![\"Green](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bermudagrass-1.jpg\")
Home to America’s most-visited national park, Tennessee isn’t short of scenic attractions. You can bring some of that beauty to your front yard as well, and it starts with a lush lawn. A great lawn significantly enhances the curb appeal of your home, increases its value, and provides a space for relaxation and recreation. But […]
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Home to America’s most-visited national park, Tennessee isn’t short of scenic attractions. You can bring some of that beauty to your front yard as well, and it starts with a lush lawn.
A great lawn significantly enhances the curb appeal of your home, increases its value, and provides a space for relaxation and recreation. But not all grass is built alike. The best grass for a lawn in Tennessee will thrive in a climate that has distinct seasons and significant weather fluctuations.
\n\n\n\nBelow are the best.
\n\n\n\nIn this article:
\n\n\n\nGrass types are usually categorized into warm-season and cool-season grasses:
\n\n\n\nBecause Tennessee is in the transition zone, it accommodates both cool-season and warm-season grasses.
\n\n\n\nHowever, take note that Tennessee is a diverse state that consists of different regions:
\n\n\n\nDepending on where in Tennessee you live, the climate, hardiness zone, and elevation may vary and impact your grass choice. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the best warm-season and cool-season grasses for Tennessee below.
\n\n\n\nPhoto Credit: Pexels
\n\n\n\nBermudagrass can withstand heat and drought very well. It’s also a great option for busy lawns because it holds up well to foot traffic. Once established, it forms a light green, dense turf.
\n\n\n\nThis grass comes in various cultivars, each with different needs and characteristics. If you want to know which Bermudagrass is right for you, be sure to talk to an expert. Also, take note that the grass has an aggressive tunneling habit, so you’ll need to protect your ornamental beds with concrete or metal edging down to about two inches.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
Spreads by: Stolons and rhizomes
Shade tolerance: Low; some cultivars may have slightly better shade tolerance, but in general, Bermudagrass needs full sun
Drought tolerance: High
Foot traffic tolerance: Highly wear-resistant; if foot traffic damage does occur, Bermudagrass recovers well because of its aggressive rhizomes.
Maintenance needs: Moderate; may need mowing as often as twice per week due to its low mowing height; plan to dethatch regularly
Mowing height: 1 to 2.5 inches (rotary mower) or 0.75 to 1 inch (reel mower)
Potential for disease: Low, but common diseases include spring dead spots, large patches, and take-all root rot
![\"Green](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Centipedegrass-2.jpg\")
Photo Credit: James Becwar / Wikimedia Commons / CC0 1.0
\n\n\n\nIf you’re looking for a low-maintenance grass, centipedegrass is a great option. It needs less mowing, watering, and fertilizer compared to other grass types, making it ideal for those who want a beautiful lawn without too much upkeep. Using fewer chemicals is also better for the environment and animals.
\n\n\n\nOne of the weaknesses of centipedegrass is that it can’t handle much foot traffic, so if you have a busy lawn, you should look elsewhere. This grass also grows slowly, so you may want to consider getting sod or plugs, but those will also be more expensive. Moreover, take note that not all varieties are cold-hardy.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
Spreads by: Stolons
Shade tolerance: Moderate; full sun or partial shade
Drought tolerance: Moderate to high (with the right maintenance)
Foot traffic tolerance: Very low; if damaged, ensure to water promptly
Maintenance needs: Low, and requires less mowing than other grasses because of its slow growth habit
Mowing height: 1 to 2 inches, depending on conditions
Potential for disease: Moderate; can be prevented with the right care
![\"green](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/zoysiagrass-5.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Forest & Kim Starr / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nZoysiagrass is a dense, light-to-medium green warm-season grass that tolerates cold relatively well and can even grow in moderate shade. It can also handle weeds, drought, foot traffic, and various soil types.
\n\n\n\nHowever, keep in mind that Zoysiagrass doesn’t repair itself easily if damaged and is slow to establish. You can choose to buy sod or plugs, although that will be more costly.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
Spreads by: Stolons and rhizomes
Shade tolerance: Moderate (high for a warm-season grass type)
Drought tolerance: Moderate to high, depending on the cultivar
Foot traffic tolerance: High; dense growth resists damage, and spreading through stolons and rhizomes allows for quick recovery
Maintenance needs: Low to moderate
Mowing height: Typically 1.5 to 2.5 inches depending on cultivar and shade; heights below 1 inch need a reel mower (which is recommended anyway)
Potential for disease: Low to medium, depending on the cultivar
![\"Tall](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tall-Fescue-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Daderot / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain
\n\n\n\nA popular choice, turf-type tall fescue is a versatile year-round green grass with coarse leaves. It resists diseases and tolerates heat, drought, and foot traffic. Often, turf-type tall fescue is mixed with Kentucky bluegrass for its strong qualities.
\n\n\n\nOf course, no grass can withstand stress 100 percent of the time. If you want your turf-type tall fescue to recover from damage easily, get variety with rhizomes.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Cool-season grass
Spreads by: Bunches, occasionally rhizomes
Shade tolerance: Moderate
Drought tolerance: Very high
Foot traffic tolerance: High
Maintenance needs: Best to mow weekly; requires minimal fertilization; water as needed or your lawn will go dormant
Mowing height: 3 to 4 inches
Potential for disease: Low
![\"Green](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Fine-Fescue.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pixabay
\n\n\n\nFine fescue grasses come in many varieties and are known for their fine texture and shade tolerance. They’re often mixed with other grass types for a more diverse and resilient lawn, but they can also be used as standalone grasses. Some varieties of fine fescue are suitable for infertile and acidic soils.
\n\n\n\nTake note that fine fescue doesn’t handle foot traffic well, so you might want to look at alternative options if you have a busy lawn.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Cool-season grass
Spreads by: Depends on the variant (most variants grow in bunches, but creeping red fescue uses rhizomes)
Shade tolerance: High
Drought tolerance: High
Foot traffic tolerance: Low
Maintenance needs: Mow every 2-3 weeks until growth slows in the summer; fertilize 2-4 times a year; aerate once a year
Mowing height: 2.5 to 4 inches; the grass is slow-growing, so taller heights may be preferable
Potential for disease: Moderate
![\"Backyard](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kentucky-bluegrass-yard.jpeg\")
Photo Credit: Brenda Ryan / Wikilawn
\n\n\n\nKentucky bluegrass forms a dark green turf that thrives under full sun and self-repairs if it’s damaged. This grass type is popular throughout the country for its dense, carpet-like appearance. However, it’s especially common in the Northern half of the United States where it grows best.
\n\n\n\nNote that the grass often struggles against diseases and pests. It also faces problems growing in poor soil, excessive heat, and shade. That’s why it’s often mixed with other grass types. Homeowners should keep in mind that Kentucky bluegrass also grows slowly and has shallow roots that need frequent watering.
\n\n\n\n
Classification: Cool-season grass
Spreads by: Rhizomes (underground stems)
Shade tolerance: Tolerates partial shade, but prefers full sun
Drought tolerance: High but long periods of drought will lead to dormancy
Foot traffic tolerance: High in colder weather, lower in warmer seasons
Maintenance needs: Provide an inch of water weekly; mow every 5-7 days; fertilize 1-3 times a year
Mowing height: 2.5 to 3.5 inches
Potential for disease: Moderate to high; susceptible to diseases such as necrotic ring spots and rusts
Centipedegrass requires less water and fertilizer than other grasses. That means less work for you but also fewer chemicals getting into the environment. Additionally, centipedegrass grows slowly, reducing the need for frequent mowing.
Turf-type tall fescue can stay green throughout the year.
If you have trees or hardscapes, consider planting centipedegrass or Zoysiagrass. They’re shade-tolerant grasses that can grow in areas with less sunlight.
Busy lawn? No problem. From warm-season Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass to cool-season turf-type tall fescue (which can be mixed with Kentucky bluegrass if you prefer), you have a number of options.
Choosing the right grass type is just the beginning of making the most of your Tennessee lawn. Proper watering, fertilization, and maintenance practices are also critical. Make sure that you take the steps to take care of your lawn properly.
\n\n\n\nIf you want to add a little extra vibrancy to your yard, you may be in the market for plants. Be sure to look into planting natives. Native plants naturally grow in Tennessee’s climate, meaning that they’re easier to take care of and better for the environment and local wildlife.
\n\n\n\nIf you need a hand, why not contact a Tennessee lawn care pro?
\n\n\n\nMain Image Credit: Stephen Yeargin / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n","title":"The Best Grass for Your Tennessee Lawn","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/5fd2cb86b00ce5ea6e8159f7142e930a/1789c/Lawn-in-Tennessee-1.jpg","srcSet":"/static/5fd2cb86b00ce5ea6e8159f7142e930a/107df/Lawn-in-Tennessee-1.jpg 320w,\n/static/5fd2cb86b00ce5ea6e8159f7142e930a/293e9/Lawn-in-Tennessee-1.jpg 500w,\n/static/5fd2cb86b00ce5ea6e8159f7142e930a/f2cbb/Lawn-in-Tennessee-1.jpg 800w,\n/static/5fd2cb86b00ce5ea6e8159f7142e930a/1789c/Lawn-in-Tennessee-1.jpg 960w,\n/static/5fd2cb86b00ce5ea6e8159f7142e930a/c26c2/Lawn-in-Tennessee-1.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/5fd2cb86b00ce5ea6e8159f7142e930a/1dd6e/Lawn-in-Tennessee-1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/5fd2cb86b00ce5ea6e8159f7142e930a/67b76/Lawn-in-Tennessee-1.webp 320w,\n/static/5fd2cb86b00ce5ea6e8159f7142e930a/8df11/Lawn-in-Tennessee-1.webp 500w,\n/static/5fd2cb86b00ce5ea6e8159f7142e930a/98a65/Lawn-in-Tennessee-1.webp 800w,\n/static/5fd2cb86b00ce5ea6e8159f7142e930a/1dd6e/Lawn-in-Tennessee-1.webp 960w,\n/static/5fd2cb86b00ce5ea6e8159f7142e930a/3cc96/Lawn-in-Tennessee-1.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"The Best Grass for Your Tennessee Lawn | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Among all the amazing views in Tennessee, the one you really want is in your front yard, but it’s going to take the right kind of grass."}}},{"node":{"id":"2b7183e4-9697-5166-8807-77a5db938a4a","slug":"spring-lawn-care-tips-knoxville","path":"/lawn-care/tn/knoxville/spring-lawn-care-tips-knoxville/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Abdul Wadood is a writer and SEO specialist from India. He recently started writing about lawns and enjoys it. In his spare time, he enjoys going on trips.","name":"Abdul Wadood","id":"236127ca-c7a6-50bb-9ab7-dd3e7e3fe6d8","path":"/author/abdul-wadood/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/395f0103c8419fd32e2c021818b78121?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"985b5d1a-386d-5359-895c-ba65265ef522","name":"Knoxille","count":3,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tn/knoxville/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"5b679b70-01bd-54c3-aa31-693dd631b9f5","name":"Tennessee","count":11,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tn/"}],"date":"March 22nd, 2023","excerpt":"When you live in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and have a front seat to the stunning Tennessee River, as Knoxville does, you have some of the best views in the world. But what’s the point of all that if the view of your yard from your front window is disappointing? Want a […]
\n","content":"\nWhen you live in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and have a front seat to the stunning Tennessee River, as Knoxville does, you have some of the best views in the world. But what’s the point of all that if the view of your yard from your front window is disappointing?
\n\n\n\nWant a great view? It starts with some early-season work on your lawn. Here are 12 things you can do to give your lawn a huge boost this spring.
\n\n\n\nIn this article:
\n\n\n\n![\"Person](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/pexels-gustavo-fring-5163423.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pexels
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhen spring starts, it’s time to get your lawn equipment ready. Check whether your lawn mower, weed eater, hedge trimmer, and leaf blower are in good shape.
\n\n\n\nHere’s how to prepare your lawn equipment for spring and the upcoming summer.
\n\n\n\nNeglecting your lawn equipment can be dangerous to your lawn by increasing the risk of disease in your grass.
\n\n\n\nWhen to sharpen your lawn mower blade
\n\n\n\nCut a patch of your lawn with your mower. If the grass looks uneven, the blade needs sharpening.
\n\n\n\nGenerally, you should sharpen your lawn mower blade at least a few times a year, especially before the first mow of the season.
\n\n\n\nHow to sharpen your lawn mower blade
\n\n\n\nThat’s it. Your lawn mower is all set.
\n\n\n\nFungi love springtime heat and humidity. When you notice faded spots in your lawn, take immediate action to prevent the spread.
\n\n\n\nHere are the diseases to watch out for in your Knoxville yard.
\n\n\n\n![\"Dollar](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Dollar-Spot.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Scot Nelson / Flickr / CC0 1.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhat to look for
\n\n\n\nDollar spot appears as straw-colored spots about the size of a dollar coin. A cottony white growth shows up on top of the grass in the morning.
\n\n\n\nHow to treat dollar spot
\n\n\n\nYou may need to try several fungicides to eliminate this disease, as there are many strains of them. Each variety of the fungus can be immune to different kinds of fungicides.
\n\n\n\n![\"Snow](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Snow-Mold.jpg\")
Photo Credit: noricum / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhat to look for
\n\n\n\nThere are two kinds of snow mold – gray snow mold or Typhula blight, and pink snow mold or Fusarium patch. Gray snow mold appears as perfect circles or irregular patches. It tends to damage only the glass blades. Pink snow mold looks similar but has a pinkish tint. It’s more dangerous as it can damage both grass roots and blades.
\n\n\n\nHow to treat snow mold
\n\n\n\nRake the mold, then treat with a fungicide that includes azoxystrobin, bacillus subtilis, or propiconazole.
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Brown_Patch-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Scot Nelson / Wikimedia Commons / CC0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhat to look for
\n\n\n\nBrown patch usually appears as circular or irregular-shaped patches of brown or gray grass on your lawn. These patches can range from just a few inches in size to several feet wide. The symptoms will usually show up by late spring.
\n\n\n\nHow to treat brown patch
\n\n\n\nUse a fungicide that includes triadimefon, PCNB, propiconazole, myclobutanil, or thiophanate-methyl as one of its active ingredients.
\n\n\n\n![\"Two](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Raking-Leaves-on-Lawn.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Bigmouth1 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThough the weather is starting to warm up, the effect of winter is still there on your lawn. Remove debris, fallen branches, and dead plants from your yard to give your lawn a chance to breathe.
\n\n\n\nFallen leaves block your grass from receiving enough sunlight, water, air, and nutrients. You can also get rid of the thatch accumulated during winter by raking your yard. Raking your yard also splits grass blades and promotes straight grass growth.
\n\n\n\n![\"dethatcher](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/rsz_dethatcher2.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Agri-Fab, Inc. / Wikimedia Commons / CC0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThatch is a combination of living and dead plant matter that accumulates on grass. When it’s too much, it can attract pests and diseases and prevent nutrients from reaching the soil.
\n\n\n\nRaking your lawn can remove some thatch, but, you may have to dethatch your yard using a vertimower or a thatching tool when you notice thatch exceeding an inch in thickness.
\n\n\n\nWhen to dethatch your lawn
\n\n\n\nThe best time to dethatch is when your grass is in its best shape. Warm-season grass is healthiest between late spring and early summer. Cool-season grass is in its best form between late summer and early fall.
\n\n\n\n![\"Soil](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Soil-Testing.jpg\")
Photo Credit: CSIRO / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWinters are cold in Knoxville, and precipitation is high. A heavy downpour can wash away essential nutrients from the soil. Test your soil to know what’s missing and whether your soil is too acidic or alkaline.
