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

Americans pour 300 million gallons of gas and 1 billion hours every year into mowing their lawns, not to mention 70 million pounds of pesticides and $40 billion for lawn upkeep. No Wonder the anti-lawn movement is thriving, as today's eco-conscious consumers realize that their traditional lawns are water-hogging, chemical-ridden, maintenance-intensive burdens. Lawn Gone!, from award-winning gardening blogger Pam Penick, is the first basic introduction to low-water, easy-care lawn alternatives for beginning gardeners, written in a friendly style with an approachable package. It covers all the available time-saving options: alternative grasses, ground cover plants, artificial turf, hardscaping, mulch, and more. In addition, it includes step-by-step lawn-removal methods, strategies for dealing with neighbors and homeowner associations, and how to minimize your lawn if you're not ready to go all the way.

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 

13: Working with Skeptical Neighbors 

14: Unwelcome Guests: Ticks, Deer, and Rodents 

15: Fire-Resistant Landscaping 

Regional Plant Recommendations 

Northeast    Southeast    Coastal South    Midwest    Northern Plains

Southern Plains   Mountain West    Southwest    Pacific Northwest

Northern California    Southern California

Recommended Resources 

Acknowledgments 

Illustration and Photo Credits 

Index