Many of your course textbooks can be found at the University Library free of charge, so check out the library before using your funds for textbooks.
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
