Lawn Gone!: Low-Maintenance, Sustainable, Attractive Alternatives for Your Yard [Paperback]

A colorful guide covering the basics of replacing a traditional lawn with a wide variety of easy-care, no-mow, drought-tolerant, money-saving options that will appeal to today's busy, eco-conscious homeowner.

Homeowners spend billions of hours—and dollars—watering, mowing, and maintaining their lawns. You don’t have to be one of them. Free yourself withLawn Gone!, a colorful, accessible guide to the basics of replacing a traditional lawn with a wide variety of easy-care, no-mow, low-water, money-saving options. It includes:
•  alternative grasses that seldom (or never) need mowing
•  drought-tolerant, eco-friendly landscapes
•  regional plant recommendations for all parts of the country
•  artificial turf that looks like the real thing
•  step-by-step lawn-removal methods
•  strategies for dealing with neighbors and HOAs
•  ways to minimize your lawn if you’re not ready to go all the way

Whether you’re a beginner or expert gardener, green thumb or black,Lawn Gone!provides realistic choices, achievable plans, and simple instructions for renovating your yard from start to finish.Introduction 
Part ONE: Beyond the Lawn
1: Exploring the Possibilities 
2: Grasses You’ll Never (or Seldom) Mow 
3: Ground-Covering Plants 
4: Small Perennials and Shrubs 
5: Places to Walk, Places to Sit 
6: Ponds, Pavilions, Play Spaces, and Other Fun Features 
7: Downsizing the Lawn 

Part TWO: Out with the Grass, In with a Garden
8: Lawn, Begone! The Pros, Cons, and How-Tos of Grass Removal 
9: Designing and Installing Your Hardscape 
10: Bed Preparation and Planting 
11: Keeping It Alive: Ongoing Maintenance Tips 

Part THREE: The Politics, Health, and Safety of Going Lawnless
12: Contending with HOAs and City Codes l3o