Toro Expert Guide to Lawns: Pro Secrets for a Beautiful Yard - Softcover

Provey, Joseph R.; Robinson, Kris; Cline, Van

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1580113753 ISBN 13: 9781580113755

Publisher: Creative Homeowner Pr, 2008

Synopsis

Toro knows lawns, and with this book, homeowners will have Toro at their side, helping them maintain a beautiful yard through authoritative step-by-step text, 350 color photos, and 101 full-color illustrations. For more than eight decades, Toro has been intimately involved in the cultivation and maintenance of turfgrass, from both a residential and a professional standpoint. Toro has invested millions of dollars in turf-related research, educational programs, and scholarships at major universities, in addition to research into the best irrigation and lawn-maintenance systems available. Over the years, the company's innovations have helped improve golf-course playability at the majority of the over 15,000 golf courses in the United States and in many of the most prestigious golf courses throughout the world. In addition, grounds crews of more than 40 professional and commercial sports fields and grounds, including many Major League Baseball fields, NFL fields, college and university athletic departments, World Cup Soccer venues, and more, use Toro equipment.Toro's Expert Guide to  Lawns reveals the pros' secrets for creating a healthier, more beautiful lawn without spending a lot of time or money and without using toxic substances. Whether readers want to start a new lawn from scratch or just fix problem areas, the secrets to success include choosing the right grasses and using an enlightened maintenance program. This groundbreaking book includes a user's guide to tools and equipment and a listing of sources for free advice and the latest research information.

About this title

From the Back Cover

According to the experts at The Toro Company, you can have a healthier, more beautiful lawn without spending a lot of time and money and without using toxic substances. Whether you want to start a new lawn from scratch or just fix problem areas, the secrets to success include choosing the right grasses and using an enlightened maintenance program. In this book, you'll learn how to
- Redesign your lawn to fit your lifestyle
- Test your soil for pH and essential lawn nutrients
- Improve your soil-even if it's compacted or infertile
- Choose the right grass cultivars for your climate and soil
- Restore a tired lawn-without needing to remove existing turf
- Start a new lawn from scratch, whether by planting sprigs, plugs, or seeds or by laying sod
- Increase drought resistance by reducing watering frequency
- Fight weeds by mowing less often
- Use the book's illustrated field guides to identify and then remedy lawn problems-such as weeds, pests, and diseases
- Ensure proper aeration, drainage, irrigation, and fertilization
- Reduce lawn work by converting some lawn area to ground covers and ornamental grasses.
Rounding out this groundbreaking book are a user's guide to tools and equipment and a listing of sources for free advice and the latest in research. Illustrated with 350 photos and 101 drawings and brimming with how to information, Toro's Expert Guide to Lawns is the only book on lawn care you'll ever need.

About the Author

Joe Provey is the former Editor-in-Chief of Family Handyman, Practical Homeowner, and Mechanix Illustraed/Home Mechanix. As a writer, editor, and homeowner, he has extensive experience with lawn care, outdoor power equipment, and the judging of home landscaping competitions.
Kris Robinson is a researcher and writer who specializes in scientific developments in lawn disease and pest control. She also designs and maintains gardens for the public.
Dr. Van Cline, PhD, is Manager of Turf Agronomics and Research for The Toro Company. His responsibilities include applied turf research related to commercial and irrigation product and services development, technical training and consultation in turf management for Toro personnel, and general agronomic support for professional turf managers. Van maintains an active relationship with the scientific community in the turf industry through collaborations with a number of scientists across the United States. His current research focus at Toro is the development of various sensing technologies in combination with geographical information systems to optimize water use efficiency. Van holds a B.S. degree in Forestry and a M.L.A in Landscape Architecture from Iowa State University and a Ph.D. in Horticultural Science from the University of Minnesota. He has been with The Toro Company for 20 years.

About this edition

• Publisher: Creative Homeowner Pr
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1580113753
• ISBN 13: 9781580113755
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 176