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

Was a good book and the author is personable but a little too scientific in some parts….although that knowledge helps with lawn care

I've read quite a few books on organic lawn care, and this one is by far the best. It goes over everything you need to have a healthy, good-looking organic lawn. It contains tons of illustrations and easy to read summaries, as well as entertaining writing. It covers grass anatomy, building good soil, starting a lawn from scratch, overseeding, switching to organic fertilizers, watering the lawn, organic pest control, organic weed control, effective mowing, grass alternatives, and how to make it all low maintenance. It even includes an appendix on games you can play on your new lawn. I keep pulling this book out time and time again as I work on my lawn. The things I use the most are what organic fertilizers are equivalent to the chemicals recommended by a formal soil test, the lawn care calendar, and how to make compost tea so that it is aerobic and contains the most beneficial microbes for your soil.

Good book with some good ideas. Too soon to tell if it will retain some reference value.

I have to admit, I first looked into organic lawn care for not-so-noble reasons. I have a pool in my backyard, which means that using any nitrogen-rich fertilizer back there risks getting nitrates in the pool water, which is a big no-no for pool owners. I hoped that organic lawn care could provide me with a way to care for my backyard without endangering the pool water. That's not to say that I didn't care about the environment; it just wasn't my first priority.However, in reading this book, I've become downright enthusiastic about, not just helping the environment, but having a great yard *while* helping the environment. As other reviewers noted, the author does not ask us to settle for inferior lawns in order to help the environment. He is passionate about having a great lawn -- and doing it the right way.There are essentially two ways to get great looking lawns: treat it with chemicals, or follow the organic route described in this book. They can both produce great looking lawns, but there is a difference. I liken the comparison to making a person look better through either plastic surgery or exercise. Plastic surgery is fast and can have some incredible results, though it does nothing to improve the actual health of the person. Whereas exercising can probably get to the same end, though with a bit more effort, especially at the beginning. However, even though the results may look similar, underneath the person who has been exercising is stronger, fitter, and more able to cope with the physical stresses of life. Similarly, with a bit more effort (at least, at the beginning), an organically cared-for lawn can look great and be healthier and stronger than a chemically cared-for lawn.I'm ditching the remainder of my Scott's Four-step weed-and-feed lawn care process and embarking on *really* caring for my lawn. Thank you Paul Tukey for opening my eyes!PS - as an added bonus, I *can* care for my lawn organically without endangering my pool water.

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.

This book truly simplifies the transition to organic lawn care. I couldn’t stop reading it and it gives you specific information for your geographic area. We don’t need chemicals and this book proves it!! Great read, great for the environment and a must have for anyone concerned about their children and animals coming into contact with your lawn/landscape!

Other reviews have detailed the contents of this book, so I won't rehash them. Bottom line, this is an EXCELLENT resource for anyone looking to learn more about taking care of their lawn.If you are interested in taking care of your lawn yourself (i.e. no lawn care company), this Manual has all of the information that you need to fully understand how to grow a lush, beautiful lawn... without the use of chemicals.My favorite part is that it includes a monthly maintenance calendar so I can remember what I am supposed to be doing each month of the year.

I read other reviews before purchasing this book. I thought it was the perfect blend of technical information if you wanted it and practical explanation for the doing. It is well laid out so that once you've read through it, you can easily find the reference material you need. I think it's the perfect start for going organic. You can get as crazy as you want or take it a step at a time.

Everything needed for organic lawn care. It's Far away from chemical lawn care methods. Having read and practiced a lot with organic methods of gardeninng, I can say that the infos that book are scientific and therefore reliable. That guy knows what he is talking about. A person not accustomed with these organic practices will learn a lot about organic caring of life in his or her lawn and even the his or her garden since the methods apply to both. Besides this organic aspect, I liked the approach with weeds and the transition calendar offered to switch from chemical to organic lawn care.

This is brilliant! Before reading this book I have never even entertained a possibility of lawn care without synthetic fertilisers and herbicides! This book is clever, informational, easy to follow and chockers full of advice and guidance. I reckon this is the best thing for my garden and lawn care I could have ever bought.

Looking for organic lawn care ideas and tips look no further!

Informative. .and interesting of alternatives away from using chemicals for your lawn care.

Great book! Came quickly.