\n\n\n\nIf your soil needs nutrients, you’ll need to add amendments like calcium, potassium, phosphorus, or magnesium. If you want to fertilize your soil, wait for at least a month to prevent any interactions between amendments and fertilizer.
\n\n\n\nWhen and how to test your soil
\n\n\n\nYou should test your soil at least once a year or before fertilizing your lawn. You may use a DIY kit to test your soil at home. However, we recommend you bring your soil to the local Extension office for a complete analysis.
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/solar-panels-working-20.jpg\")
Photo Credit: groveb / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNow that you have tested your soil, you’ll know what your lawn needs. But what’s the best time to fertilize?
\n\n\n\nFertilize warm-season grass around mid-April. Fertilize cool-season grass during fall.
\n\n\n\nNitrogen is the primary component in most fertilizers as it’s the essential element needed for grass growth. Depending on your soil test result, you may also purchase a fertilizer rich in potassium or phosphorus.
\n\n\n\nRegardless of the nutrients, always opt for slow-release fertilizers. Fast-release fertilizers can damage your grass and sometimes even burn it. Also, use a spreader to apply fertilizer evenly instead of using your hands.
\n\n\n\nPro tip: According to Colorado State University, fertilizing cool-season grass between March and April isn’t necessary if you have applied fertilizer the previous fall.
\n\n\n\nIf you have cool-season grass, you should avoid applying fertilizer too early as it can promote rapid growth. Rapid growth may sound great, but it’s harmful to your lawn.
\n\n\n\n![\"Overseeding](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/rsz_2img_3650.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Brenda Ryan / Wikilawn
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIs your warm-season grass thinning? Overseeding can help. Overseeding is planting grass seeds over your existing lawn to fill bare spots and improve grass density.
\n\n\n\nPro tip: If there are just a few bare patches in your grass, a pest may be the culprit behind them. So, go ahead and eliminate it.
\n\n\n\nWhen to overseed
\n\n\n\nWe recommend you overseed after dethatching or aerating your lawn as it increases access to the soil. Also, ensure the newly seeded grass gets the right amount of water and fertilizer for healthy growth.
\n\n\n\n![\"Lawn](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/rsz_2screen_shot_2022-08-08_at_10209_pm.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Rawpixel
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIt’s spring! Turn on your lawn mower and start mowing, but not before your grass is at least 2 inches high.
\n\n\n\nThe mowing height depends on your grass type. Here’s the recommended mowing height for the most common grasses in Knoxville.
\n\n\n\n| Grass type | Recommended height |
| Tall fescue | 2 – 3 inches |
| Bermudagrass | 1 ¼ – 1 ½ inches |
| Buffalograss | 2 – 3 inches |
| Centipedegrass | 1 – 2 inches |
| Kentucky bluegrass | 2 ½ – 3 inches |
| Creeping red fescue | 3 – 3 ½ inches |
Here are some lawn-mowing tips.
\n\n\n\n![\"Weeds](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Weeds.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Wallpaperflare
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWeeds aren’t good for your lawn. So, get rid of them. You can apply a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent weeds from germinating. The best time to use these products is between late winter and early spring.
\n\n\n\nPro tip: Don’t apply pre-emergent herbicides when you overseed as it prevents the seeds from germinating. If you have applied a pre-emergent herbicide, you may have to wait between two and four months before you can overseed.
\n\n\n\nIf it’s too late to use a pre-emergent herbicide, and if weeds have already started to show up, apply a post-emergent herbicide. They only affect the weeds that have already germinated.
\n\n\n\n![\"Man](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Spraying-Lawn.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Praxis Eco Pest Control / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhen spring arrives, it’s time to fight and win the battle against pests. Lawn pests in Knoxville usually reproduce during spring. Use pesticides to eliminate them before they reproduce.
\n\n\n\nWe recommend you avoid using catch-all pesticides as they are less effective and can harm beneficial insects, pets, and plants. Identify the pest in your yard and use a pesticide that targets it specifically.
\n\n\n\nHere are some lawn pests common to Knoxville.
\n\n\n\nYou can prevent pests from entering your lawn by watering your grass, fertilizing, and dethatching.
\n\n\n\n![\"cloe-up](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/3768077054_1a9fc5e9a5_c.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Michael Mol / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWatering is necessary for a lush, green, and healthy lawn. The amount of water your yard requires depends on the grass. Keep in mind that watering too much and watering too little are both harmful to your yard.
\n\n\n\nLawns typically require between 1 and 1.5 inches of water a week during spring. Overwatering can attract fungi and weeds and even cause thatch to build up.
\n\n\n\nNote: Don’t forget to consider weekly rainfall when watering your lawn. Alter the amount of water accordingly to prevent overwatering.
\n\n\n\nIn some cases, your lawn may need more water. Here’s how you can tell:
\n\n\n\nWater your lawn early in the morning (before 10 a.m.) for the best efficiency. Don’t water at night, as the extra water remaining in the soil can attract pests and increase the risk of disease.
\n\n\n\nYou can use an automated irrigation system to ensure your yard gets the correct amount of water at the right time.
\n\n\n\n![\"Aeration](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Aeration-Tool.jpg\")
Photo Credit: allispossible.org.uk / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDon’t aerate your lawn during spring. Instead, wait for the summer to aerate warm-season grasses and winter to aerate cool-season grasses. Aerate your yard once a year for the best results.
\n\n\n\nAeration refers to creating holes in the ground to give roots easier access to air, water, and other nutrients. When you aerate your lawn during spring, those holes can be a lovely place for weeds to thrive.
\n\n\n\nKnoxville is a part of the transition zone, meaning our summers are hot and winters are cold. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a great lawn in Marble City. You just have to put in the time and effort in spring to get your yard going strong for the later months.
\n\n\n\nRaking debris, fertilizing, dethatching, and watering are all great ways to prepare your yard for the summer.
\n\n\n\nIf you want to have a lush and healthy lawn without breaking a sweat, Wikilawn Knoxville lawn care experts can help. We can also create a fantastic landscape for your home to create a better living environment for your family and increase the value of your home.
\n\n\n\nMain Photo Credit: Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0
\n","title":"12 Spring Lawn Care Tips for Knoxville, TN","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.7118402282453637,"src":"/static/bb471d84d9e830d179681277b1d2ec42/1789c/Knoxville-House.jpg","srcSet":"/static/bb471d84d9e830d179681277b1d2ec42/107df/Knoxville-House.jpg 320w,\n/static/bb471d84d9e830d179681277b1d2ec42/293e9/Knoxville-House.jpg 500w,\n/static/bb471d84d9e830d179681277b1d2ec42/f2cbb/Knoxville-House.jpg 800w,\n/static/bb471d84d9e830d179681277b1d2ec42/1789c/Knoxville-House.jpg 960w,\n/static/bb471d84d9e830d179681277b1d2ec42/c26c2/Knoxville-House.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/bb471d84d9e830d179681277b1d2ec42/1dd6e/Knoxville-House.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/bb471d84d9e830d179681277b1d2ec42/67b76/Knoxville-House.webp 320w,\n/static/bb471d84d9e830d179681277b1d2ec42/8df11/Knoxville-House.webp 500w,\n/static/bb471d84d9e830d179681277b1d2ec42/98a65/Knoxville-House.webp 800w,\n/static/bb471d84d9e830d179681277b1d2ec42/1dd6e/Knoxville-House.webp 960w,\n/static/bb471d84d9e830d179681277b1d2ec42/3cc96/Knoxville-House.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"12 Spring Lawn Care Tips for Knoxville, TN","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"If you want a great lawn this year, it pays to get a good jump on it in the spring. Here’s what you should do."}}},{"node":{"id":"36ce7c7b-d94e-58a3-a1f6-1eab325ec71f","slug":"fall-lawn-care-checklist-murfreesboro","path":"/lawn-care/tn/murfreesboro/fall-lawn-care-checklist-murfreesboro/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Born and raised in Springfield, Illinois, Kimberly Magerl enjoys growing fruits and vegetables in her garden. When she isn't gardening, Kimberly enjoys trying new recipes and cooking with her home-grown herbs.","name":"Kimberly Magerl","id":"bdf803c6-4d01-5c0e-88b1-1ea590340a8a","path":"/author/kimberly-magerl/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/45ebe89479badde7ee7cb5108a96462c?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"27e940f6-30a2-50ad-939d-b73973245b23","name":"Murfreesboro","count":3,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tn/murfreesboro/"},{"id":"5b679b70-01bd-54c3-aa31-693dd631b9f5","name":"Tennessee","count":11,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tn/"}],"date":"May 25th, 2023","excerpt":"Pumpkin spice lattes, fans flocking to watch the Blue Raiders, and hiking trails full of changing fall leaves are just a few of the `Boro’s fall favorites. With temperatures in the 70s and college football just around the corner, the last thing you want to do is mow your lawn. However, successful spring lawn care […]
\n","content":"\nPumpkin spice lattes, fans flocking to watch the Blue Raiders, and hiking trails full of changing fall leaves are just a few of the `Boro’s fall favorites. With temperatures in the 70s and college football just around the corner, the last thing you want to do is mow your lawn. However, successful spring lawn care begins in the fall, and September is a crucial month for fertilizer. Follow our fall lawn care checklist to maintain your lawn and prepare it for the winter playoff season.
\n\n\n\nIn this article, we’ll cover:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nResidents love Tennessee’s mild autumns. The southern state is in the transition zone, and both warm and cool-season grass varieties grow well in its soils. Proper fall lawn care from September through November sets the foundation for your landscape during the winter months and spring green-up. Proper maintenance during these cool transition months helps your lawn grow deeper, stronger roots.
\n\n\n\nFall lawn care benefits include:
\n\n\n\n![\"dethatcher](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/hand-scarifiers-g35cd23e32_1920-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pixabay
\n\n\n\nMurfreesboro’s mild fall gives way to a short, cold, and wet winter, causing some cool-season grass cultivars and most warm-season grass cultivars to go dormant, developing thatch. Thatch is the tight, intermingled layer of dead grass, living grass blades, and roots that accumulate above soil level but below eye line visibility. Thatch insulates grass roots and makes your turfgrass more resilient, but too much of a good thing is a bad thing.
\n\n\n\nDense thatch causes:
\n\n\n\nDethatch your lawn during its active growing season using a dethatcher, also known as a lawn scarifier. Watch for thatch that is a half inch or more thick, spongy turf, footprints, increased pest activity, and active diseases. Dethatchers work like a complex rake to remove thatch, bringing it to the surface of your lawn for collection. Always remove the loose layer of thatch immediately to avoid suffocating your turfgrass.
\n\n\n\nIt is important to identify your grass variety. Tennessee cool-season grass cultivars like Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass actively grow in the fall and early spring. Warm-season varieties such as bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass, and centipedegrass hit their green-up phase in late spring and summer. Dethatch your cool-season lawn in early fall and save your warm-season cultivar dethatching session for spring.
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/8704115339_808a6b275c_c-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Oregon State University / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nOxygen allows your turfgrass to establish deep roots and a dense appearance. Aeration is a common method to introduce this element back into struggling lawns with restricted root growth, allowing for water and nutrients to permeate more easily.
\n\n\n\nThere are two types of common aeration: core aeration and spike aeration. Aim to aerate your Murfreesboro lawn to stimulate root growth following your dethatching schedule: early fall for cool-season varieties like fine fescue, tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass and mid-spring to early summer for warm-season grasses like bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass, and centipedegrass.
\n\n\n\nCore aerators extract cores of soil to create small holes so the soil can breathe. This method leaves leftover cores of soil on the surface of your lawn, adding beneficial nutrients and microorganisms to decrease thatch naturally.
\n\n\n\nCore aeration is the best method for the middle Tennessee region with its well-drained loam, limestone, or clay-based soils. These alkaline soils retain less moisture, heat more quickly, and have an abundance of phosphorus. Core aerators do a better job of breaking up sand or rock particles, reducing compaction, increasing air exchange, and improving water and nutrient access.
\n\n\n\nSpike aerators poke small holes in the ground with a rotating punch. This method does not remove material from the soil, so there is no chance of natural de-thatching.
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/rsz_soil.jpg\")
Photo Credit: PublicDomainPictures
\n\n\n\nEarly fall is one of the best times to test your soil to ensure it has all the nutrients it needs to thrive. Middle Tennessee is home to many soil types and some are nutrient deficient. It is important to understand exactly what nutrients your grass is lacking. Murfreesboro homeowners should send in a soil sample for testing in September.
\n\n\n\nSimply send in a one-cup core sample to receive your results detailing amendments you can make to improve your soil. Common amendments include nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium applications and lime for soil pH imbalances.
\n\n\n\n![\"Thick](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/green-lawn.jpg\")
Photo Credit: PublicDomainPictures
\n\n\n\nLate summer and early fall are the best times to seed your cool-season lawn in Murfreesboro, while spring is the best time to seed warm-season cultivars. The active growing season encourages fresh growth, filling in thin and patchy areas.
\n\n\n\nOverseeding involves spreading new grass seed over existing turfgrass to fill thin areas. Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, fine fescue, and perennial ryegrass are cool-season cultivars that respond well to fall overseeding.
\n\n\n\nPrepare to seed your cool-season Tennessee lawn in late August or early September. Spread 0.5 to 1 pound of seed per 1,000 square feet.
\n\n\n\nDepending on your turfgrass cultivar, a fall fertilizer application promotes deep roots and sets your grass up for success during its fall green-up or winter dormancy period. Unfortunately, too much of a good thing can harm your landscape, so it is important to start with a soil test. The best time to apply fertilizer depends on your turfgrass cultivar, while the best type of fertilizer for your lawn depends on your unique soil sample test results.
\n\n\n\nFertilizer comprises three primary nutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Labels have three numbers, such as 5-10-5, which means the fertilizer contains 5% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus, and 5% potassium. Select a fertilizer ratio to satisfy your soil test results.
\n\n\n\nFall is the best time to fertilize cool-season grass cultivars like fine fescue, tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass as they hit their active growing season. Apply 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn on Sept. 1, Oct. 15, and Nov. 15 to improve root depth and turf density. Be sure to select a fertilizer that satisfies your soil test results with the proper N-P-K ratio.
\n\n\n\nA fall fertilizer application helps warm-season turfgrasses like centipedegrass, Zoysiagrass, and bermudagrass resist winter weeds and improves turf color and spring recovery rates. Fertilize your warm-season lawn with 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn around Sept. 1. Pay attention to the potassium and phosphorus needs on your soil test results and select a low-nitrogen, high-potassium or phosphorus blend, if needed.
\n\n\n\nLime is a fall soil amendment like fertilizer composed of limestone rock ground into powder. It contains calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. The addition of lime to your turfgrass increases nutrients and soil alkalinity, spreading beneficial bacteria. The ideal pH for your soil depends on the type of turfgrass in your landscape. Apply lime in September, October, or November if your soil test recommends it.
\n\n\n\n| Grass Type | Ideal pH Range |
| Bermudagrass | 6.0 – 6.5 |
| Centipedegrass | 5.0 – 6.0 |
| Fine Fescue | 6.0 – 6.5 |
| Kentucky Bluegrass | 6.0 – 7.0 |
| Perennial Ryegrass | 6.0 – 6.5 |
| Tall Fescue | 6.0 – 6.5 |
| Zoysiagrass | 6.0 – 6.5 |
![\"Red](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Mow-More-Cut-Less.jpg\")
Photo Credit: PxHere
\n\n\n\nThe `Boro’s subtropical climate and four distinct seasons make for interesting weather, especially in the fall. The city’s autumns are warm with a 49% chance of cloud cover and give way to short, wet, and cold winters. Your grass variety determines your unique mowing schedule and lawn height.
