Introduction
The suburban lawn. A flawless carpet of green, spread all around the neighborhood, making it almost look like
everyone is living on a putting green. What an awesome sight.
Too bad it's just a pipe dream.
Most of us can't afford a grounds crew like the local country club uses to maintain their greens. We can't afford to replace the lawn on a regular basis. And without the income from greens fees, we can't afford the water it takes to maintain a putting green.
Many people move into their first suburban home, and think that their lawn will be a low-maintenance marvel. The truth is that a well designed perennial and shrub garden is far less work, and far less expensive. It's also far more interesting than a flat patch of land that's all one shade of green.
But kids can't play in a garden, and there's all that social pressure to have at least some lawn. We have to have at least some lawn, and the neighbors will expect it to look nice -- even if their lawns are patchy and dead. We're going to want it to be able to withstand more activity than a putting green does, too. We need to find a way to make it happen.
The expensive and fast way to an instant lawn is to lay sod. But even sod won't last a season without some work. And unless we plan to rip the whole lawn up each year, and lay new sod, we'll still need to learn the right way to take care of a lawn. So even with a big budget, we'll still have some work ahead of us!
So let's start from the beginning. And the begining is...
NEXT: When to Start>>
Recommended Products
 Gardena Aquazoom 350/T Oscillating SprinklerThis innovative oscillating sprinkler design can water medium-to-large yards, is fully adjustable, and comes with a built-in timer and flow control mechanisms. While many oscillating sprinklers allow you to adjust the range of the spray, this one also provides adjustments for controlling the width and the water flow. At the highest water pressure (56 psi), the width can be adjusted from 13 to 56 feet and the range from 23 to 69 feet. At low water pressure (28 psi), the width can be set from 11-1/2 to 47-1/2 feet and the range from 19-1/2 to 56.7 feet. The timer allows you to select watering times from 15 to 120 minutes, or it can be bypassed for constant flow. Gardena includes its Quick Connector hose adapter for easy time-saving hose changes and a special needle for keeping spray nozzles clean. The Aquazoom provides all the versatility and design features you could ask for in an oscillating sprinkler. |
Black & Decker CMM1000 19" Cordless Mulching/Rear Bag Lawn MowerThe Rechargeable Cordless Mulching Mower (CMM1000) is the most powerful and versatile non-gas lawn mower in the world today. This mower is very quiet, effortless to start, and requires no gas, oil or tune-ups. The mower offers an 19-inch-diameter cutting path and a tough lightweight rust-proof polymer deck with cutting heights from 1-1/2 to 3-1/2 inches. This mower will cut an average of up to a 1/3 acre lot (15,000 sq.ft.) on a single charge. The 24-volt battery recharges up to 70% in 4 hours and recharges 100% overnight. As a three in one mower it mulches, side discharges and side bags (side chute is sold separately). An easy one-touch, spring loaded, seven-position height adjustment raises and lowers the mower with a touch of a lever. Mulching plate, battery, charger and rear bag come with mower as standard equipment. A cushioned upright handle converts to fold requiring less storage space. Weighs 76 pounds and produces 1339 maximum watts output. The mower provides all the performance and environmental benefits of Black & Decker's cordless rechargeable lawn mowers. The polymer deck has a five year warranty. 30 day no-risk satisfaction guarantee and full two-year warranty. |
