Editors of CPi - The Complete Guide to a Better Lawn

How to Plant, Maintain & Improve Your Yard & Lawn

by Chris Peterson

Copyright 2011
Creative Publishing international, Inc.
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401
1-800-328-0590
www.creativepub.com
All rights reserved

Printed in U.S.A.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Digital edition: 978-1-6106-0189-4
Softcover edition: 978-1-58923-600-4

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
The complete guide to a better lawn : how to plant, maintain &
improve your yard & lawn / created by the editors of Creative
Publishing international, Inc., in cooperation with Black & Decker.
p. cm.
At head of title: Branded by Black & Decker.
Summary: An up-to-date, environmentally responsible approach to lawn care with mainstream appeal. An ideal reference for busy homeowners who want better grass quickly and easily--Provided by publisher.
Includes index.
ISBN-13: 978-1-58923-600-4 (soft cover)
ISBN-10: 1-58923-600-9 (soft cover)
1. Lawns. I. Creative Publishing International. II. Black & Decker
Corporation (Towson, Md.) III. Title: How to plant, maintain &
improve your yard & lawn.
SB433.C66 2011
635.9647--dc22
2010050832

President/CEO: Ken Fund

Home Improvement Group

Publisher: Bryan Trandem
Senior Editor: Mark Johanson
Managing Editor: Tracy Stanley

Creative Director: Michele Lanci-Altomare
Senior Design Manager: Jon Simpson, Brad Springer, James Kegley

Lead Photographer: Joel Schnell
Shop Manager: James Parmeter

Production Manager: Laura Hokkanen, Linda Halls
Author: Chris Peterson
Page Layout Artist: Danielle Smith
Technical Editor: David Griffin
Shop Help: Charles Boldt
Proofreader: Drew Siqveland

Editorial Intern: John Buckeye

The Complete Guide to a Better Lawn
Created by: The Editors of Creative Publishing international, Inc., in cooperation with Black & Decker.
Black & Decker is a trademark of The Black & Decker Corporation and is used under license.

NOTICE TO READERS

For safety, use caution, care, and good judgment when following the procedures described in this book. The publisher and Black & Decker cannot assume responsibility for any damage to property or injury to persons as a result of misuse of the information provided.

The techniques shown in this book are general techniques for various applications. In some instances, additional techniques not shown in this book may be required. Always follow manufacturers instructions included with products, since deviating from the directions may void warranties. The projects in this book vary widely as to skill levels required: some may not be appropriate for all do-it-yourselfers, and some may require professional help.

Consult your local building department for information on building permits, codes, and other laws as they apply to your project.

The Complete Guide to a Better Lawn

Introduction

Few things make a home look as spectacular as a lush, manicured, emerald green lawn. Aside from making your neighbors green with envy, a fabulous lawn is also the grand, comfortable stage for many of lifes most treasured moments, from summer birthday parties, to a lazy neighborhood cookout, to juniors first game of catch with dad. But just as a gorgeous lawn enhances your home, one that has some obvious shortcomings will detract from the look of a houseand the neighborhood in general. A weed-strewn, scraggly, patchy lawn or a sickly plot of grass can bring down the value of the home its connected to, and it makes outdoor activities less enjoyable.

Theres simply no reason to put up with a less-than-wonderful lawn. Dense, healthy turf doesnt materialize by accident. Its the result of timely feeding, watering, and regular maintenance. Conscientious lawn care not only creates a luxurious carpet of grass, it is also your first and easiest line of defense against weeds, insects, disease and other lawn problems. Preventing them from occurring is always easier than dealing with them after they rear their ugly heads.

Thats why weve laid out all the basics of lawn maintenance in this book, including exactly what you need to do to keep your lawn healthy, and when you need to do it.

Of course even the most meticulously tended lawns occasionally have an outbreak of weeds, a problem with grubs, or even a small patch of dollar spot fungus. After all, you cant entirely control nature. So weve also included a comprehensive Lawn Problem-Solving Guide in this book, ensuring that you always have the right solution for whatever problem crops up.

Keeping ahead of lawn problems and on top of your lawns needs entails just a little diligence and the right knowledge and advice. Its not hard. You provide the watchful eye and few hours on weekends, and these pages will serve up the information you need to create a verdant, rich green lawn that you and your family can enjoy with pride.

Gallery of Beautiful Lawns

You can learn a lot about lawns just by looking at them. The color is the first thing that sticks out. A healthy, well-fed, and well-tended lawn will be a deep consistent green. And its not just the color; a healthy lawn is also dense and cut suitably high so that it has the welcoming appeal and magnetism of a plush carpet. You just want to lie down on it.

Take a stroll down your block and you may find that precious few yards actually look this inviting. Thats because many different elements come together in the creation of a truly memorable lawn. In addition to a sharp appearance of its own, the lawn should also complement the edges of the property and visually complement other yard features, such as flowerbeds, shrubs and trees.

That said, growing the better lawn is not a great mystery, its the product of a little thought, a little time, and making sure the lawn is kept healthy. If its kept in fighting trim, you lawn will do the restfilling out in a dense mat of eye-catching green and looking good even in periods of drought, overuse, or less-than-ideal weather.

The following pages feature inspiring lawns that show what a little work and quick action in dealing with the occasional pest, weed, and disease can do. These examples should provide ample motivation for you to create your own little carpet of heaven right outside your frontor backdoor.