Sustainable Landscaping for Dummies

Sustainable Landscaping For Dummies provides hands-on, how-to instruction for realizing the benefits of a sustainable landscape, from selecting sutainable hardscape materials to installing a rain-water catchment system to choosing native plants.

Create a beautiful, sustainable landscape that's easy on your pocketbook

Want to go green outside your home? This practical, hands-on guide shows you how to design, create, and live with sustainable lawn and garden spaces. You'll see how to eliminate the use of chemicals, reduce energy use, and conserve natural resources, all while you craft an attractive and functional outdoor environment that increases the value and improves the appearance of your home.

• Get sustainable savvy — understand what it means, why it matters, and what materials and resources to use

• Work with water — evaluate and maintain irrigation systems, explore water harvesting, and manage watering for maximum conservation

• Make the most of hardscaping — from patios and walls to fences, steps, and lighting systems, construct and maintain sustainable elements

• Add the true green stuff — select, establish, and care for gorgeous climate-appropriate plants that need few resources

Open the book and find:

• The essentials of sustainable garden care

• Ways to minimize your lawn's impact and keep it healthy

• A step-by-step tutorial on designing a great landscape plan

• How to grade, plant, and irrigate the sustainable way

• Tips for fitting food into your landscape

• Cheap (or free) planet-friendly projects

• Nonsustainable gardening mistakes to avoid

• When and why to call in the pros

Owen E. Dell is the owner of County Landscape and Design in Santa Barbara, California. He has nearly 40 years of experience designing and building beautiful, sustainable, and soul-satisfying residential and commercial landscapes.