Transform your yard into a green sanctuary with "The Suburban Homeowner's Handbook to Lawn Care." This comprehensive guide is your ultimate resource for nurturing a thriving, sustainable, and stunning lawn right in your own backyard. Dive into a world where biology meets beauty, beginning with a deep understanding of your lawn's ecosystem. Learn the importance of biodiversity, and uncover the hidden magic of soil health and the microorganisms that live within it. From the roots to the blades, this book provides insights on choosing the right grass for your environment, whether you’re interested in native varieties, climate compatibility, or drought-resistant options that save water while staying lush. Mowing is an art form here, where eco-friendly practices reign supreme. Discover the best mowing techniques, equipment choices, and the unexpected benefits of grasscycling. Speaking of water, the book introduces innovative watering solutions like smart irrigation systems and rainwater harvesting that keep your lawn vibrant and conserve precious resources. Sustainable fertilizing practices await, offering a balanced approach between organic solutions and DIY composting. Timing is key to ensuring maximum lawn fertility while maintaining an eco-friendly stance. Tackle pest management with natural methods that encourage beneficial insects and keep your lawn safe for family and wildlife. Uncover the secrets of lawn aeration, weed control, and seasonal routines to keep your lawn in peak condition year-round. Engage with wildlife-friendly features that attract pollinators and provide safe spaces for local fauna, enriching your outdoor experience. Finally, look towards the future of lawn care with tips on collaborating with your community and adopting new technologies that promote sustainability. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this handbook offers the tools and knowledge needed to cultivate a beautiful, resilient lawn that stands the test of time.

“Big ideas for your small garden.” —Garden Design When it comes to gardens, bigger isn’t always better, and The Less Is More Garden shows you how to take advantage of every square foot of space. Designer Susan Morrison offers savvy tips to match your landscape to your lifestyle, draws on years of experience to recommend smart plants with seasonal interest, and suggests hardscape materials to personalize your space. Inspiring photographs highlight a variety of inspiring small-space designs from around the country. With The Less Is More Garden, you’ll see how limited space can mean unlimited opportunities for gorgeous garden design.

A colorful guide covering the basics of replacing a traditional lawn with a wide variety of easy-care, no-mow, drought-tolerant, money-saving options that will appeal to today's busy, eco-conscious homeowner. Americans pour 300 million gallons of gas and 1 billion hours every year into mowing their lawns, not to mention 70 million pounds of pesticides and $40 billion for lawn upkeep. No Wonder the anti-lawn movement is thriving, as today's eco-conscious consumers realize that their traditional lawns are water-hogging, chemical-ridden, maintenance-intensive burdens. Lawn Gone!, from award-winning gardening blogger Pam Penick, is the first basic introduction to low-water, easy-care lawn alternatives for beginning gardeners, written in a friendly style with an approachable package. It covers all the available time-saving options: alternative grasses, ground cover plants, artificial turf, hardscaping, mulch, and more. In addition, it includes step-by-step lawn-removal methods, strategies for dealing with neighbors and homeowner associations, and how to minimize your lawn if you're not ready to go all the way.

“Fear deer no more! The best source I’ve seen on the topic!” —Tracy DiSabato-Aust, award-winning garden designer and best-selling author Deer are one of the most common problems a gardener can face. These cute but pesky animals can quickly devour hundreds of dollars’ worth of plants. And common solutions include the use of unattractive fencing and chemicals. In Deer-Resistant Design, Karen Chapman offers another option—intentional design choices that result in beautiful gardens that coexist with wildlife. Deer-Resistant Design showcases real home gardens across North America—from a country garden in New Jersey to a hilltop hacienda in Texas—that have successfully managed the presence of deer. Each homeowner also shares their top ten deer-resistant plants, all welcome additions to a deer-challenged gardeners shopping list. A chapter on deer-resistant container gardens provides suggestions for making colorful, captivating, and imaginative containers. Lushly illustrated and filled with practical advice and inspiring design ideas, Deer-Resistant Design is packed with everything you need to confidently tackle this challenging problem.

Reduce your lawn and your grocery budget. Take gardening to the next level! Would you like to grow healthy food for your table? Do you want to learn the secrets of farming even though you live in a neighborhood? Author Amy Stross talks straight about why the suburbs might be the ideal place for a small farm. In these pages you'll learn: How to make your landscape as productive as it is beautiful Why the suburbs are primed with food-growing potential How to choose the best crops for success Why you don't need the perfect yard to have a micro-farm How to use easy permaculture techniques for abundant harvests If you're ready to create a beautiful, edible yard, this book is for you. The Suburban Micro-Farm will show you how to grow your own fruits, herbs, and vegetables even on a limited schedule. From seed to harvest, this book will keep you on track so you feel a sense of accomplishment for your efforts. You'll learn gardening tricks that are essential to success, like how to deal with a 'brown thumb', how to develop and nurture healthy soil, and how to manage garden pests. Although this book has everything a new gardener needs to get started, experienced gardeners will not be disappointed. With helpful tips throughout, you will love the in-depth chapters about permaculture and making money on the micro-farm.

This timely set traces the evolution of social marketing from its deep roots in psychology, religion, and politics to its current role as an influencer of societal and behavioral change. Few realize that the methods behind the social marketing discipline are not new but are based on traditional sales techniques reengineered to advocate social responsibility. Since emerging, the movement has prompted a rapid change in how we communicate and what we say. Funding from government agencies, foundations, and organizations like the National Cancer Institute and the American Heart Association have prompted campaigns that promote healthy behaviors and deter unhealthy actions. In this three-volume set, a panel of experts take an unprecedented look at this marketing phenomena as a means of influencing behaviors that benefit individuals and society overall. This comprehensive collection examines the role of persuasion in a marketing context. The book's central theme is woven throughout each of the three volumes: volume one focuses on the conceptual and philosophical foundations of the trend; the second part addresses its theoretical and strategic dimensions; and the final section discusses applications to specific societal issues like personal, public, and environmental caretaking; disease prevention; good nutrition; and safe sex. Chapters address campaign planning, regulatory and compliance issues, and the measurement of outcomes.