Hmm... Terraforming, Groundcover basics?

Building Pros-

1) Could anyone kindly provide the most basic info on/ direct me to a good terraforming resource? Typically, I advocate a 'try it out' sort of approach to learning, yet I am COMPLETELY unfamiliar with terraforming and do not want to risk any irreversible changes to my first lot!

2)As far as ground cover (grasses, pebbles, sands) is there a 'one-shot' way to achieve this through texturing/ very minimum prims... I seem to have but a single option under the create option (a sort of patchy beach grass looking setup....)?

Multiple responses and creative solutions welcome!

Thanks much,
EO

Don't be afraid to mess with the land because there is an option on the land edit that allows you to restore it to its original form.

As for gound cover. In Riiki I have a castle on the moutain but wanted grass in places so I made large 10x10 cubes and gave them a grass/flower texture then buried them to the depth I needed and joined them all up to give it the perception of a grassy courtyard.

I that what the default grass build doing sinking an adapted prim?? Is your castle and its groundcover open to observation... I've seen your icon on the boards before... always manages to give me a bit of the willies =-)

Thanks,
EO