Author Joe Lamp'l is passionate about gardening methods that, at best, benefit the environment and, at worst, don't harm it.

Lamp'l is perhaps best-known for his TV gigs: Public Broadcasting Service's GardenSmart and DIY Network's Fresh from the Garden. But Lamp'l is a busy author, too. In his new book, he tells how to prune your carbon footprint.

Tips in The Green Gardener's Guide (Cool Springs Press, 2008, $16.95) are comprehensive, and most are easy to do and inexpensive. Nearly all apply to the Brazos Valley.

I'd love it if everyone who sees this review would buy the book and follow the advice from Lamp'l. But just in case that doesn't happen, I'll share major points that may win converts. Detailed instructions and many more green tactics are in the 363-page book (printed on recycled paper, of course).

• Conserve water by reducing runoff, watering plants only as much as you need to, harvesting rainwater and irrigating so that evaporation is minimized. Run sprinklers on an as-needed basis (not on a timer); equip them with a sensor so they detect rain and turn themselves off.

• Mulch to conserve water and control weeds, thereby minimizing the need for herbicides.

• Grow plants where they will thrive with little or no intervention. This reduces the use of chemicals (pesticides, fertilizers) and water (a thirsty plant in a hot, dry site).

• Get a soil test. Add nutrients as the test prescribes. Improve soil more by applying compost. Compost provides organic matter that nourishes plants and enhances the structure of soil, whether sand or clay, so that water isn't wasted.

• Compost wastes from your yard and kitchen (non-animal-derived, non-greasy). Add neighbors' leaves and grass clippings if they don't compost. Lamp'l even composts shredded paper. The idea here is to feed your garden with (free!) materials that would otherwise choke the landfill.

• Landscape to reduce erosion and runoff. Perennials and ground covers hold soil in place and typically need less water than grass. As a bonus, Lamp'l cites Environmental Protection Agency statistics that if each U.S. household reduced its lawn area by 25 percent, 200 million fewer gallons of gasoline would be needed each year (presumably for mowing, running string trimmers, etc.).

• Nurture earthworms, which aerate the soil and improve its nutrient content. Pesticides kill these beneficial organisms.

• Talk to knowledgeable nursery personnel or consult a gardening reference so you install tough plants. Texas Superstars (listed at www.texasssuperstar.com/plants.html) flourished in years of testing under harsh conditions.

• Precisely follow instructions on chemical controls and fertilizers.

• Leave the clippings on the lawn to feed the grass as they decompose. A mulching mower chops the clippings superfine so they break down quickly.

• Recycle plastic pots; grow plants in biodegradable containers.

• Plant deciduous trees and tall shrubs to shade your house in summer (thus reducing air-conditioning bills). In winter, the sun shines through bare branches and warms your house.

• Reduce the use of gasoline-powered engines. They are notoriously inefficient, and fuel spills kill your plants, damage the soil and pollute water.

• Use energy-efficient outdoor lighting such as compact fluorescents, low-voltage systems and solar cells.

• Build using environmentally responsible "wood." Avoid exotic woods that deplete rain forests as well as toxic pressure-treated woods (some of which have been banned). Use composite materials made of recycled wood and plastics, which are expensive but last decades.

• Reach out: Educate your neighbors and participate in community planting efforts, especially the planting of trees, which clear and cool the air.

• Mary Vinnedge is features editor of The Eagle and a longtime garden writer. Her e-mail address is mary.vinnedge@theeagle.com.

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