The Top Five Books on Lawn Care

Perhaps one of the most common signs of suburbia is a lush green lawn. It is the holy grail of both professional and weekend gardners and yet, it often seems impossible to achieve. Residential lawn care is both a science and art form but it can be achieved with a basic understanding of a lawn care program.
Many books exist that can help you with lawn care and maintenance, but which ones are worth it? I've narrowed down my collection of lawn care books to my top five favorites. These are the books that contain the information you need to grow a lush, green lawn.

1. Lawn Bible, The: How to Keep It Green, Groomed, and Growing Every Season of the Year (Paperback) by David Mellor (Author) ($3.98-$16.95)
http://www.amazon.com/Lawn-Bible-Groomed-Growing-Season/dp/0786888423/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1248390977&sr=8-1

Don't let the title fool you, this book provides a wealth of information arranged in a way that makes sense to even the novice gardner. This book is a great overview of the basics of a lush lawn, from seeding to maintenance and everything inbetween. The information is definitely useful and easy to understand, however the only drawback for me was the lack of illustrations.

2. Jerry Baker's Green Grass Magic: Tips, Tricks, and Tonics for Growing the Toe-Ticklinest Turf in Town! (Jerry Baker Good Gardening series) (Paperback) by Jerry Baker (Author) ($10.29-$13.57)
http://www.amazon.com/Jerry-Bakers-Green-Grass-Magic/dp/0922433828/ref=sr_1_40?ie=UTF8&qid=1248391194&sr=8-40

This book is great for those of us who prefer to get down and dirty and avoid excess information. Jerry Baker helps you through lawn care, with many personal tips of advice, based on his many years of gardening experience. Green Grass Magic is well organized, easy to read and includes many home remedies for a wide variety of problems.

3. The Organic Lawn Care Manual (Paperback) by Paul Tukey (Author) ($8.00-$13.57)
http://www.amazon.com/Organic-Lawn-Care-Manual/dp/1580176496/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1248391336&sr=8-4

This is a great read, almost organic in a sense because the author speaks from a layman's perspective. Paul Tukey began in commercial lawn care and through his experience in the field, he migrated over to organic lawn care. This is a great resource for anyone considering organic lawn care, although I believe it's valuable for anyone interested in the why's and subsequent how's of switching to an organic lawn.

4. Scotts Lawns: Your Guide to a Beautiful Yard (Paperback) by Scotts (Author), Nick Christians Ph.D. (Author), Ashton Ritchie (Author)($3.89-$5.75)
http://www.amazon.com/Scotts-Lawns-Your-Guide-Beautiful/dp/0696212706/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1248391336&sr=8-3

We all know Scott's as a company specializing in lawn care products, however this book is not about endorsement of the company. That said, this is well illustrated, easy to understand and apply. Scott's has a great reputation in lawn care for a reason and the book mirrors the company's dedication to helping anyone grow a beautiful lawn.

5. Lawn Care for Dummies (Paperback) by Lance Walheim (Author) ($4.50-$24.95)
http://www.amazon.com/Lawn-Care-Dummies-Lance-Walheim/dp/0764550772/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1248391336&sr=8-6

The For Dummies books have always been at the top of my list as chock full of great information with no fluff. If you're looking for stories about lawn care, forget this one, but if you want the basics, its great. Oh, if you're looking for pictures or illustrations, you won't find many in here and i'd suggest at least a basic knowledge of lawns if you're considering this book.