Green Side Up: Growing a Perfect Lawn in Northern Climates

Ashley Thomson is a full librarian at Laurentian University and co-editor or co-author of nine books, most recently Margaret Atwood: A Reference Guide, 1988-2005.

Green Side Up covers every conceivable topic that the novice lawn grower
might be interested in. In 11 chapters, the author discusses the history
of lawns and gardens, the types of grass available to enthusiasts, how
to establish and maintain a new lawn, how to renovate a damaged lawn,
the pathogens and physiological disorders that might attack a lawn (as
well as the weeds that might grow in a lawn), lawn equipment, ornamental
grasses and garden ornaments, and ground covers other than grass.

Porter, a well-known columnist and media personality, manages to make
lawn growing interesting and even amusing (at least if you like bad
puns). More important, his book is very informative. It is handsomely
illustrated with black-and-white sketches and photos (a more generous
selection would have enhanced the book) and includes recommendations for
commercial products in the text as well as in the Resource section. One
wishes Porter had evaluated lawn-care companies such as Weed Man or
Turf, although doing so might have contravened his goal of turning
readers into their own lawn-care companies.