The authors in this book argue that our dedication to maintaining beautiful lawns is contributing to the serious environmental problems facing the planet, and they offer strategies for creating and caring for aesthetically pleasing and ecologically sound lawns. This new edition updates the original text and adds a chapter and illustrations showing what progress has been made in the ecological management of landscapes over the past decade.

Reviews of the first edition:

An extremely readable summation of the origins of the addiction to lawns, and of the environmental reasons why Americans should kick the habit. -Anne Raver, New York Times Book Review

A manual for improving a large part of the American environment while reducing pollution, saving Americans a large amount of money, and beautifying the landscape. -Edward O. Wilson