\n\n\n\nUnfortunately, it is tempting to mow your lawn short and make less work for yourself, but most grass types benefit from longer grass blades in the fall. Cutting your grass short leaves it vulnerable to injury, weeds, and cold stress. Taller grass blades develop deeper roots, setting your lawn up for winter success and a better spring green-up.
\n\n\n\nWarm-season cultivars like bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass, and centipedegrass benefit from higher mowing heights in the fall to increase insulation and encourage deeper roots before winter.
\n\n\n\nRaise the height of your cut by a half inch in mid-September. Continue mowing through fall until the first frost. To avoid injuring your lawn, never mow low or scalp your lawn in the fall, and never remove more than one-third of the leaf blade.
\n\n\n\nYou should mow every seven to 14 days within the recommended range for your grass type. Do not collect clippings unless you see large clumps on your lawn. Always aim to cut less, more often.
\n\n\n\nCool-season Tennessee grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, fine fescue, and perennial ryegrass hit their active growth phase in the early fall after summer dormancy
\n\n\n\nMow cool-season grasses to their recommended heights every seven days during fall. Aim to decrease mowing frequency to every 14 days in mid to late spring when growth has slowed.
\n\n\n\n| Grass Type | Recommended Mowing Height |
| Bermudagrass | 0.75 – 1.5 inches |
| Centipedegrass | 1 – 2 inches |
| Fine Fescue | 1.5 – 2.5 inches |
| Kentucky Bluegrass | 1.5 – 2.5 inches |
| Perennial Ryegrass | 1.5 – 2.5 inches |
| Tall Fescue | 2 – 3 inches |
| Zoysiagrass | 0.75 – 1.5 inches |
No matter what variety of turfgrass your lawn has, Murfreesboro lawns seldom need daily irrigating in the fall unless it is brand new. Water as needed early in the morning throughout fall. Winters in the `Boro are usually wet, providing more than enough precipitation for your plants and turfgrass.
\n\n\n\nYou will know it is time to water your turfgrass when you notice a dark blue-gray color, footprinting, or wilted, folded, or curled leaves. Water all Tennessee turfgrass varieties twice per week if it hasn’t rained, aiming for a half inch of water per session to moisten the top 4 to 6 inches of soil and encourage deeper roots.
\n\n\n\nPhoto Credit: Scot Nelson / Wikimedia Commons / CC0 1.0
\n\n\n\nYour best defense against lawn disease is routine maintenance, including watering, fertilization, and proper mowing heights. Tennessee’s mild fall temperatures and subtropical climate create the perfect environment for lawn diseases and fungi, including large patch, dollar spot, helminthosporium diseases, rust, nematodes, and stripe smut.
\n\n\n\nLarge patch is a fungus that appears as brown, circular patches several feet in diameter. This disease affects bermudagrass, perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue. It does not respond well to fungicides. The most effective control and prevention method is proper lawn maintenance.
\n\n\n\nMonitor patches and improve drainage and air movement. Limit fertilization in affected areas and avoid over-watering.
\n\n\n\nDollar spot is caused by a Tennessee soil-dwelling fungus that thrives in the warm, moist weather of spring and fall. It affects bluegrass, ryegrass, bermudagrass, and Zoysiagrass. Watch for circular brown or yellow spots that look like dollar coins.
\n\n\n\nLike most fungi, treat dollar spot with proper lawn maintenance. Maintain nitrogen levels by applying a nitrogen-based fertilizer and minimize moisture stress by ensuring proper drainage. Always water deeply and infrequently in the early morning to reduce foliage wetness.
\n\n\n\nFairy rings, caused by mushroom or puffball-producing fungi, affect all Tennessee turfgrasses. Be on the lookout for an arc or ring of dead grass surrounded by healthy grass. Many infections also produce mushrooms or puffballs around the ring.
\n\n\n\nLike large patch, fairy rings do not respond well to fungicides. Till or remove the soil around the affected area and reseed for severe infestations. For mild infestations, remove thatch, aerate, and perform routine maintenance, ensuring proper irrigation.
\n\n\n\nHelminthosporium diseases affect all turfgrass species. Numerous fungi species cause these leafspot diseases, affecting grass blades, crowns, or roots. Watch for dark, circular lesions that expand to light-brown dead turf. Most diseases affect roots and crowns, causing turf thinning and fading, especially during cool, moist fall weather, but occur year-round in Murfreesboro.
\n\n\n\nCombat infections with proper lawn maintenance. Improve air circulation by removing thatch. Avoid fertilization and post-emergent weed killers while the disease is active. Monitor and fix drainage issues and avoid over-watering to prevent active and future infestations. Apply a fungicide at the first signs of infection.
\n\n\n\nNematodes affect all Tennessee turfgrasses. These unsegmented roundworms need moisture to survive, and populations peak in the fall. The best prevention method is proper lawn maintenance to develop dense roots.
\n\n\n\nWatch for yellowing and thinning turf, especially during dry periods. Apply nematicides like Indemnify to affected areas alongside routine lawn maintenance and proper yard drainage.
\n\n\n\nRust is a tissue-dwelling fungus affecting Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, and Zoysiagrass. Spores germinate through moisture and dew, and active infections pop up throughout spring into fall. Be on the lookout for yellow flecks and raised areas on grass blades and thinning, wilting turf.
\n\n\n\nTreat rust using a fungicide, and prevent this Tennessee turfgrass disease with proper lawn maintenance. Improve drainage, reduce thatch buildup, and increase the time between irrigation sessions to minimize leaf moisture.
\n\n\n\nStripe smut is a fungus affecting Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue. It is a serious fall disease causing stunted root growth, stiff and erect leaf blades, and a yellow and brown appearance.
\n\n\n\nOnce an outbreak occurs, smut fungus grows rapidly in fall temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Treat the turfgrass disease with proper lawn maintenance, including infrequent but deep waterings and proper fertilization. Fungicide applications can help reduce active infections.
\n\n\n\n![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Common-Chickweed.jpeg\")
Photo Credit: Lazaregagnidze / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nWeeds love Murfreesboro’s subtropical climate. These pests signify an underlying problem with your lawn’s health, including low-nitrogen levels, imbalanced pH, and thinning turf. Weeds siphon vital nutrients, water, and sunlight from your turfgrass and spread pests and diseases. Two common methods of weed control include post-emergent and pre-emergent herbicides.
\n\n\n\nAll cool-season Tennessee turfgrasses, including tall fescue, fine fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass benefit from a fall application of pre-emergent herbicide designed to kill seeds before germination. Additionally, both Zoysiagrass and bermudagrass benefit from a September pre-emergent herbicide application to control annual bluegrass, a common Tennessee weed.
\n\n\n\nWhile these herbicides will not control existing perennial weeds, they will help control the emergence of new winter annual and perennial broadleaf and grassy weeds.
\n\n\n\nCommon winter grassy weeds in Murfreesboro:
\n\n\n\nPost-emergent herbicides disrupt the growth of winter broadleaf weeds that become a nuisance during Murfreesboro falls. Always apply the herbicide directly to the active weed. Wait 30 days between applications, and never apply more than two applications per year.
\n\n\n\nCommon winter broadleaf weeds in Murfreesboro:
\n\n\n\n![\"raking](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pxfuel.com-4-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pxfuel
\n\n\n\nLocations with four seasons like Murfreesboro attract many homeowners with promises of warm summers, changing fall foliage, and a chance for a white Christmas. Watching leaves change from green to autumn gold, bronze, and red is something to look forward to as you sip your pumpkin spice latte and gear up for Friday night football. Unfortunately, the colorful leaves drop to the ground, creating a fluffy and crunchy layer over your lawn.
\n\n\n\nLeaves block out the sun, trap moisture, reduce airflow, and lead to dead spots of turfgrass. They increase pest problems and spread disease, so be sure to remove them as soon as possible. Wait until the leaves are dry to rake and prepare to rake your lawn before the first frost.
\n\n\n\nBe sure to remove the leaves and layer of thatch left behind. It does not matter if you rake as your leaves fall or wait until all the leaves in your yard have fallen.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMost homeowners can stop mowing their warm-season Murfreesboro lawns in mid-October. These cultivars include bermudagrass, centipedegrass, and Zoysiagrass.
Homeowners with cool-season varieties, including Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, and fine fescue, can typically stop mowing after the first frost in early December.
Warm-season turf gasses like bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass, and centipedegrass will go dormant during the end of fall and the beginning of winter. These cultivars dry out and turn brown.
The best way to determine if your grass is dormant is by pulling on it. If the grass comes out of the ground easily, it is likely dead. However, if there is resistance from deep roots when you pull on your grass, it is dormant.
No. While some homeowners overseed their warm-season grass with perennial ryegrass to maintain a year-round green lawn, it is not recommended for healthy warm-season turfgrass. The ryegrass slows spring green-up, competing with your warm-season turfgrass and stealing vital nutrients. It is best to allow your warm-season grass to enter natural dormancy during the cold winter months. Warm-season Tennessee turfgrasses include Zoysiagrass, bermudagrass, and centipedegrass.
Mild fall weather creates a prime environment for routine yard work that will set your lawn up to take on the wet, cold Tennessee winter and prepare it for a better green-up in the spring. Be sure to check out our spring lawn care tips to get a jump start on what you can expect from your long-term maintenance plan.
\n\n\n\nIf you are short on time and would rather watch football or hit the trails, contact a Murfreesboro lawn care pro to help your lawn establish deep roots so it can survive the winter.
\n\n\n\nMain Image Credit: Tarpely Farm-Murfreesboro / rossograph / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n","title":"Fall Lawn Care Checklist for Murfreesboro, TN","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.606425702811245,"src":"/static/6c339f5887a463f982079d568b2f34fe/1789c/Searcy_%25E2%2580%2593_Matthews_%25E2%2580%2593_Tarpley_Farm_-Murfreesboro_TN.jpg","srcSet":"/static/6c339f5887a463f982079d568b2f34fe/107df/Searcy_%25E2%2580%2593_Matthews_%25E2%2580%2593_Tarpley_Farm_-Murfreesboro_TN.jpg 320w,\n/static/6c339f5887a463f982079d568b2f34fe/293e9/Searcy_%25E2%2580%2593_Matthews_%25E2%2580%2593_Tarpley_Farm_-Murfreesboro_TN.jpg 500w,\n/static/6c339f5887a463f982079d568b2f34fe/f2cbb/Searcy_%25E2%2580%2593_Matthews_%25E2%2580%2593_Tarpley_Farm_-Murfreesboro_TN.jpg 800w,\n/static/6c339f5887a463f982079d568b2f34fe/1789c/Searcy_%25E2%2580%2593_Matthews_%25E2%2580%2593_Tarpley_Farm_-Murfreesboro_TN.jpg 960w,\n/static/6c339f5887a463f982079d568b2f34fe/c26c2/Searcy_%25E2%2580%2593_Matthews_%25E2%2580%2593_Tarpley_Farm_-Murfreesboro_TN.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/6c339f5887a463f982079d568b2f34fe/1dd6e/Searcy_%25E2%2580%2593_Matthews_%25E2%2580%2593_Tarpley_Farm_-Murfreesboro_TN.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/6c339f5887a463f982079d568b2f34fe/67b76/Searcy_%25E2%2580%2593_Matthews_%25E2%2580%2593_Tarpley_Farm_-Murfreesboro_TN.webp 320w,\n/static/6c339f5887a463f982079d568b2f34fe/8df11/Searcy_%25E2%2580%2593_Matthews_%25E2%2580%2593_Tarpley_Farm_-Murfreesboro_TN.webp 500w,\n/static/6c339f5887a463f982079d568b2f34fe/98a65/Searcy_%25E2%2580%2593_Matthews_%25E2%2580%2593_Tarpley_Farm_-Murfreesboro_TN.webp 800w,\n/static/6c339f5887a463f982079d568b2f34fe/1dd6e/Searcy_%25E2%2580%2593_Matthews_%25E2%2580%2593_Tarpley_Farm_-Murfreesboro_TN.webp 960w,\n/static/6c339f5887a463f982079d568b2f34fe/3cc96/Searcy_%25E2%2580%2593_Matthews_%25E2%2580%2593_Tarpley_Farm_-Murfreesboro_TN.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"Fall Lawn Care Checklist for Murfreesboro, TN | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Discover 11 valuable tips for maintaining a fall lawn in Murfreesboro and prepare your grass for the cold Tennessee winters."}}},{"node":{"id":"3d3007d2-1af2-5aaa-a834-c097f71ede3e","slug":"best-grass-types-nashville","path":"/lawn-care/tn/nashville/best-grass-types-nashville/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"","name":"Beck Carter","id":"3b38b422-934a-5aae-81e6-7a8844634ab1","path":"/author/beck-carter/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/faa5e8711d89766a0fe69560b04f52b1?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"6022ebc8-f59a-5092-819f-17d84814cacf","name":"Nashville","count":2,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tn/nashville/"},{"id":"5b679b70-01bd-54c3-aa31-693dd631b9f5","name":"Tennessee","count":11,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tn/"}],"date":"April 11th, 2023","excerpt":"Home to the Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame, and Nashville Parthenon, there’s plenty to love about the capital city of the Volunteer State. Whether you live here for music, sports, or just the great lifestyle, you’ll want your turf to be as amazing as the rest of the city. But getting your […]
\n","content":"\nHome to the Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame, and Nashville Parthenon, there’s plenty to love about the capital city of the Volunteer State. Whether you live here for music, sports, or just the great lifestyle, you’ll want your turf to be as amazing as the rest of the city.
\n\n\n\nBut getting your lawn to hit all the right notes in the Music City starts with choosing a type of grass that harmonizes with the climate and your lifestyle. Below, we break down the six best types of grass for Nashville.
\n\n\n\nIn this article:
\n\n\n\nThere are two general types of grass that work in the temperate Tennessee climate, where summers are hot and winters are chilly.
\n\n\n\nHere is a closer look at each.
\n\n\n\nSeveral fescue species can be found throughout Tennessee. Although tall fescue is originally from Europe it has adapted well to various climates and soil conditions. This makes it well suited for states in the transition zone of the United States such as Tennessee.
\n\n\n\nTall fescue is popular with homeowners looking for durable low maintenance grass that helps them conserve water. This rapidly growing grass is great at resisting disease and insects. It possesses strong resistance to disease and insects. While this grass type does not tolerate high altitudes well, it does tolerate drought and foot traffic.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Cool-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Bunch-type
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: No higher than 3 inches
\n\n\n\nFine fescue encompasses several types of grass that do exceptionally well in shady locations. These grasses include chewings fescue, hard fescue, and red fescue. Fine fescue resists deer and tolerates foot traffic.
\n\n\n\nFine fescue can tolerate a variety of climates. When allowed to grow out, this grass type has a meadow-like appearance. Fine fescue is known to attract pollinators such as butterflies.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Cool-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Bunch-type, rhizomes (creeping red only)
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Low
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 2 to 3 inches
\n\n\n\n![\"Close](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Kentucky-Bluegrass-2.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pilot138-17 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nMost types of bluegrass grow in transitional climates making Kentucky bluegrass ideal for the Nashville area. Kentucky bluegrass tends to be much slower to establish than other types of cool-season grasses. However, this grass is widely used due to its ability to recover quickly from stressors.
\n\n\n\nAs one of the most popular turfgrasses, it is well known for its ability to tolerate foot traffic. Kentucky bluegrass is identifiable by its noteworthy boat-shaped leaves, This cool-season grass can be found in pastures across the United States where it withstands continuous grazing.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Cool-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Rhizomes
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: Low
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Moderate
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 2 to 2 ½ inches
\n\n\n\n![\"lush](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/bermudagrass-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pexels
\n\n\n\nBermudagrass is a perennial turf grass that tolerates a variety of soil types and grows rapidly. Its fine texture, resistance to foot traffic, and rapid recovery time make it ideal for lawns, parks, athletic fields, and golf courses. While other turfgrasses such as Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue are more popular in Tennessee, Bermudagrass is still widely used.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons, rhizomes
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Low
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Low
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Moderate
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 1 to 1 ½ inches
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Centipede_Grass-1-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: James Becwar / Wikimedia Commons / CC0 1.0
\n\n\n\nCentipedegrass is a coarse apple-green low-maintenance turfgrass. This grass type is slow growing and spreads using centipede-like stolons. While centipedegrass does not handle shade well, it does tolerate drought.
