Southern Lawns: A Step-By-Step Guide to the Perfect Lawn

I could not have been happier with this book, as it really is about as comprehensive of a guide as you can get. It tells you everything you will ever need to know in order to have a great southern (or mid-atlantic) lawn. But whats great is that it is a fun, easy read. For the most part it is written in everyman speak, so if you are a novice you will not be put off with boring technical data. However, that doesn't mean it's meant solely for newbies, because it also delves into some of the more sophisticated aspects of turf grass such as soil pH and pore space. The only thing I thought could have been done better was that the author kind of glazes over what to do if you have a heterogeneous lawn. He discusses bermudagrass and fescue grass, but not what do if you have the two duking it out in your backyard, as so many of us do. Also, one important thing that should be mentioned is that if you are looking for information on grwoing an "organic" lawn, then this may not necessarily be the book for you (good luck with the organic lawn! hee hee). Basically if you have the time and motivation needed to make your lawn the best it can be, and just need the know-how, then this is the book for you.

This book covers all the main grass types common to warm season and transitional lawns. Each grass type includes wonderful photographs of the grass, how to maintain that grass with particular emphasis on mowing, watering, fertilization (both when and what to use), aerating, dethatching, topdressing, weed controls, and major pests and diseases that attack that grass. The last 1/3 of the book includes a month-by-month timetable of what to do to make your southern lawn the best it can be which in itself is well worth the price. John Merrill American-Lawns.com, editor