Unlocking the Secrets to a Healthy Nashville Lawn
Lawn care can be one of a homeowner’s most time-consuming yet rewarding activities. When purchasing a home, many of us think about what we’ll need to keep it clean and to decorate it; we may start planning a garden or imagining what a gazebo might look like. But only a few prospective homeowners take the time to consider what yard work will look like.
When it comes to nurturing a healthy lawn, you can’t follow all of the advice you find online. You need to find reputable local sources because a lawn’s needs vary by region and season. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the basics everyone with a lawn should learn.
The Easiest Lawn Care Option
Everyone is always looking for the cheapest or most efficient option for any task. We want to make the most of our time, but we also want to ensure everything is done with quality. That’s why a lot of Nashville homeowners rely on turf care services to maintain their lawns. These companies are stagged with people who know Tennessee grasses inside and out. They can inspect your lawn to determine what it needs.
And you don’t have to bring them in for everything! Some people use a professional service as a solid foundation for a healthy lawn and then handle upkeep themselves. Or you may just pick one of their many services, such as treating your grass for mosquitoes and pests.
Tennessee Turf 101
Whether you want to DIY your lawn or simply be able to speak the language with your turf care team, let’s take a look at the basics of nurturing a healthy lawn.
Understand Proper Watering
It can be hard to know just how much water a lawn needs. Some people just set their sprinklers on a timer and don’t think about it; others whip out the hose and hope for the best. But it doesn’t have to be a guessing game!
On average, you want to ensure your yard receives 1–1.5” of water weekly— and rain counts towards this amount. You also want to ensure that you water the lawn before ten in the morning; otherwise, you risk the water evaporating before your soil has enough time to drink it in.
Another option is to purchase a smart irrigation system with moisture sensors, which can help you track how much moisture your yard is getting and adjust to compensate.
Letting Your Lawn Breathe
Another important step in lawn care is a practice called ‘aeration.’ Aeration helps unpack your soil, introduce more oxygen, and make space for grass roots to grow comfortably. You can either practice core aeration, which is great if you have heavily compacted soil but also more difficult, or spike aeration, where you simply poke long holes into your dirt.
We have a lot of rocky soil here in Mid-Tennessee, so it’s important to aerate your yard to help keep it healthy. You can either use manual tools or find an attachment compatible with a riding mower to help.
Healthy Mowing
There is a lot more to cutting your grass than just revving up the engine and going for a walk (or ride). Did you know that the different grasses you can choose for your lawn have different cutting requirements? Cutting your grass too short stresses out the plant and makes it more susceptible to disease and damage, including heat damage during the summer. If you don’t know what kind of grass you have, you can call a turf company out to have someone inspect it; many turf professionals can recognize the different varieties on sight.
Some of the most popular options and their preferred height are:
- Bermudagrass (common): 1.5–2.5:
- Bermudagrass (hybrids): 0.5–1.5”
- Kentucky Bluegrass: 2.5–3.5”
- Perennial Ryegrass: 1.5–2.5”
- Tall Fescue: 2–3”
- Zoysiagrass: 1–2”
Do you bag your grass clippings as you mow? Consider ditching the bagger! Grass clippings help your soil retain moisture and provide natural fertilizer.
Pesky Pests
Mosquitos and aphids and bagworms—- oh, my! Because the Tennessee ecosystem is so diverse, you may see a variety of pests on your property. Did you know that how your nurture your lawn affects how well pests thrive?
Everyone has a different preference when approaching pests. Some owners trust their pesticide companies to keep on top of the latest science and do their best to be compliant with protecting the rest of the ecosystem. Others choose to just leave pests be, as they are part of the ecosystem. The third option is to plant natural repellants like mint or catnip throughout gardens and flowerbeds. Or you can introduce beneficial insects or encourage insect-eaters like birds and bats to come to your lawn.
It’s important to note that sometimes certain aspects of the natural cycle get too robust and actively harm native plants. Keep an eye on recommendations from the University of Tennessee, the Department of Agriculture, and local sources, as well as your plants’ and trees’ health. If you opt for pesticide-free gardening, it’s a good idea to call out turn and tree experts for yard inspections at least once a year to check for disease and rot. However, you’ll benefit from seeing more lush biodiversity on your land.
When in doubt, calling in the professionals is always a good idea. From arborists for your trees and shrubs to turf care services for your grass, Nashville has plenty of highly-trained professionals to help you get the most from your property.