\n\n\n\nCentipedegrass is prone to thatch buildup. Frequent mowing and fertilization aren’t necessary when it comes to this grass type and may actually increase the risks of thatch buildup or disease. Additionally, centipedegrass is known to be sensitive to commercially available herbicides.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Low
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Low
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 1 ½ to 2 inches
\n\n\n\n![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Zoysia-grass-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Forest and Kim Starr / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nZoysiagrass is one of the first-ever grasses to be implemented as turf. Introduced to the United States from Asia, this grass type is a slow-growing and very dense grass. It requires less frequent mowing than other warm-season grasses such as Bermudagrass.
\n\n\n\nZoysiagrass is difficult to seed and is usually planted using plugs or sod. It is drought-tolerant and resists disease well.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons, rhizomes
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Moderate to High
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: ½ to 1 inch
\n\n\n\nTall fescue requires the least maintenance and is the most durable cool-season grass on this list. Zoysiagrass is going to be your best bet when it comes to low-maintenance warm-season grasses.
Tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and zoysiagrass all hold up well to frequent foot traffic.
Fine fescue grasses are great at tolerating heavy shade. If you prefer warm-season grass, zoysiagrass also performs well in the shade.
Tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and fine fescues such as creeping red fescue all have high urine tolerance which is ideal for pet owners.
Each of these typical Nashville grasses has features that make it appropriate for specific lawn conditions. Nashville homeowners should choose the grass that best fits their own needs and aesthetic inclinations. Ensure that you are prepared for the level of maintenance your preferred grass requires.
\n\n\n\n
Another way to enhance your Music City lawn is to add native plants to your landscape. Check out our list of native plants to find a variety of options perfect for Tennessee’s transitional climate. For help with lawn maintenance in Nashville, contact your local professional.
Main Image Credit: Stephen Yeargin / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n","title":"6 Best Grass Types for Nashville","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.3824884792626728,"src":"/static/c5419a91627ab0ce1529b9f03bd399f6/1789c/Nashville-TN-lawn.jpg","srcSet":"/static/c5419a91627ab0ce1529b9f03bd399f6/107df/Nashville-TN-lawn.jpg 320w,\n/static/c5419a91627ab0ce1529b9f03bd399f6/293e9/Nashville-TN-lawn.jpg 500w,\n/static/c5419a91627ab0ce1529b9f03bd399f6/f2cbb/Nashville-TN-lawn.jpg 800w,\n/static/c5419a91627ab0ce1529b9f03bd399f6/1789c/Nashville-TN-lawn.jpg 960w,\n/static/c5419a91627ab0ce1529b9f03bd399f6/c26c2/Nashville-TN-lawn.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/c5419a91627ab0ce1529b9f03bd399f6/1dd6e/Nashville-TN-lawn.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/c5419a91627ab0ce1529b9f03bd399f6/67b76/Nashville-TN-lawn.webp 320w,\n/static/c5419a91627ab0ce1529b9f03bd399f6/8df11/Nashville-TN-lawn.webp 500w,\n/static/c5419a91627ab0ce1529b9f03bd399f6/98a65/Nashville-TN-lawn.webp 800w,\n/static/c5419a91627ab0ce1529b9f03bd399f6/1dd6e/Nashville-TN-lawn.webp 960w,\n/static/c5419a91627ab0ce1529b9f03bd399f6/3cc96/Nashville-TN-lawn.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"6 Best Grass Types for Nashville | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"These six types of grass are great options for building an attractive, sturdy lawn that withstands both Nashville's warm summers and cold winters"}}},{"node":{"id":"6eb8b89d-24d7-5d63-aeac-870487ac9062","slug":"best-native-plants-nashville","path":"/lawn-care/tn/nashville/best-native-plants-nashville/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"","name":"Beck Carter","id":"3b38b422-934a-5aae-81e6-7a8844634ab1","path":"/author/beck-carter/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/faa5e8711d89766a0fe69560b04f52b1?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"6022ebc8-f59a-5092-819f-17d84814cacf","name":"Nashville","count":2,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tn/nashville/"},{"id":"5b679b70-01bd-54c3-aa31-693dd631b9f5","name":"Tennessee","count":11,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tn/"}],"date":"April 4th, 2023","excerpt":"In Music City, homeowners need a lawn that both stands out and blends with the local ecosystem. Native plants can be perfect for giving lawns a meadow-like appearance and attracting beautiful butterflies. Below, we break down the Nashville native plants that will make you the talk of the town. In this article: Why Go Native? […]
\n","content":"\nIn Music City, homeowners need a lawn that both stands out and blends with the local ecosystem. Native plants can be perfect for giving lawns a meadow-like appearance and attracting beautiful butterflies. Below, we break down the Nashville native plants that will make you the talk of the town.
\n\n\n\nIn this article:
\n\n\n\nOne of the ways gardeners ensure that plants work well for their region is by referencing the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. This is especially important when selecting non-native plants for your yard. However, by selecting native plants, homeowners can ensure that their lawns will thrive.
\n\n\n\nAnother good resource for those looking to learn more about native plants is the Tennessee Native Plant Society. They advise homeowners who want native plants to familiarize themselves with their HOA or city ordinances that may classify some native plants as weeds. To avoid this, you can also place a sign on your lawn indicating that your plants are native and helping local pollinators.
\n\n\n\n![\"Northern](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Northern-Maidenhair-Fern.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Schnobby / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nNorthern maidenhair ferns are perfect for gardens with shade. This slow-growing native plant is typically considered low maintenance. Northern maidenhair is a dainty plant that grows naturally in wooded areas around Tennessee. Typically, this fern sprouts fiddleheads that are reddish purple or pink.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Fern
\n\n\n\nSun: Partial shade to full shade
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Moist soil
\n\n\n\nSoil: Prefers humus-rich well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nMature height: Up to 2 feet
\n\n\n\n![\"Orange](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Butterfly-Weed.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Joshua Mayer / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nButterfly weed is part of the milkweed family. This colorful long-lasting wildflower attracts butterflies and bees due to its abundant nectar. A large taproot allows this plant to survive harsh, dry conditions. But be careful. Butterfly weed tolerates drought but can struggle is overwatered.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flower
\n\n\n\nSun: Full to partial sun
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium to dry
\n\n\n\nSoil: Prefers sandy loam
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nMature height: 1 to 2 feet
\n\n\n\n![\"Blue](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blue-Star.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Sten Porse / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBlue star is a feathery plant that features blue, star-shaped flowers and turns a lovely golden color in the fall. A low-maintenance plant, it attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Blue stars can survive in a variety of soil types including clay and sand. It is a long-lasting plant that resists pests such as deer and rabbits.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flower
\n\n\n\nSun: Full to partial sun
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Wet to moderately wet soil
\n\n\n\nSoil: Prefers humus-rich soil
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nMature height: Up to 3 feet
\n\n\n\n![\"Dogwood](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Dogwood.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA small low-maintenance tree, the dogwood works well as a screen or border accent. Dogwoods bloom white flowers in early spring and produce blue or red fruit in the fall. This native tree grows well in swampy or wetland areas. The dogwood attracts wildlife such as birds, butterflies, and bees.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Tree
\n\n\n\nSun: Partial shade to full shade
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Wet to medium moisture
\n\n\n\nSoil: Prefers loam, tolerates sandy soil
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nMature height: 8 to 15 feet
\n\n\n\n![\"Maximillian](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Maximillian-Sunflowers.jpg\")
Photo Credit: USFWS Mountain-Prairie / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn addition to Maximilian’s sunflower, several other varieties of sunflowers are native to middle Tennessee. Sunflowers are best suited for gardens with plenty of space because they can grow up to 7 feet tall. These bright, showy yellow flowers attract bees, butterflies, and birds. Maximilian’s sunflower spreads aggressively and is easy to grow.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flower
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Moderately wet to moderately dry
\n\n\n\nSoil: Tolerant of a variety of soils
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nMature height: Up to 7 feet
\n\n\n\n![\"Baptisia](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Baptisia-australis-Blue-False-Indigo.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Fritzflohrreynolds / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWild blue indigo sprouts blue flowers and becomes a robust bush-like plant when fully grown. This plant turns a silvery-gray color during the fall. Wild blue indigo can be difficult to transplant due to its extensive root system. Butterflies and bees enjoy the flowers.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flower
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun, tolerates some shade
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nSoil: Tolerant of a variety of soils
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nMature height: 3 feet
\n\n\n\n![\"Close-up](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/American-Wisteria.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Photo by David J. Stang / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAmerican wisteria is a climbing vine with shiny dark green leaves. Its fragrant bluish-purple flowers are large and form in drooping clusters. American wisteria is frequently used as an ornamental plant. Additionally, this plant is important for butterfly larvae who use it as a food source. American wisteria can be susceptible to fungal diseases and chewing insects.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Vine
\n\n\n\nSun: Full to partial sun
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nSoil: Moderately fertile loam
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nMature height: 15 to 30 feet
\n\n\n\n![\"Close-up](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Buttonbush.jpg\")
Photo Credit: The Cosmonaut / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe buttonbush is a shrub that has distinctive white flowers that grow in spherical clusters. These clusters of flowers resemble pincushions and give the plant a somewhat tropical appearance. The buttonbush grows brown ornamental fruit.
\n\n\n\nBecause buttonbush naturally grows around ponds and in swamps, it requires a particularly moist environment when grown in a garden. A honey plant, the buttonbush attracts bees, butterflies, and water birds such as ducks.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Shrub
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Wet to moderately wet soil
\n\n\n\nSoil: Tolerant of a variety of soils
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nMature height: 5 to 12 feet
\n\n\n\n![\"Close-up](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Scarlet-Bee-Balm.jpg\")
Photo Credit: H. Zell / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nScarlet bee balm has beautiful red flowers in mid to late summer. Because this herbaceous perennial is in the mint family, it will give off a minty scent when its leaves are crushed. Scarlet bee balm attracts wildlife such as bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. Its flowers are also edible.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flower
\n\n\n\nSun: Full to partial sun
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Wet to moderately wet soil
\n\n\n\nSoil: Prefers rich humus soil
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nMature height: 2 to 4 feet
\n\n\n\n![\"Woodland](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Woodland-Phlox.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Joshua Mayer / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWoodland phlox is a herbaceous perennial often used as an ornamental plant due to its lovely blue flowers. While it has attractive fragrant flowers, it is a fairly nondescript plant when not in bloom. Woodland phlox attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Unfortunately, it also draws deer and rabbits so it may need additional care and protection.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flower
\n\n\n\nSun: Part to full shade
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Wet to moderately wet soil
\n\n\n\nSoil: Prefers rocky or sandy soils
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nMature height: 1 to 2 feet
\n\n\n\nPlants native to your area are more likely to establish quickly and thrive. These native plants create a natural habitat for local wildlife such as butterflies and birds in your backyard. Together, this means that native plants are usually lower maintenance and better for the environment.
It is typically best to plant your garden a few weeks before the last frost date, which, in Nashville, is April 15.
Blue star, wild blue indigo, American wisteria, and buttonbush can be toxic if ingested.
Alternatively, Maximilian’s sunflower and scarlet bee balm are edible plants.
These common Tennessee native plants each have features that make them perfect for your Nashville lawn. Homeowners in Nashville should choose the native plants that fit their preferred maintenance level and aesthetic needs. Ensure that you select native plants that bring desirable wildlife to your home and confirm the toxicity level of your plants if you have children or pets.
\n\n\n\nStill, looking for ways to enhance your Music City lawn? Check out our list of the best grasses for Nashville lawns to find a variety of options that are ideal for Tennessee’s transitional climate. For help with lawn maintenance in Nashville, contact your local professional.
\n\n\n\nMain Photo Credit: Oak Hill Garden Club in Nashville / Carol Norquist, NGC Chairman / Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0
\n","title":"10 Best Native Plants for Nashville, TN","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.509433962264151,"src":"/static/8240c61da8dbd61d17597595d699defc/1789c/Oak-Hill-GC-Nashville-Tennessee.jpg","srcSet":"/static/8240c61da8dbd61d17597595d699defc/107df/Oak-Hill-GC-Nashville-Tennessee.jpg 320w,\n/static/8240c61da8dbd61d17597595d699defc/293e9/Oak-Hill-GC-Nashville-Tennessee.jpg 500w,\n/static/8240c61da8dbd61d17597595d699defc/f2cbb/Oak-Hill-GC-Nashville-Tennessee.jpg 800w,\n/static/8240c61da8dbd61d17597595d699defc/1789c/Oak-Hill-GC-Nashville-Tennessee.jpg 960w,\n/static/8240c61da8dbd61d17597595d699defc/c26c2/Oak-Hill-GC-Nashville-Tennessee.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/8240c61da8dbd61d17597595d699defc/1dd6e/Oak-Hill-GC-Nashville-Tennessee.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/8240c61da8dbd61d17597595d699defc/67b76/Oak-Hill-GC-Nashville-Tennessee.webp 320w,\n/static/8240c61da8dbd61d17597595d699defc/8df11/Oak-Hill-GC-Nashville-Tennessee.webp 500w,\n/static/8240c61da8dbd61d17597595d699defc/98a65/Oak-Hill-GC-Nashville-Tennessee.webp 800w,\n/static/8240c61da8dbd61d17597595d699defc/1dd6e/Oak-Hill-GC-Nashville-Tennessee.webp 960w,\n/static/8240c61da8dbd61d17597595d699defc/3cc96/Oak-Hill-GC-Nashville-Tennessee.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"Best Native Plants for Nashville, TN","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"These 10 native plants will thrive in Nashville’s transitional climate and attract beneficial wildlife to your lawn."}}},{"node":{"id":"45f5f0f2-f443-5545-96e7-932dcfd8f03a","slug":"best-grasses-eastern-tennessee","path":"/lawn-care/tn/best-grasses-eastern-tennessee/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"","name":"Judith Gallova","id":"8e48e42f-071a-5523-a889-6dab4c49dd54","path":"/author/judith-gallova/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/537ca09b018493e40c3fb0df17ebacbe?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"5b679b70-01bd-54c3-aa31-693dd631b9f5","name":"Tennessee","count":11,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tn/"}],"date":"May 9th, 2023","excerpt":"Let’s be honest about this: With its rolling mountains and gentle waterfalls, Eastern Tennessee is one of the most visually stunning places in the U.S. It makes sense, then, that you’d want a lawn that matches that view, and you can have it if you know what grass seed grows best in Eastern Tennessee. But […]
\n","content":"\nLet’s be honest about this: With its rolling mountains and gentle waterfalls, Eastern Tennessee is one of the most visually stunning places in the U.S. It makes sense, then, that you’d want a lawn that matches that view, and you can have it if you know what grass seed grows best in Eastern Tennessee.
\n\n\n\nBut of course grass is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Each variety has different characteristics, different maintenance needs, and tolerates bugs, diseases and shade to varying degrees. The challenge is finding one that thrives here and suits your lifestyle.
\n\n\n\nIn this guide, we walk you through the best ones for Eastern Tennessee.
\n\n\n\nIn this article:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhere you live affects which grass types thrive in your area. Tennessee is a state of diverse climates:
\n\n\n\nGenerally speaking, you can make your choice from our Tennessee grass types. However, much of Eastern Tennessee is more elevated than the rest of the state, which means it’s also colder. If you’re in an elevated region, cool-season grasses are the better pick.
