The Organic Lawn Care Manual (Paperback)

by Paul Tukey (Author)
Key Phrases: organic lawn care, natural lawn care program, lawn care system, Canada Soil, United States, North America (more...)

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 the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 271 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC; illustrated edition edition (January 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580176496
• ISBN-13: 978-1580176491
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #64,887 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #7 in	Books > Home & Garden > Gardening & Horticulture > Lawns
  #78 in	Books > Home & Garden > Gardening & Horticulture > Organic

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough, balanced (and scary) , February 19, 2007

By	A. Dolan (Malden, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Anyone can create a beautiful, healthy low-input lawn, May 15, 2007

By	Mark H. Follansbee (Scarborough, ME United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Paul describes in plain English how to break the synthetic chemical addition 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 apporaches. Paul's book also has some fantastic photos of brewing up some compost tea!

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the book you're looking for, May 20, 2007

By	Beanhauer (Bloomfield, MI) - See all my reviews

I'm trying to get started on an organic lawn. I've been to lots of (sometimes contradictory) websites, talked to local contractors, and ordered another lawn book. This book is becoming my manual for an organic lawn. It has a lot of detail, great pictures that are truly illustrative, and offers a complete approach to creating a healthy organic lawn.

It should also be noted that the author is not a crunchy hippy who is happy with a weed-filled patch of land. He is/was a professional landscaper who understands the appeal of a beautiful green lawn. He also understands that it can be created, and created better, without the application of synthetic chemicals. I think this gives the book credibility, as the reader can start from the assumption that a beautiful, healthy yard is the goal...an organic lawn is not assumed or allowed to be a substandard lawn.