Lily Pope: Beautiful No-Mow Yards: 50 Amazing Lawn Alternatives

Beautiful No-Mow Yards: 50 Amazing Lawn Alternatives

Review A well-written book, appealing and generous with information, and worth adding to the library. --Jill Billington, Gardens IllustratedBeautiful No-Mow Yards showcases numerous eco-friendly alternatives to that voracious green turf.

.. With drought and the likelihood of hosepipe bans forcing many of us to reconsider our gardening strategies, this book is a useful addition to our library.

--Sarah Milliken, Garden Design JournalIf you are a lawn fanatic perhaps this is not the book for you, but if you want to try to reduce your lawned area to experience and cultivate more glorious plants or because you are more eco-minded, there is much to stimulate your interest.

--Reckless Gardener About the Author Evelyn J. Hadden writes about lawn alternatives and garden design. She has authored two books, including the award-winning Shrink Your Lawn: Design ideas for any landscape.

In addition to over a hundred pages of inspiring examples, Hadden includes detailed profiles for 100 of the best ground plants for replacing lawns, design tips to reduce maintenance, and guidelines for making smaller and more eco-friendly lawns.

Problems caused by conventional lawn care are plentiful Innovative ideas for alternate lawns like lively prairie gardens, rain gardens and interactive play spaces Reducing your lawn is eco-friendly

Consumer review about Beautiful No-Mow Yards: 50 Amazing Lawn Alternatives :
I really couldn't have a more contrary view on this book, than the first reviewer, who gave it a measly single star. I suspect he/she may not enjoy gardening, perhaps? But for someone who is a newbie gardener (and pretty passionate about it already!) the book is a revelation ! It will not suit everyone, that's true; for those who want a low maintenance garden, for example, (which only requires mowing twice a month in the summer and doing some basic pruning in winter), this probably isn't the book for you. BUT if, when you look at a lawn, you think "how dull" or "god, what's that doing for bio-diversity?", I would highly recommend this. Having read it, I've started converting my lawn (an area of 15m x 10m) into something more interesting :) The first 5m square has already been converted to a thyme lawn, which doesn't need to be mowed ! :) I would recommend people look at the following links if they're thinking about this too: [google: The Guardian gardens-grass-free-floral-lawns] and [google: Reading University rethinking the traditional grass lawn] as they present a "manifesto" for no lawn gardens, which are frankly more beautiful, interesting, better for bees and wildlife, than a traditional lawn.A word to the uninitiated. In the first two growing seasons, there will be as much work to do as you would with a lawn - but rather than mowing you will have to weed, until the grass free area is established. The result in years is spectacular though :) One final thought: I visited Sissinghurst last spring, which kicked off this whole idea for me: there was a whole section of the garden planted with Scillas and Anemones - see this and I beg anyone not to be "wowed". [google: Sissinghurst in spring]In summary, great book, great ideas and well worth a read if you're interested in gardening ;) And, as a final rallying call: "Goodbye to Grass" ! :)(Read more)