\n\n\n\nAdditionally, if you live in an area that doesn’t get a lot of rain, you should consider using a grass that can withstand droughts.
\n\n\n\nHere are four grasses that tolerate both drought and cold and work well in Eastern Tennessee.
\n\n\n\n![\"Tall](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3863142192_bea9f90f09_o-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Matt Lavin / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nTurf-type tall fescue is a popular option in Tennessee, and for a good reason. While it’s a cool-season grass, it’s perfect for transition zones thanks to its high drought and heat tolerance. In addition, it’s easy to maintain and isn’t as susceptible to diseases or thatch as other grass types. To get the best of both grasses, some homeowners like to mix turf-type tall fescue with Kentucky bluegrass.
\n\n\n\nIf you expect a lot of foot traffic on your lawn, turf-type tall fescue should be able to handle it. But if damage occurs, your grass will be able to repair itself if you choose a variety with rhizomes.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Cool-season grass
Spreads by: Bunches, occasionally rhizomes
Shade tolerance: Moderate
Drought tolerance: Very high
Foot traffic tolerance: High
Maintenance needs: Low
Mowing height: 3 to 4 inches
Potential for disease: Low
![\"image](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Fine-Fescue.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Matt Lavin / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nIf you have a shady lawn with little foot traffic, creeping red fescue may be the right choice. It’s a fine fescue variety that needs little maintenance and even handles drought to some extent. Creeping red fescue can also be used together with Kentucky bluegrass.
\n\n\n\nHowever, this grass isn’t that durable, so if you expect a lot of activity on your lawn, this may not be the right grass for you. Also, take note that fine fescue grasses are prone to thatch buildup.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Cool-season grass
Spreads by: Rhizomes
Shade tolerance: High
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Foot traffic tolerance: Low
Maintenance needs: Low
Recommended mowing Height: 3 to 3.5 inches
Potential for disease: Moderate
Photo Credit: Brenda Ryan / Wikilawn
\n\n\n\nFor a dense, lush lawn, Kentucky bluegrass is a great choice. It grows well in cool climates and is known for its smooth texture and dark green color. Additionally, Kentucky bluegrass tolerates foot traffic well in colder months and recovers quickly from damage.
\n\n\n\nHowever, Kentucky bluegrass also grows slowly and can become damaged by too much shade, heat, and poor soil. It’s also prone to thatch buildup. It’s often mixed with other grasses to help it thrive. Regardless, though, it’s a slow-growing grass that needs more attention than alternatives.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Cool-season grass
Spreads by: Rhizomes (underground stems)
Shade tolerance: Tolerates partial shade, but prefers full sun
Drought tolerance: High but long periods of drought will lead to dormancy
Foot traffic tolerance: High in colder weather, lower in warmer seasons
Maintenance needs: High
Mowing height: 2.5 to 3.5 inches
Potential for disease: Moderate to high; susceptible to diseases such as necrotic ring spots and rusts
![\"Beautiful](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/rsz_starr_070906-8518_zoysia_sp.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Forest & Kim Starr / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nSo far, we’ve only mentioned cold-season grasses; but if you’re in for a warm-season grass that will thrive even in the midst of a scorching summer, zoysiagrass is the right fit. Out of all warm-season grasses, Zoysiagrass is the best at tolerating cold weather, and it can even handle some shade. It also handles a variety of soil types as well as stressors such as drought, heat, foot traffic, and weeds.
\n\n\n\nNevertheless, be careful, because once Zoyisiagrass gets damaged, it doesn’t repair itself. It also takes a long time to establish; and while buying plugs or sod may speed up the process, it will also be more costly. Additionally, you need to watch out for thatch buildup.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
Spreads by: Stolons and rhizomes
Shade tolerance: Moderate (high for a warm-season grass type)
Drought tolerance: Moderate to high, depending on the cultivar
Foot traffic tolerance: High; dense growth resists damage, and spreading through stolons and rhizomes allows for quick recovery
Maintenance needs: Low to moderate
Mowing height: Typically 1.5 to 2.5 inches depending on cultivar and shade; heights below 1 inch need a reel mower (which is recommended anyway)
Potential for disease: Low to medium, depending on the cultivar
If you live in a cold area with little rain, turf-type tall fescue is the best choice. This grass is known for its year-round foliage as well as its ability to handle drought. It’s also easy to take care of, doesn’t get diseases like other grasses, and handles foot traffic and moderate shade.
If you’d like your lawn to thrive even when temperatures max out in the summer, Zoysiagrass may be your pick. It’s a warm-season grass that tolerates both cold temperatures and drought. Plus, it also easily handles foot traffic and is relatively easy to maintain.
Fine fescue grasses typically tolerate shade well, so if you have a lot of trees or hardscapes that obstruct sunlight in your lawn, and if it doesn’t get too dry or busy, creeping red fescue may be a good option.
Although there are many lovely kinds of grasses out there, Kentucky bluegrass is known for its dense, lush growth and is a popular choice for lawns in cooler climates. It’s a high-maintenance option that’s often picked for its specific look and texture, but it’s also relatively resistant to heat and foot traffic.
Have you found the right grass type? If so, make sure you learn all about it and properly maintain it to ensure a healthy and vibrant lawn. Consider regular maintenance jobs such as aerating, overseeing, mowing, watering, and so forth.
\n\n\n\nEven if you pick a low-maintenance grass type, there will still be a list of tasks you’ll need to get through on the regular. If you’d like some help keeping your lawn in mint condition, get in touch with one of WikiLawn’s lawn care pros.
\n\n\n\nMain Image Credit: Smoke321 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n","title":"The Best Grass Seed for Your Eastern Tennessee Lawn","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/5cd34b7b8021f7c711bdd71afc3b3428/1789c/Lawn-of-ETSU-1.jpg","srcSet":"/static/5cd34b7b8021f7c711bdd71afc3b3428/107df/Lawn-of-ETSU-1.jpg 320w,\n/static/5cd34b7b8021f7c711bdd71afc3b3428/293e9/Lawn-of-ETSU-1.jpg 500w,\n/static/5cd34b7b8021f7c711bdd71afc3b3428/f2cbb/Lawn-of-ETSU-1.jpg 800w,\n/static/5cd34b7b8021f7c711bdd71afc3b3428/1789c/Lawn-of-ETSU-1.jpg 960w,\n/static/5cd34b7b8021f7c711bdd71afc3b3428/c26c2/Lawn-of-ETSU-1.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/5cd34b7b8021f7c711bdd71afc3b3428/1dd6e/Lawn-of-ETSU-1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/5cd34b7b8021f7c711bdd71afc3b3428/67b76/Lawn-of-ETSU-1.webp 320w,\n/static/5cd34b7b8021f7c711bdd71afc3b3428/8df11/Lawn-of-ETSU-1.webp 500w,\n/static/5cd34b7b8021f7c711bdd71afc3b3428/98a65/Lawn-of-ETSU-1.webp 800w,\n/static/5cd34b7b8021f7c711bdd71afc3b3428/1dd6e/Lawn-of-ETSU-1.webp 960w,\n/static/5cd34b7b8021f7c711bdd71afc3b3428/3cc96/Lawn-of-ETSU-1.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"The Best Grass Seed for Your Eastern Tennessee Lawn | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Enjoy the beauty of greenery in your yard by planting the right grass type. Here are the best grasses for Eastern Tennessee."}}},{"node":{"id":"9ddf1015-f743-58b7-88ab-d055fc233d8a","slug":"best-native-plants-knoxville","path":"/lawn-care/tn/knoxville/best-native-plants-knoxville/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Abdul Wadood is a writer and SEO specialist from India. He recently started writing about lawns and enjoys it. In his spare time, he enjoys going on trips.","name":"Abdul Wadood","id":"236127ca-c7a6-50bb-9ab7-dd3e7e3fe6d8","path":"/author/abdul-wadood/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/395f0103c8419fd32e2c021818b78121?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"985b5d1a-386d-5359-895c-ba65265ef522","name":"Knoxille","count":3,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tn/knoxville/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"5b679b70-01bd-54c3-aa31-693dd631b9f5","name":"Tennessee","count":11,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tn/"}],"date":"April 4th, 2023","excerpt":"Knoxville’s moderate climate and ample rainfall supports a variety of beautiful native plants that can add color and texture to your garden. These native plants offer advantages over non-native species, some of which may not thrive in Eastern Tennessee’s unique climate. Here is a look at 12 gorgeous native plants for your Knoxville landscape. In […]
\n","content":"\nKnoxville’s moderate climate and ample rainfall supports a variety of beautiful native plants that can add color and texture to your garden. These native plants offer advantages over non-native species, some of which may not thrive in Eastern Tennessee’s unique climate.
\n\n\n\nHere is a look at 12 gorgeous native plants for your Knoxville landscape.
\n\n\n\nIn this article:
\n\n\n\nAs you can see, native plants are easier to maintain and better for the environment. Let’s take a look at the best native plants for Knoxville lawns.
\n\n\n\n![\"Blue](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Virginia-Bluebell-Mertensia-Virginica.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Judy Gallagher / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nVirginia bluebells can enhance the appearance of any garden because they feature colors that aren’t normally seen in the area. They bloom in the spring and disappear for the rest of the year. Virginia bluebells look especially beautiful when they are in full bloom.
\n\n\n\nVirginia bluebells can grow about one or two feet in height and require little maintenance. Bluebell blossoms are bell-shaped, and each flower has approximately five petals.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Green
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial to full shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Moist, well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: High; can’t survive in drought conditions.
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Toxic to humans and pets
\n\n\n\n![\"Red](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Winterberry-Ilex-Verticillata.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Derek Ramsey / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.5
\n\n\n\nWinterberry is a fast-growing, medium-sized tree that produces red berries in winter that birds love to eat. The leaves of the tree are long and elliptical. The axils of winterberry leaves contain delicate and radially symmetrical white flowers arranged in small clusters.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Tree
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 60 feet tall and 49 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Dark green
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Moist, well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: High
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Toxic to humans and pets
\n\n\n\n![\"Orange](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Butterfly-Milkweed-Asclepias-tuberosa.jpg\")
Photo Credit: PxFuel
\n\n\n\nButterfly weed, also known as butterfly milkweed, consist of large clusters of orange flowers. Thanks to their bright color, they attract many pollinators, especially monarch butterflies.
\n\n\n\nButterfly weed blooms throughout the summer and grows well in full sun. They burst open in the fall to reveal their white, soft, and fluffy seeds.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Dark green
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Sandy, well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low, high drought tolerance
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Toxic to humans and pets
\n\n\n\n![\"Purple](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Wild-Geranium-Geranium-Maculatum.jpg\")
Photo Credit: PxFuel
\n\n\n\nWild geraniums are a great choice for Knoxville lawns. They are highly versatile and attractive, with flowers in beautiful shades of pink and lavender. Wild geraniums bloom from late spring to early summer, and the flowers attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.
\n\n\n\nWild geraniums grow well in full sun or partial shade and perform best in moist soils.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Green
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Moist soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Needs high watering during the growth period. Once matured, it requires watering only in drought conditions.
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic to children. Toxic to pets.
\n\n\n\n![\"Red](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bee-Balm-Monarda-Didyma.jpg\")
Photo Credit: PxFuel
\n\n\n\nBee balm features beautiful bright red, tubular flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. It is a summer bloomer, and its seed heads are a food source for songbirds during fall and winter.
\n\n\n\nThe leaves and stems of bee balms have a minty fragrance as they are part of the mint family. They perform best under full sun and moist soil.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Dark green
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Moist soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: High
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic
\n\n\n\n![\"River](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/River-Oats-Chasmanthium-Latifolium.jpg\")
Photo Credit: David J. Stang / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nRiver oats are low-maintenance, native cool-season perennial ornamental grass that can increase the appearance of your lawn. They have showy seed heads that can add diversity to your yard.
\n\n\n\nRiver oats bloom from late summer to early fall, and the seed heads turn light brown as the season progresses. The seed heads only appear during summer and stay for about three months. River oats tolerate drought well once they establish a healthy root system.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 5 feet tall and 2 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Dark green
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Moist, well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: High
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Toxic to humans and pets
\n\n\n\n![\"Purple](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/woodland-phlox-phlox-divaricata.jpg\")
Photo Credit: David J. Stang / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nWoodland phlox is a beautiful shade-tolerant flower that blooms in spring for about a month and produces dainty petals in various pastel colors, including white, lavender, pink, or blue. Woodland phlox appears as a leafy green mound for the rest of the year.
\n\n\n\nWoodland phlox grows up to 1.5 feet tall but spreads slowly. It attracts butterflies and other pollinators.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 1.5 feet tall and 3 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Dark green
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Moist, well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Moderates. Tolerates medium-dry and medium-wet soils.
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic
\n\n\n\n![\"White](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/White-Wakerobin-Trillium-Grandiflorum.jpg\")
Photo Credit: PxFuel
\n\n\n\nWhite wakerobin are also known as sweet white trillium. As the name suggests, they emit a sweet odor. They bloom between late spring and early summer and are showy, especially in full bloom. The petals start white and turn slightly pink as they age.
\n\n\n\nWhite wakerobin have dark purplish ovaries in the center. They attract bees, moths, and other pollinators.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 2 feet tall and a foot spread
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Green
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial to full shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Moist, well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Requires frequent watering when newly planted. Once grown, you don’t need to water them frequently.
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Mildly toxic to humans when eaten. Toxic to pets.
\n\n\n\n![\"White](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Elderberry-Sambucus-Nigra.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Fritzflohrreynolds / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nElderberries are edible, fast-growing plants that can grow in partly shady areas. They sprout white flowers during late spring and produce dark purple or black edible berries in late summer or sometimes early fall. Elderberries look beautiful and attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Edible plant
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 12 feet tall and 6 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Bright lemon- to lime-green
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full shade; can tolerate partial shade.
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Moist, fertile, well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Moderate
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Toxic to humans when consumed raw. Toxic to pets.
\n\n\n\n![\"White](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bottlebrush-Buckeye-Aesculus-Parviflora.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Wendy Cutler / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nBottlebrush buckeye is an attractive deciduous shrub that blooms in summer. When it blooms, it displays white flower clusters that are long and fluffy. Unlike other buckeyes, bottlebrush retains its foliage well into fall.
\n\n\n\nBottlebrush buckeyes require low maintenance and are more resistant to diseases and insects. They have a slow growth rate. But once grown, their flowers can attract varieties of butterflies and hummingbirds.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 8 feet tall and 12 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Dark green
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun or partial sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Moist, well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Moderate
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Toxic to humans and pets
\n\n\n\n![\"Purple](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Prairie-Aster-Machaeranthera-Tanacetifolia.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Plant Net
\n\n\n\nPrairie aster is an attractive wildflower that requires low maintenance. They grow best under full sun and in loamy, well-drained soil. They bloom from late summer to mid-fall. During their bloom period, the petals appear violet with yellowish centers.
\n\n\n\nThe bright colors of prairie asters attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. The center portion of the flower turns purple once it is pollinated.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Pale blue-green
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Loamy, well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Moderate
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic
\n\n\n\n![\"White](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Solomons-Seal-Polygonatum-Biflorum.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Charles T. Bryson / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0
\n\n\n\nSolomon’s seal is a herbaceous perennial plant species. It blooms from late spring to early summer in attractive flowers of pink, white, and green. These flowers later turn into blackish berries that birds love.
\n\n\n\nAs Solomon’s seal grows, it slowly spreads, making it an excellent ground cover. The plant’s foliage looks unique and adds diversity to your landscape.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Green
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial to full shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Moist, well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: High during summer and low during winter.
