method prevalent since the 1940s: "With one pass of a lawn spreader, we could feed the grass" (with chemical fertilizers), "kill the weeds" (with pesticides) "and still have time for a round of golf at the course we so envied"). When, after years on the job, he began to experience nosebleeds and shortness of breath, his doctor ordered him to stop using lawn chemicals, and that was the beginning of his commitment to organic lawn care. His lively and passionate instruction—on soil structure and how to improve it; grass varieties; "starting a lawn from scratch"; natural lawn foods; "watering dews and don'ts"; and how to deal with moles, voles, grubs and bugs—are interspersed with inspirational tales of natural-lawn activists. With an appendix on lawn games, from croquet to badminton, this book will delight lawn fanatics and provide sound advice for those who simply want to maintain their yard. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Tukey, the editor and publisher of People, Places & Plants magazine, offers gardeners what he calls "how-to methods for safe, effective lawn care" and avoiding the use of chemicals. He explains how to evaluate lawn-care needs, how grass grows (what he labels grass anatomy), how to create healthy soil, and how to select grass that is drought tolerant and disease and pest resistant. There are chapters on starting a lawn from scratch or refurbishing an existing lawn, making the transition from synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, watering, weeding, dealing with pests and diseases, and mowing and maintenance. Included is a helpful glossary, a list of ground covers, and many color photographs. George Cohen
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 271 pages
  • Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC (January 30, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1580176496
  • ISBN-13: 978-1580176491
  • Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.6 x 10.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,234 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Called the "godfather of the natural landscape movement" by the New York Times and other media outlets, Paul Tukey is North America's leading expert on the subject of sustainable landscaping. The nation's gardening communicator of the year in 2006, his Organic Lawn Care Manual topped the sales of lawn books on Amazon for three years running. His new book with co-author Victoria Rowell takes the lawn concept a step further, encouraging families to use their safe lawns for fun and games rather than just aesthetics. "Paul Tukey is the Al Gore of lawn care," says the Philadelphia Enquirer.

Customer Reviews

Great explanation of how to care for your lawn organically. Monica  |  16 reviewers made a similar statement
The information overall is detailed and easy to read. FL Guy  |  13 reviewers made a similar statement
As a result of reading this book, I plan to make the transition this year. A. Dolan  |  8 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
40 of 42 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough, balanced (and scary) February 19, 2007
Format:Paperback
This is the first organic gardening book I've purchased. And I literally read it the same way I read fiction - cover to cover. I found Paul's narrative style, with family pictures and hardcore science simply fun to read. While many of the statistics are scary (e.g., more gasoline is spilled refilling lawn and garden equipment than was spilled from the Exxon Valdez!) Paul avoids being preachy. The book follows a logical sequence with chapters focused on specific steps -e.g. evaluating what you have, pros and cons of different transitions, watering, weeds, pests, and even games to play on nice grass! He provides plenty of warnings of how initially your lawn may not look as good, but the end result is worth it. Although Paul's base is in Maine, he seemed to cover the country pretty well. As a result of reading this book, I plan to make the transition this year.
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38 of 42 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Decent, but light on real information June 8, 2008
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is like too many "green" or "organic" books lately. It spends as much time arguing for its existence (i.e. why you should manage your lawn organically) as it does providing practical information for how to do it successfully. OK, I bought the book already -- you don't need to convince me!

It was frustrating that, when I needed a solution to a real problem, all the book told me was: if you plant your lawn the way we've told you, you won't have this problem. Not much help!

On the plus side, I did learn about some good techniques like dethatching.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Paul describes in plain English how to break the synthetic chemical addiction for our lawns and gardens. In the book, Paul explains how organic methods can be used to work with nature (rather than against it) to create a beautiful, healthy low-input lawn. The book is clearly organized and can be used as a how-to manual for people who are new to organic methods or an excellent resource for experienced readers who want to try other approaches. Paul's book also has some fantastic photos of brewing some compost tea!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Not too technical
Not very technical, but the writer shows a lot of enthusiasm. Perfect for a homeowner or as an introduction to the subject for a lawncare professional.
Published 1 month ago by Kevin E. Collins
2.0 out of 5 stars Ok book
This book is ok for a published work, but there is better more complete information on the web available for free. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Brian
5.0 out of 5 stars read this
Great read, going against the current of most lawn care advice. Practical and readable, and, most of all, it has worked!
Published 4 months ago by seth
5.0 out of 5 stars Organic Lawn Care Manual
In our rush to water conservation and sustainability, the lawn has received some bad press. This book details how to grow a lawn the organic way without the negative environmental... Read more
Published 5 months ago by ruthie
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent lawn care manual
I have already started to switch from chemical to organic for the health of my pets and grandchildren. I wish I had known of this manual earlier this year. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Buell rider
5.0 out of 5 stars If you're interested in switching over to an organic lawn or...
I wanted to take a look at this book not because I want to dig my lawn up and start from scratch, but rather to improve those little problem areas. Read more
Published 14 months ago by D. Fowler
5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of ideas for your yard.
We saw this book at a gardening show and were short on cash at the time. I looked on Amazon.com when we got home and ordered it using our credit card to pay later. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Saverdad
4.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Caring for an organic lawn is not that much different than caring for a garden, but there are differences. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Phil (Smiling Gardener)
5.0 out of 5 stars Simple, easy to understand concepts
An excellent book for ANYONE interested in improving not only their yard, but their gardening style as well. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Trooper
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book!
Great explanation of how to care for your lawn organically. Lots of details on all the different aspects from starting a lawn from scratch to renovating onw. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Monica
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