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.
Introduction 1
Part I: Sustainable Landscaping: The Basics 7
Chapter 1: Landscaping the Sustainable Way 9
Chapter 2: Making Good Decisions about What to Include in Your Landscape 23
Chapter 3: Deciding Whether to Do It Yourself or Call in the Pros 39
Part II: Good Design: The Key to Sustainable Landscaping 51
Chapter 4: Getting Better Acquainted with Your Property 53
Chapter 5: Brushing Up on Design Basics 69
Chapter 6: Plotting Your Sustainable Landscape 83
Part III: Water, Water, Everywhere: Water-Conserving Irrigation and Drainage 103
Chapter 7: Surveying Your Watering Options 105
Chapter 8: The Nuts and Bolts of Water Harvesting, Irrigation, and Drainage 121
Chapter 9: Managing Water: The Other Half of the Irrigation Equation 145
Chapter 10: Maintaining Water-Harvesting and Irrigation Systems 155
Part IV: Hardscaping Made Easy: Creating Awesome Features without Wrecking the Environment 163
Chapter 11: Preparing Your Site 165
Chapter 12: Exploring Basic Hardscape Elements and Outdoor Rooms 173
Chapter 13: Spicing Up Your Hardscape with Other Fun and Functional Elements 193
Chapter 14: Sustainable Hardscape Construction 205
Chapter 15: Hardscape Maintenance 223
Part V: Great Greenery for a Green Garden 231
Chapter 16: Planting the Seed: Sustainable Plant Basics 233
Chapter 17: Introducing Beneficial Trees and Shrubs to Your Landscape 257
Chapter 18: Enhancing Your Landscape's Sustainability with Smaller Plants 269
Chapter 19: Exploring Lower Impact Lawns and Sustainable Lawn Alternatives 289
Chapter 20: Examining the Essentials of Sustainable Garden Care 299
Chapter 21: Pest and Disease Control the Sustainable Way 313
Chapter 22: Opting for Organic Lawn Care 321
Part VI: The Part of Tens 333
Chapter 23: Ten Projects That Pay You and the Environment Back Big Time 335
Chapter 24: Ten Totally Nonsustainable Landscaping Mistakes and How to Avoid Them 339
Appendix: Planning for Special Situations 345
Index 351