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Toxic to humans and pets
\n\n\n\nThe right plant for your Knoxville lawn depends on various factors, such as sunlight, soil, and water needs. Not just that.
\n\n\n\nYou should know your location’s hardiness zone before purchasing a plant. Knoxville’s hardiness zone is 7a, meaning the average annual least temperature is between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Since the plants listed here are native to Tennessee, they can thrive in cool weather.
\n\n\n\nSumming up, research thoroughly and choose a plant that you can maintain and that suits the characteristics of your lawn.
\n\n\n\nYou can buy these plants from local nurseries. But wait! Before you visit your local garden center, make sure to take a look around your yard, as some of these native plants might be already growing there.
\n\n\n\nIf there’s no native plant in your yard, you can visit these Knoxville nurseries.
\n\n\n\nBuilding a healthy and appealing landscape doesn’t just stop by choosing the best native plant. You should also select the best grass type for your Knoxville lawn.
\n\n\n\nIf you wish to keep your yard lush and healthy, consider hiring Wikilawn’s lawn care experts.
\n\n\n\nMain Photo by: PxFuel
\n","title":"12 Best Native Plants for Knoxville, TN","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5,"src":"/static/9714a5c3661ffd8bd9eb338092a62cd0/1789c/Native-Plants-for-Knoxville.jpg","srcSet":"/static/9714a5c3661ffd8bd9eb338092a62cd0/107df/Native-Plants-for-Knoxville.jpg 320w,\n/static/9714a5c3661ffd8bd9eb338092a62cd0/293e9/Native-Plants-for-Knoxville.jpg 500w,\n/static/9714a5c3661ffd8bd9eb338092a62cd0/f2cbb/Native-Plants-for-Knoxville.jpg 800w,\n/static/9714a5c3661ffd8bd9eb338092a62cd0/1789c/Native-Plants-for-Knoxville.jpg 960w,\n/static/9714a5c3661ffd8bd9eb338092a62cd0/c26c2/Native-Plants-for-Knoxville.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/9714a5c3661ffd8bd9eb338092a62cd0/1dd6e/Native-Plants-for-Knoxville.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/9714a5c3661ffd8bd9eb338092a62cd0/67b76/Native-Plants-for-Knoxville.webp 320w,\n/static/9714a5c3661ffd8bd9eb338092a62cd0/8df11/Native-Plants-for-Knoxville.webp 500w,\n/static/9714a5c3661ffd8bd9eb338092a62cd0/98a65/Native-Plants-for-Knoxville.webp 800w,\n/static/9714a5c3661ffd8bd9eb338092a62cd0/1dd6e/Native-Plants-for-Knoxville.webp 960w,\n/static/9714a5c3661ffd8bd9eb338092a62cd0/3cc96/Native-Plants-for-Knoxville.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"12 Best Native Plants for Knoxville, TN | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Knoxville is replete with natural beauty, so it makes sense to bring native plants into your yard that blend with the surrounding flora."}}},{"node":{"id":"2ac26e99-18d8-5bde-8dcf-5d062d2435fb","slug":"best-grass-types-knoxville","path":"/lawn-care/tn/knoxville/best-grass-types-knoxville/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Abdul Wadood is a writer and SEO specialist from India. He recently started writing about lawns and enjoys it. In his spare time, he enjoys going on trips.","name":"Abdul Wadood","id":"236127ca-c7a6-50bb-9ab7-dd3e7e3fe6d8","path":"/author/abdul-wadood/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/395f0103c8419fd32e2c021818b78121?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"985b5d1a-386d-5359-895c-ba65265ef522","name":"Knoxille","count":3,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tn/knoxville/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"5b679b70-01bd-54c3-aa31-693dd631b9f5","name":"Tennessee","count":11,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tn/"}],"date":"March 21st, 2023","excerpt":"If you want to increase the curb appeal of your property in Marble City, a great lawn is a must. And it all starts with choosing the right grass. Let’s take a look at the best grass types for Knoxville lawns. In this article: Best Grass Types for Knoxville Lawns Knoxville and the entire Tennessee […]
\n","content":"\nIf you want to increase the curb appeal of your property in Marble City, a great lawn is a must. And it all starts with choosing the right grass. Let’s take a look at the best grass types for Knoxville lawns.
\n\n\n\nIn this article:
\n\n\n\nKnoxville and the entire Tennessee state are part of the transitional zone. So, what does that mean for grasses?
\n\n\n\nWinters are too cold for warm-season grasses, while summers are too hot for cool-season grasses. Generally, if your home receives a lot of sunlight, you should opt for warm-season grasses. If not, stick to cool-season grasses as they are more shade tolerant.
\n\n\n\nGo through the list below and choose the best grass type for your Knoxville lawn, depending on your requirements.
\n\n\n\n![\"Close](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Tall-Fescue-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Ty Haller / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTall fescue grass is the go-to choice for many Knoxville homeowners because it’s a highly adaptable cool-season grass. Tall fescue is heat- and drought-tolerant compared to other cool-season grasses, thanks to its 2- to 3-foot-deep root system.
\n\n\n\nTall fescue is dark green and coarse with wide blades, making it highly durable and suitable for heavy foot traffic. It requires 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily for fast, dense growth.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Kentucky-Bluegrass.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Ethan2039 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nKentucky bluegrass (KBG) is a cool-season lawn grass widely used across the United States. It’s durable, soft on bare feet, and gives your lawn a dense appearance.
\n\n\n\nKBG has an excellent capacity for self-repair, but it doesn’t do well in shade. Kentucky bluegrass can be a great choice for Knoxville lawns when mixed with tall fescue seed mixture at a ratio of 90:10 (tall fescue to KBG).
\n\n\n\n![\"Closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/27905054331_597897e108_c.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Matt Lavin / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCreeping red fescue falls under the fine fescue category of turfgrass. It’s a cool-season grass that thrives in shade, so it’s ideal for yards that have thick tree canopies.
\n\n\n\nCreeping red fescue grass also requires little maintenance. It needs just 4 to 6 hours of direct daily sunlight. If your yard receives more sunlight than this, you’ll need to water your grass more often. On the downside, it’s not as durable as other grasses.
\n\n\n\n![\"close](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/buffalograss.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pixnio
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBuffalograss is a warm-season, low-maintenance grass that can survive extreme heat. It resists cold better than other warm-season grasses and grows well in clay soil. Use a complete fertilizer between late August and mid-September to maintain the green color of this grass during winter.
\n\n\n\nBuffalograss is durable and soft on bare feet. You should not overwater buffalograss as it can spawn weeds.
\n\n\n\n![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Centipede-Grass.jpg\")
Photo Credit: James Becwar JamesBecwar / Wikimedia Commons / CC0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCentipedegrass is a light green, warm-season grass that grows well in direct sunlight. It is more sensitive to cold than other warm-season grasses on this list.
\n\n\n\nCentipedegrass grows slowly, taking about 2 years to form a solid turf. It’s a low-maintenance grass, but since it takes a long time to grow, you should keep the weeds in check. One note of caution: It doesn’t withstand heavy foot traffic, so, avoid Centipedegrass if you use your lawn heavily.
\n\n\n\n![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Bermudagrass-2.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Bidgee / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBermudagrass is a warm-season grass that loves full sunlight. It is excellent at tolerating foot traffic but requires frequent mowing. Bermudagrass has the fastest growth rate of any common warm-season grass.
\n\n\n\nThis grass looks beautiful during warmer months but turns brown during winter. You should apply fertilizer during early fall to maintain the thickness of the lawn as the weather gets colder and to keep the weeds under control.
\n\n\n\nYou can opt for cool-season or warm-season grass types, depending on the characteristics of your environment. Most areas in Knoxville are better suited for cool-season grasses.
Creeping red fescue tolerates shade very well.
Buffalograss is a warm-season low-maintenance grass. Creeping red fescue is a cool-season low-maintenance grass.
If your Knoxville lawn experiences high foot traffic, you can prefer centipede grass and Bermuda grass.
Buffalograss, centipedegrass, Bermudagrass, and creeping red fescue turf grasses have a high tolerance to drought.
Since Knoxville is part of the transition zone, you should consider many factors when choosing grass for your lawn. Generally, cool-season grasses like tall fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass (KBG), and creeping red fescue tend to perform the best in Knoxville.
\n\n\n\nKBG can be a great choice for Knoxville lawns when mixed with tall fescue seed mixture at a ratio of 90:10, tall fescue to KBG.
\n\n\n\nBesides choosing the right grass type, you should also select the right plants for your Knoxville yard to make it look complete.
\n\n\n\nKeep your lawn lush and healthy with services from Wikilawn Knoxville lawn care experts.
\n\n\n\nMain Photo Credit: Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0
\n","title":"6 Best Grass Types for Knoxville","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"src":"/static/f24408d93a273fa3fea878c3f5840467/1789c/Bleak-house-knoxville-tn1.jpg","srcSet":"/static/f24408d93a273fa3fea878c3f5840467/107df/Bleak-house-knoxville-tn1.jpg 320w,\n/static/f24408d93a273fa3fea878c3f5840467/293e9/Bleak-house-knoxville-tn1.jpg 500w,\n/static/f24408d93a273fa3fea878c3f5840467/f2cbb/Bleak-house-knoxville-tn1.jpg 800w,\n/static/f24408d93a273fa3fea878c3f5840467/1789c/Bleak-house-knoxville-tn1.jpg 960w,\n/static/f24408d93a273fa3fea878c3f5840467/c26c2/Bleak-house-knoxville-tn1.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/f24408d93a273fa3fea878c3f5840467/1dd6e/Bleak-house-knoxville-tn1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/f24408d93a273fa3fea878c3f5840467/67b76/Bleak-house-knoxville-tn1.webp 320w,\n/static/f24408d93a273fa3fea878c3f5840467/8df11/Bleak-house-knoxville-tn1.webp 500w,\n/static/f24408d93a273fa3fea878c3f5840467/98a65/Bleak-house-knoxville-tn1.webp 800w,\n/static/f24408d93a273fa3fea878c3f5840467/1dd6e/Bleak-house-knoxville-tn1.webp 960w,\n/static/f24408d93a273fa3fea878c3f5840467/3cc96/Bleak-house-knoxville-tn1.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"6 Best Grass Types for Knoxville, TN","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Knoxville is part of the transitional zone, and cool-season grasses generally perform best in this region."}}},{"node":{"id":"6c798452-bc51-55b6-87de-d7ee42e05dd1","slug":"best-native-plants-murfreesboro","path":"/lawn-care/tn/murfreesboro/best-native-plants-murfreesboro/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Born and raised in Springfield, Illinois, Kimberly Magerl enjoys growing fruits and vegetables in her garden. When she isn't gardening, Kimberly enjoys trying new recipes and cooking with her home-grown herbs.","name":"Kimberly Magerl","id":"bdf803c6-4d01-5c0e-88b1-1ea590340a8a","path":"/author/kimberly-magerl/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/45ebe89479badde7ee7cb5108a96462c?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"27e940f6-30a2-50ad-939d-b73973245b23","name":"Murfreesboro","count":3,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tn/murfreesboro/"},{"id":"5b679b70-01bd-54c3-aa31-693dd631b9f5","name":"Tennessee","count":11,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tn/"}],"date":"April 12th, 2023","excerpt":"Named the Most Livable Town in Tennessee, Murfreesboro offers excellence in education, medical facilities, employment opportunities, real estate, and recreational programs. Located in the Nashville metropolitan area of middle Tennessee, the city houses over 1,200 acres of award-winning parks and outdoor spaces. Murfreesboro is the 3rd Fastest Growing City in America. The small city has […]
\n","content":"\nNamed the Most Livable Town in Tennessee, Murfreesboro offers excellence in education, medical facilities, employment opportunities, real estate, and recreational programs. Located in the Nashville metropolitan area of middle Tennessee, the city houses over 1,200 acres of award-winning parks and outdoor spaces.
\n\n\n\nMurfreesboro is the 3rd Fastest Growing City in America. The small city has a lot of urban amenities and all the country charm you could ever dream of. Invite some Tennessee nature and southern beauty into your landscape by filling your yard with some of the best native plants for Murfreesboro.
\n\n\n\nNative plants offer many landscaping benefits, including:
\n\n\n\nNative plants help promote a healthier Tennessee ecosystem. Check out these 17 native plants for Murfreesboro to help you plan your charming landscape.
\n\n\n\nIn this article, we’ll cover:
\n\n\n\n![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/American-Persimmon.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Katja Schulz / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nAmerican persimmon, also known as common persimmon and eastern persimmon, is a small to medium-sized tree that reaches heights up to 80 feet tall. Native to Tennessee and the Eastern United States, this shade tree produces small white and yellow flowers followed by edible orange fruits in September and December.
\n\n\n\nAmerican persimmons have a short trunk and spreading growth habit with a broad and rounded canopy. The tree invites local wildlife such as pollinators, songbirds, deer, and flying squirrels, and is the larval host for the Luna moth. Persimmon trees grow well in all soil types and habitats, from shaded valleys and home lawns to wide-open sunny fields and the shores of Percy Priest Lake.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Tree
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 4-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: 30-80 feet tall and 25-35 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Adaptable; low-nutrient, rich, acidic, alkaline, neutral, moist, well-drained, poorly drained, loam, sand, silt, soil, rock, or clay
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Drought-tolerant; water 1 inch per week if it does not rain and allow to dry out between waterings
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; edible fruits
\n\n\n\n![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/American-witch-hazel.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pxfuel
\n\n\n\nAmerican or common witch-hazel is a small deciduous tree with a vase-shaped growth habit found in Tennessee and the Eastern United States. It has scaly, light brown bark, oval leaves, and small, spindly yellow flowers that bloom in fall. The small tree produces wood fruit following its fragrant fall blooms, and its leaves turn a clear yellow in autumn.
\n\n\n\nAmerican witch-hazel loves shady areas and adapts to most soil conditions. The large shrub is often found in wetlands, woodlands, and stream banks. Witch-hazel grows well as fringe trees in home lawns that back up to wooded areas. The tree also makes a great border shrub and grows extremely well under the canopy of a large shade tree for landscape dimension.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Small tree or large shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: 10-20 feet tall and wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade to full shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Adaptable; low-nutrient, rich, acidic, alkaline, neutral, moist, well-drained, loam, sand, silt, or soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Natural rainwater is sufficient; may need 1 inch of water per week during extremely dry conditions
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; no safety hazards
\n\n\n\n![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Aster.jpeg\")
Photo Credit: Hedwig Storch / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0
\n\n\n\nAsters are a family of flowering perennials with several species native to Tennessee. Vibrant late summer and early fall blooms attract pollinating insects, while the dried stalks and leftover seeds provide food and shelter for songbirds in the winter.
\n\n\n\nAsters prefer full sun and thrive in the well-drained loamy soils found in Murfreesboro. Plant these beautiful blooms in flower beds, containers, or butterfly gardens. The three most prominent asters native to Tennessee include:
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herbaceous flower
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 4-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: 1-6 feet tall and 1-4 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefer neutral or acidic well-drained loamy soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Drought-tolerant; may need weekly watering during extreme dry spells; do not tolerate standing water
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; edible flowers
\n\n\n\nPhoto Credit: PxFuel
\n\n\n\nWild bergamot, affectionately known as bee balm, is a Tennessee wildflower in the mint family. It blooms in the summer with showy white or purple flowers that look like pom-poms. Bee balm grows well in garden beds and containers. The subshrub is often used as a medicinal plant or honey plant in pollinator gardens.
