Smart Yard: 60-Minute Lawn Care

``Yardeners''-ordinary homeowners caring for lawns and gardens-dream of a low-maintenance lawn without weeds or pests that requires infrequent mowing or watering. The authors-he's the gardening expert for NBC's Today and she is a garden writer-contend that this dream is a very real possibility, demanding ``significant effort in the first year or two,'' after which the lawn will begin to take care of itself. This non-technical and clearly written guide considers, specifically, the ``northern'' or ``cool weather'' grasses, those comprising lawns from Maine to North Carolina and west to the Dakotas as well as the Pacific Northwest. After a discussion of effective techniques for general lawn care, the Balls take on compaction problems, soil rebuilding, drainage and re-seeding; a final section tackles insect and animal pests and grass diseases. While this is not a guide to an entirely organic yard-the authors describe themselves as ``reluctant and cautious users of pesticides''-it does offer choices. Advice for weeds ranges from hand-pulling to herbicidal spot-treatment to complete starting over; solutions for insect pests include both beneficial nematodes and insecticidal soaps. (Mar.)