\n\n\n\nThe perennial has aromatic leaves that can be used for mint tea. Its medicinal properties are often used to treat respiratory ailments. Wild bergamot reaches up to 5 feet and grows well in all soil types, but does not tolerate flooding. The fragrant shrub attracts many pollinators to your garden but, like all plants in the mint family, is resistant to deer and mosquitoes.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herb or subshrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: 2-5 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Adaptable; prefers well-drained acidic soil, sandy loam, loam, clay, or lime-based soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Drought tolerant; water every 7-10 days during dry periods
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; edible leaves and flowers; medicinal uses for respiratory ailments
\n\n\n\nPhoto Credit: PxFuel
\n\n\n\nButterfly weed is a native species of milkweed and is extremely important to healthy Tennessee landscapes. It is an attractive flowering plant and a nectar source for bees and pollinators and a host plant for caterpillars, including the Monarch butterfly, Dogbane Tiger moth, and Milkweed Tussock moth. There are around 14 native species of milkweed that call Tennessee home.
\n\n\n\nButterfly weed produces bright orange or yellow flowers from summer to fall. The attractive plant is hardy and loves full sun. It tolerates most soils but prefers sandy well-draining soil and is moderately drought-tolerant.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Flower
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3-10
\n\n\n\nMature size: 1-4 feet tall and less than 1 foot wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial though some species are annuals
\n\n\n\nFoliage: N/A
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers dry, sandy soil or gravel
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Semi drought-tolerant; prefers to dry out between waterings
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Low toxicity; milky sap irritates humans and animals
\n\n\n\n![\"Eastern](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/eastern-redbud.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Famartin / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nEastern redbud, or Tennessee pink to the locals, is a small deciduous tree with a dense canopy. It produces small clusters of showy pink flowers over its bare branches in spring. Blooms last for two to three weeks before giving way to heart-shaped dark green leaves that turn golden in the fall.
\n\n\n\nTennessee pink works well as shrub borders and fringe trees. Those low-maintenance cultivars require little pruning and attract many birds and pollinators. They have a short trunk and rounded crown of spreading branches. Unfortunately, these beautiful trees have a short lifespan of around 50 years.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Tree
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 30 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial to full shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Water once weekly during dry spells
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: High toxicity; poisonous to dogs and cats
\n\n\n\n![\"White](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Flowering-Dogwood.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Derek Ramsey / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nFlowering dogwood is a small flowering understory tree. Producing one of the most popular and recognizable spring flowers in Murfreesboro, this small tree blooms white or pink flowers of modified leaves in April and May and produces bright red berries in the fall.
\n\n\n\nFlowering dogwood is single or multi-trunked with sprawling branches. Plant anywhere your yard receives shade and filtered light. The berries of this small tree provide food for birds, deer, and small mammals while its flowers attract Tennessee pollinators. Flowering dogwood is also a larval food source for the Spring Azure butterfly.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Tree
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 5-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: 15-30 feet tall and wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade to full shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers rich, acidic, well-drained, soil, sand, loam, or medium loam
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Water 1 inch per week in place of rainfall
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Moderate toxicity; fruit is poisonous to humans
\n\n\n\n![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lemon-Mint.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Krzysztof Golik / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nAnother member of the mint family, lemon mint, also known as lemon bee balm and purple horsemint, is an aromatic winter annual native to Tennessee. It produces unique, tufted, whorled lavender-pink flowers on elongated spikes in the spring through fall. This drought-tolerant plant requires annual reseeding in Murfreesboro.
\n\n\n\nLike all plants in the mint family, horsemint is used for tea and has a distinctive citrus-lemon mint scent that attracts bees and butterflies but repels mosquitoes and deer. It grows in all soil conditions and is commonly found alongside Tennessee highways, pastures, hillsides, prairies, savannahs, and plains. Lemon mint is low-maintenance and aggressive and prefers to be left alone. The winter annual grows well in garden beds or along garden margins, anywhere it will be neglected.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herb or subshrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 5-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 30 inches tall and 7-12 inches wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Short-lived perennial or annual
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Adaptable; prefers sandy loam, rock, clay loam, medium loam, sand, or clay
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Prefers regular watering to keep the soil moist; grows well with a layer of mulch to retain moisture
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; edible leaves and flowers used for tea, salads, and cooked foods
\n\n\n\n![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mapleleaf-Viburnum.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Joshua Mayer / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nMapleleaf viburnum is a low-growing, dense shrub. It has bright green maple-shaped deciduous foliage that turns shades of pink and purple in the fall. The attractive shrub blooms white flowers in the spring followed by berries in late summer and early fall that turn from red to dark blue.
\n\n\n\nMapleleaf viburnum grows best in partial shade. The low-maintenance shrub grows well alone and in clusters and responds well to pruning after they bloom. Its berries attract birds and other wildlife and it is a larval food source for the Spring Azure butterfly.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 4-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: 4-6 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade to full shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers dry, acidic, rock, sand, loam, medium loam, clay loam, or clay
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Drought-tolerant; may need weekly watering during extreme dry spells
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; no safety hazards
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Oakleaf-Hydrangea.jpg\")
Photo Credit: normanack / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nOakleaf hydrangea is a shade-loving shrub found in the understory of large trees like Tennessee black walnuts, maples, and dogwoods. It is coarse-textured with large, cone-shaped flower clusters that bloom for months every summer and change colors from white to light pink and purple.
\n\n\n\nThe fast-growing deciduous shrub gets its name from its dark green, oak-shaped leaves that turn red, gold, or purple in the fall. Oakleaf hydrangea reaches heights up to 10 feet tall and thrives in fertile, well-drained soil. Smaller cultivars like “Pee Wee” are available for homeowners with limited space.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 5b-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: 6-10 feet high and 6-8 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full shade to partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers, fertile, well-drained soil; adapts to most soil conditions, including moist, acidic soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Moderately drought-tolerant; prefers moist soil
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Toxic; all plant parts are poisonous to humans and animals
\n\n\n\n![\"image](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Sugar-Maple.jpg\")
Photo Credit: James St. John / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nSugar maple is a native deciduous tree with sap used to make maple syrup. It is a large tree, growing 40 to 80 feet tall in most landscapes. Sugar maple has a dense, rounded crown with foliage that turns yellow, orange, red, and bronze in the fall. It has shaggy brown bark and widespread branches.
\n\n\n\nSugar maple produces hardwood used for home furniture and flooring. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Keep in mind that this shade tree has shallow roots that can disrupt the growth of plants and grass growing under its canopy.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Tree
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: 40-80 tall feet and 30-60 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Deep, well-drained, acidic or slightly alkaline soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Water every 3-5 days, especially in dry conditions
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Moderate toxicity; only poisonous to horses
\n\n\n\n![\"Yellow](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/8634828149_21c0f182e9_o-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: NatureServe / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nSpicebush is an ornamental shrub that is disease and pest-resistant. It produces small bright yellow, fragrant flowers in spring and bright red berries in September. The multi-stemmed shrub has medium green leaves that turn clear yellow in fall. It occurs naturally in wooded areas and pond shores, preferring fertile loam soils.
\n\n\n\nSpicebush adapts to a range of lighting conditions, from full sun to full shade. It is an important plant for the Tennessee ecosystem. This shrub attracts birds and pollinators and is the nesting ground for the Spicebush Swallowtail. Grow spicebush in dappled shade covered with organic mulch. It is ideal for woodland gardens, borders, mass plantings, and landscapes near streams or ponds.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 4-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: 6-12 feet tall and wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to heavy shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Adaptable; prefers acidic or alkaline, fertile loam; will tolerate loamy sand, medium loam, and silty loam
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Adaptable; does not require watering outside of rainfall
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; edible leaves and berries
\n\n\n\n![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tennessee-Coneflower.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Wallpaperflare
\n\n\n\nTennessee coneflower was on the verge of extinction until 2011 when officials removed it from the endangered species list. This Tennessee native is slow-growing and perfect for prairies, meadows, flower beds, containers, and rock gardens. Tennessee coneflower produces bright fuchsia daisy-shaped blooms with burgundy and orange centers atop long vertical stems.
\n\n\n\nThese vibrant wildflowers tolerate drought, humidity, heat, and poor soils, and have no serious pest or disease issues. Coneflowers attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators, but also make a great deer-resistant addition to your Murfreesboro lawn. They are also an important food source for winter songbirds.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herbaceous flower
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 5-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: 18-24 inches tall and 12-18 inches wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Adaptable; prefers well-drained, acidic, alkaline, neutral, chalk, loam, or sand
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Drought-tolerant; requires weekly watering during extreme dry periods
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; edible
\n\n\n\nPhoto Credit: PxFuel
\n\n\n\nWild geranium is another herbaceous perennial with beautiful blooms, intricate foliage, and medicinal uses. This Tennessee native attracts mourning doves, quail, and white-tailed deer. Bright lavender flowers bloom in loose clusters atop long stems from March to July, attracting pollinators.
\n\n\n\nThis shade-loving herb’s Intricate, lobed leaves can be boiled into tea to treat inflammation. Grow wild geranium in containers, shaded areas, flower beds, and rock gardens.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herb
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: 1-2 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Semi-evergreen
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade to full shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers rich, acidic soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Water frequently; needs daily watering in the summer
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; edible; used medicinally as tea to fight inflammation
\n\n\n\n![\"Red](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Red_Columbine_3630187830-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Jason Hollinger / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nWild red columbine is a perennial herb and a member of the buttercup family. Also known as red Columbine, this Tennessee native grows up to 3 feet tall with showy, tuberous red and yellow blooms that droop, exposing bright yellow stamens.
\n\n\n\nWild columbine has an erect growth pattern and bright green leaves. Its flowering tubes attract hummingbirds and butterflies and rabbits love to munch on its foliage. This herbaceous perennial prefers partial shade. Red columbine struggles when other plants compete with its root systems and prefer to grow alone as a groundcover in flower beds, at the edges of gardens, or in containers.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herb
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: 1-4 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Semi-evergreen
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to full shade; prefers partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers neutral, sandy, well-drained sand, medium loam, sandy loam, or limestone-based soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Drought-tolerant; may need weekly watering during extreme dry spells; does not tolerate standing water
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; no safety hazards
\n\n\n\nPhoto Credit: Derek Ramsey / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.5
\n\n\n\nWinterberry is a deciduous tree in the holly family. This low-maintenance accent plant is often found in swamps, forest wetlands, and bogs. It grows well in mass plantings, shrub borders, wet soils, and near water.
\n\n\n\nWinterberry is the hardiest of all native hollies. Green and white-hued flowers bloom in June while some plants produce bright red berries in late summer that last through winter, attracting birds and wildlife. Winterberry is resistant to both pests and diseases.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Small tree or large shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: 6-10 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to full shade; prefers partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers moist, acidic soil, sand, loam, medium loam, clay loam, or clay
\n\n\n\nWater needs: High; ensure the soil is moist; water once per day during dry periods in spring and summer
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Moderate toxicity; fruits and foliage poisonous to humans
\n\n\n\nPhoto Credit: Joshua Mayer / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nKnown in Murfreesboro as woodland phlox or wild blue phlox, this fragrant flowering plant forms colonies of showy star-shaped purple and blue blooms in spring as the plant crawls across unoccupied grounds. Woodland phlox works well in garden beds as a low-maintenance groundcover, mass plantings, and border edging.
\n\n\n\nThis perennial herb has bright green foliage that rabbits love to nibble on and a dense growth pattern, making it a great hiding spot. It is deer-resistant and thrives in shady areas and most soil types.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herb
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 20 inches tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Evergreen
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade to full shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers rich, moist, acidic soils, sand, loam, medium loam, clay loam, and clay
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Maintain moist soil, ensuring the plant is never waterlogged; apply organic mulch to help retain moisture
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; no safety hazards
\n\n\n\nYour yard has its own unique microclimate, and all native plants have specific needs. Not all native plants will grow well in your yard. Be sure to select plants suitable for the soil, sun exposure, and watering capabilities of your landscape.
\n\n\n\nMurfreesboro sits in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a, indicating the coldest annual temperature is 0 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Tennessee native plants are cold-hardy to the minimum temperature in Murfreesboro’s hardiness zone. Keep your zone in mind when selecting non-native plants for your landscape.
\n\n\n\nMost flowers and shrubs should be planted after the last frost in late April. Check your local weather forecast before introducing new plants to your yard. Typically, the frost-free seasons last from April 20 to Oct. 11.
Murfreesboro’s diverse landscape is home to many soil types. Some areas consist of well-drained, fertile loam, while others are limestone-based or compacted clay. The best way to identify your landscape’s soil type is to send a sample of your soil in for testing to the local University of Tennessee extension office.
Early morning or evening are the best times to water your native plants. Winds are calmer and temperatures are lower, so there is less risk of water loss from evaporation or scorching from the sun. Additionally, foliage needs time to dry before nightfall. Wet foliage can lead to disease and rot.
Chances are good you already have native plants in your yard or around your neighborhood. If you want to introduce more plants into your Murfreesboro landscape, be sure to source your plants ethically and never transplant them from the wild.
\n\n\n\nCheck out these local nurseries in the Murfreesboro area:
\n\n\n\nFilling your yard with native plants is only one step in your landscaping design project. Be sure to maintain your new landscape with our spring lawn care tips for Murfreesboro and our fall lawn care checklist.
\n\n\n\nWhen you are ready to turn over the hard work and lawn upkeep to a professional, let WikiLawn connect you with a local landscaping pro in your area.
\n\n\n\nMain Image Credit: Hectonichus / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n","title":"17 Best Native Plants for Murfreesboro, TN","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.3318534961154274,"src":"/static/14f6c51af38ec88b8d08ce7d0ee367cf/1789c/Asteraceae.jpg","srcSet":"/static/14f6c51af38ec88b8d08ce7d0ee367cf/107df/Asteraceae.jpg 320w,\n/static/14f6c51af38ec88b8d08ce7d0ee367cf/293e9/Asteraceae.jpg 500w,\n/static/14f6c51af38ec88b8d08ce7d0ee367cf/f2cbb/Asteraceae.jpg 800w,\n/static/14f6c51af38ec88b8d08ce7d0ee367cf/1789c/Asteraceae.jpg 960w,\n/static/14f6c51af38ec88b8d08ce7d0ee367cf/c26c2/Asteraceae.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/14f6c51af38ec88b8d08ce7d0ee367cf/1dd6e/Asteraceae.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/14f6c51af38ec88b8d08ce7d0ee367cf/67b76/Asteraceae.webp 320w,\n/static/14f6c51af38ec88b8d08ce7d0ee367cf/8df11/Asteraceae.webp 500w,\n/static/14f6c51af38ec88b8d08ce7d0ee367cf/98a65/Asteraceae.webp 800w,\n/static/14f6c51af38ec88b8d08ce7d0ee367cf/1dd6e/Asteraceae.webp 960w,\n/static/14f6c51af38ec88b8d08ce7d0ee367cf/3cc96/Asteraceae.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"17 Best Native Plants for Murfreesboro, TN | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Check out these Tennessee native plants for Murfreesboro to find 17 plants that thrive in the humid subtropical climate."}}},{"node":{"id":"e0328510-44ac-530d-bfa1-b4c6fabe6e4c","slug":"11-best-native-plants-tennessee","path":"/lawn-care/tn/11-best-native-plants-tennessee/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"","name":"Judith Gallova","id":"8e48e42f-071a-5523-a889-6dab4c49dd54","path":"/author/judith-gallova/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/537ca09b018493e40c3fb0df17ebacbe?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"5b679b70-01bd-54c3-aa31-693dd631b9f5","name":"Tennessee","count":11,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tn/"}],"date":"May 15th, 2023","excerpt":"Tennessee is home to unconquered natural beauty, from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Mississippi River. Against this stunning backdrop, it would be a shame to have a bare, dull yard when you could incorporate some of that natural beauty into your own outdoor space with these 11 great native plants of Tennessee. In this […]
\n","content":"\nTennessee is home to unconquered natural beauty, from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Mississippi River. Against this stunning backdrop, it would be a shame to have a bare, dull yard when you could incorporate some of that natural beauty into your own outdoor space with these 11 great native plants of Tennessee.
\n\n\n\nIn this article:
\n\n\n\nNative plants grow naturally in Tennessee, so they have a number of advantages over non-natives, such as:
\n\n\n\nTennessee is a diverse state consisting of different regions that vary in climate, hardiness zone, and elevation. Your area may impact your choice of plants. The different regions include:
\n\n\n\n![\"Yellow](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Spicebush-Lindera-benzoin-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Fritzflohrreynolds / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nSpicebush peaks in the fall when it produces yellow leaves and bright red berries that attract a variety of birds. If you find yourself missing flowers late in the year, don’t worry. In late winter, spicebush flowers with small yellow blooms.
\n\n\n\nAlthough spicebush naturally lives in wet and shady areas, it’s often planted in full sun, where it grows denser. If you’re getting multiple spicebush plants, you’ll need both male and female plants to produce berries.
\n\n\n\nThere aren’t any known toxic effects of the spicebush, but it’s always better to practice caution anyway.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Shrub
Sun: Full sun, partial shade
Water needs: Moderately moist
Soil: Prefers fertile, loamy soil but tolerates sandy loam as well
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 6 to 12 feet
Potential hazards: None known, but practice caution in any case
![\"Pink](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Wild-Azalea-Rhodefondron-Canescens.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Daderot / Wikimedia Commons / CC0
\n\n\n\nWild azalea grows visually appealing white and pink flowers that bloom from March to April and complement a variety of landscapes. If you decide to plant it, don’t fertilize it and don’t let its leaves get wet. Provide it with well-drained soil to avoid potential problems, and be sure to lay mulch to maintain the plant’s moisture.
\n\n\n\nNote that the wild azalea may scorch in full sun and that it’s susceptible to diseases and insect pests, so be sure to take care of it if you want to keep it looking pretty. However, the plant doesn’t only look great; it also benefits local ecosystems by serving as food for pollinators like bees and butterflies.
\n\n\n\nYet, take note: the plant is severely toxic, and its ingestion can be fatal. You should never eat it or feed it to animals.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Shrub
Sun: Full sun, partial shade
Water needs: Moderate moisture
Soil: Prefers soil with a high organic matter content but tolerates sandy and loam soils; the soil must be acidic
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 6 to 8 feet
Potential hazards: Toxic
![\"Yellow](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Large-Tickseed-Coreopsis-Major.jpg\")
Photo Credit: PxFuel
\n\n\n\nLarge tickseed has bright yellow, showy flowers that will bring vibrancy to your yard year after year. The plant is native to Middle and East Tennessee, so if you’re from either of these regions, it may be a great addition to your garden.
\n\n\n\nLarge tickseed spreads easily, isn’t invasive, and attracts pollinators. It also feeds birds, who like to snack on its seeds, which look like ticks (hence the plant’s name).
\n\n\n\nThe Coreopsis species are listed as non-toxic on the ASPCA website, but there are some reports of toxicity in some Coreopsis varieties. Also note that the plant is susceptible to diseases to some extent.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flower
Sun: Full sun, partial shade
Water needs: Dry or moderately dry
Soil: Will tolerate most soils, but sandy or rocky preferred
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
Potential hazards: No data reporting toxicity for this variety, but practice caution in any case
![\"Red](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Cardinal-Flower-Lobelia-cardinalis-1.jpeg\")
Photo by: ALAN SCHMIERER / Wikimedia Commons / CC0
\n\n\n\nCardinal flower’s vibrant, red flowers will make your garden a real showstopper when they bloom in the summer. Because the plant thrives in wet conditions, you’ll want to mulch to retain moisture in the soil. It’s an ideal plant for rain gardens, too. The cardinal flower also provides food for pollinators like butterflies.
\n\n\n\nHowever, take note: this plant is severely toxic, and ingesting it can be fatal. You should never ingest it or feed it to animals.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Wildflower
Sun: Partial shade
Water needs: Needs to stay moist at all times
Soil: Prefers moderately wet to wet soil that is rich and mildly acidic; likes to live next to streams or in moist meadows or woodland habitats
Duration: Perennial; divide every three years to perpetuate this flower
Mature height: 2 to 4 feet
Potential hazards: Toxic
![\"Blue](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Wild-Blue-Phlox-Phlox-Divarcicata.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Joshua Mayer / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nWild blue phlox, also known as woodland phlox and wild sweet William, produces delicate flowers that range between white, pink, and blue in color. It forms strong colonies over time that are sure to complement any Tennessee yard.
\n\n\n\nFurthermore, wild blue phlox provides a natural habitat for various species and enhances local biodiversity. You may need to protect your phlox plants from rabbits by elevating them or installing a net.
\n\n\n\nPhlox plants usually aren’t toxic, but it’s best to always practice caution anyway. Also, don’t confuse the wild sweet William with sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) or another toxic species that may look similar or have a similar name.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flower
Sun: Partial shade, full shade
Water needs: Tolerates medium-dry to medium-wet soils
Soil: Widely adapted, but prefers soil with lots of organic matter
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: Up to 1.5 feet
Potential hazards: None known, but practice caution in any case
![\"American](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/American-Beautyberry-Callicarpa-Americana-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Eric Hunt / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nAmerican beautyberry is a shrub mainly found in Eastern Tennessee, although it sometimes appears in Western Tennessee, too. It especially lives up to its name in the fall, when it produces clusters of bright, purple berries. It doesn’t typically have any major pest problems, and it tolerates drought to some extent, too. To control your American beautyberry’s size and keep it looking beautiful, you can prune it in the spring before new flowers begin to grow.
\n\n\n\nBeautyberries serve as a great source of food for various wildlife. Some sources report it as non-poisonous to humans as well. Others, however, claim that it may have mild toxic effects. You can speak to a professional about any dietary changes. There’s a lack of data regarding the plant’s toxicity to domestic animals, so avoid letting them eat it.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Shrub
Sun: Full sun
Water needs: Low
Soil: Clay, loamy, sandy, moist, well-draining, rich in organic matter; tolerant of various soil types as long as it gets good drainage
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 3 to 8 feet
Potential hazards: Mild toxic effects reported; a lack of data regarding toxicity to pets
![\"White](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Flowering-Dogwood-Cornus-florida-2.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Hippopx
\n\n\n\nFlowering dogwood is a small tree that produces delicate flowers in the spring and red berries in the fall. If you want to provide food or habitat for local animals, this plant is a great choice. The tree is enjoyed by various wildlife, like pollinators and birds, and bees and butterflies even use the flowering dogwood to lay eggs.
Despite the appearance and name of the flowering dogwood berries, be warned: they’re very poisonous, so neither humans nor pets should ever eat them, or any part of the tree. Instead, allow wildlife that won’t harm itself to snack on it.
Plant type: Small tree
Sun: Full sun, partial shade; prefers partial shade
Water needs: Can handle occasional dryness; prefers moist, acidic, well-drained soil
Soil: Prefers high organic matter content; will tolerate sand, loam, and clay mixes
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 12 to 30 feet
Potential hazards: Toxic
![\"Yellow](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Tulip-Poplar-Liriodendron-Tulipifera.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Dcrjsr / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0
\n\n\n\nThe tulip poplar is the state tree of Tennessee. It adds beauty to any landscape with its tulip-shaped flowers. If you like a little color variety in your yard, you’ll appreciate that these unique blossoms are green and orange in the summer and turn bright yellow in the fall. Birds and pollinators like to snack on the tulip poplar, too.
Don’t let the tulip poplar’s size intimidate you; although it can reach a height of 120 feet, there are smaller cultivars, like Little Volunteer, that are easier to maintain in backyards.
\n\n\n\nWhile ASPCA lists this tree as non-toxic to some domestic animals, take note that some sources report that this tree is toxic to both people and pets. It’s always better to be cautious.
Plant type: Large tree
Sun: Full sun
Water needs: Moist or occasionally dry in well-drained soil
Soil: Slightly acidic loam
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 70 to 120-plus feet
Potential hazards: Some reports of toxicity
![\"Bunch](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Black-eyed-Susan-Rudbeckia-hirta-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pixabay
\n\n\n\nBlack-eyed Susan adds a yellow pop of color that is not only attractive to humans but also to pollinators such as butterflies. Although it takes around a year to see the first blossoms, once they appear, they’ll accompany your yard for months.
\n\n\n\nBlack-eyed Susan is mainly present in Middle and Eastern Tennessee but can also be found in Western Tennessee. It’s easy to care for and tolerates various conditions, including heat, drought, and cold.
\n\n\n\nHowever, black-eyed Susan is also toxic to animals, so be sure to keep them away. Although the data regarding its toxicity is limited, we know it can also cause allergic reactions and asthma in humans. Don’t consume or touch it, and use protective gloves while handling it.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Wildflower
Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Water needs: Moderate
Soil: Average, well-draining, acidic
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
Potential hazards: Toxic
![\"Brown](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Little-Bluestem-Schizachyrium-Scoparium.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Joshua Mayer / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nIf you want your yard to pop even more, you might want to add some ornamental grass, like little bluestem. This grass is bluish in the summer and orange-red in the fall, adding the extra touch of vibrancy you may be looking for.
\n\n\n\nMoreover, little bluestem is a great food source for birds and is also beneficial to butterflies that lay eggs in it. The grass thrives in hot, humid conditions and grows well on hillsides. Once established, it tolerates drought and needs little maintenance. To keep it looking beautiful, cut it back in late winter or early spring.
\n\n\n\nLittle bluestem doesn’t have known toxic effects, but it’s always better to err on the side of caution anyway.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Ornamental grass
Sun: Full sun
Water needs: Occasionally; dry to moist
Soil: Any type (clay, loam, sand, rocky) but must be well-drained
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 2 to 4 feet
Potential hazards: None known, but practice caution in any case
![\"White](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Common-Yarrow-Achillea-Millefolium.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Jitaeri / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nYou’ve probably seen the fragrant common yarrow during a stroll in the park, but why not make this easy-care plant a part of your yard? You can get a pink, white, or yellow variant, depending on which one’s the best fit for your outdoor space. No matter which color variant you pick, your common yarrow will attract pollinators and birds, providing them with nectar and seeds to snack on. Starlings even like to use common yarrow to build their nests.
\n\n\n\nIf you want to encourage more blooms on your common yarrow, be sure to cut off its dead flowers. Even though the plant is tolerant of various conditions, you may need to treat its common problems, such as mildew and root rot. It can also become weedy in poorly managed areas.
\n\n\n\nTake note, that common yarrow is toxic and should never be ingested by you or your pets. Touching the plant may cause irritation.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flower
Sun: Full sun, partial shade, full shade
Water needs: Once established, usually survives on natural rainfall; water no more than once a month in summer
Soil: Tolerates most soil types
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 1 to 3 feet tall
Potential hazards: Toxic
As you can see, there’s a broad selection of native plants that can thrive in your Tennessee landscape. When- picking the ones that are right for your yard, consider factors such as:
\n\n\n\nOf course, if you want a beautiful yard, there’s more to it than planting flowers, shrubs, or trees. You also need to maintain your yard regularly by mowing the lawn, trimming the hedges, removing weeds, and watering.
\n\n\n\nNeed a hand? Don’t hesitate to contact one of WikiLawn’s lawn care pros.
\n\n\n\nMain Photo by: Joshua Mayer / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
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\n","content":"\nThe `Boro shares its parks and restaurants with 25,000 Middle Tennessee State University students for most of the year. Situated 35 miles southeast of downtown Nashville, Murfreesboro’s warmer spring temperatures, ranging from 57 to 83 degrees Fahrenheit, bring students and residents outdoors. Execute our 10 spring lawn care tips and take advantage of the pleasant weather to prepare your yard for the humid summer just around the corner.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTennessee is in the transition zone, and both cool and warm-season grass varieties grow well in its soils. Spring in Murfreesboro hits the sweet spot between not too hot and not too cold. Average March temperatures of 60 degrees Fahrenheit gradually increase to 80 degrees by May, setting off the active growing season for many Tennessee native plants and grasses.
\n\n\n\nTennesseeans care for their warm or cool-season grasses from March to May, hoping to encourage fresh growth before the heat and humidity take over in June. Spring lawn care is more than mowing your lawn and setting the timer on your irrigation system. As your yard goes through its most active growing season, you need to be on the lookout for diseases, pests, and bare spots. With the proper spring maintenance plan, your lawn will be ready to take on the Tennessee summer.
\n\n\n\nSpring lawn care benefits include:
\n\n\n\n![\"Lawn](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Dethatch-Your-Lawn.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Rawpixel
\n\n\n\nMurfreesboro winters are short, cold, and very wet, causing warm-season grass cultivars and even some cool-season cultivars to go dormant and develop thatch. Thatch is the tight layer of dead grass intertwined with living grass blades and roots that accumulates just above your soil level and below eye line visibility. A thin layer of thatch insulates grass roots and makes your turfgrass more resilient, but too much of a good thing is a bad thing.
\n\n\n\nDense thatch causes:
\n\n\n\nWatch for thatch that is a half inch or more thick, spongy turf, footprints, increased pest activity, and active diseases. Aim to dethatch your lawn during its active growing season using a dethatcher, also known as a lawn scarifier. Dethatchers work like a complex rake to remove thatch, bringing it to the surface of your lawn for collection. Always remove the loose layer of thatch immediately.
\n\n\n\nTennessee warm-season grass cultivars like bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass, and centipedegrass actively grow in late spring and summer. Cool-season varieties such as Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, fine fescue, and perennial ryegrass hit their green-up phases in early spring and again in the fall. It is important to understand your grass variety. Dethatch your warm-season lawn in mid-spring to early summer and save your cool-season cultivar dethatching session for fall.
\n\n\n\nPhoto Credit: Oregon State University / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nMurfreesboro receives around 54 inches of rain per year, well over the national average of 38 inches. Springtime is notoriously wet in the `Boro with precipitation occurring in 30% of the days. Aeration is a common method to introduce oxygen back into struggling lawns with restricted root growth, allowing for water and nutrients to permeate more easily.
\n\n\n\nOxygen allows your turfgrass to establish deep roots and a dense appearance. There are two types of common aeration: spike aeration and core aeration. Aim to aerate your Murfreesboro lawn to stimulate root growth following your dethatching schedule: mid-spring to early summer for warm-season grasses like bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass, and centipedegrass, and early fall for cool-season varieties like fine fescue, tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass.
\n\n\n\nSpike aerators create small holes in the ground with a rotating punch. This method does not remove material from the soil, so there is no chance of natural de-thatching.
\n\n\n\nCore aerators remove plugs of soil to create small holes so the soil can breathe. This method leaves leftover plugs of soil on the surface of your lawn, adding beneficial nutrients and microorganisms to decrease thatch naturally.
\n\n\n\nCore aeration is the best method for the middle Tennessee region with its well-drained loam, limestone, or clay-based soils. These alkaline soils retain less moisture, heat more quickly, and have an abundance of phosphorus. Core aerators do a better job of breaking up sand or rock particles, creating airflow, and improving water and nutrient access.
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/CSIRO_ScienceImage_1739_Testing_soil_pH.jpg\")
Photo Credit: CSIRO / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0
\n\n\n\nPlants and turfgrasses growing in loam soil require regular fertilization and irrigation. Spring soil preparation is crucial to the success of your Murfreesboro landscape. Proper preparation provides nutrients for your grass to thrive, even in the deficient soils of middle Tennessee. Residents should send in a soil sample for testing in March or September.
\n\n\n\nMail in a one-cup sample, collected and combined from different areas of your lawn, to receive your unique results detailing amendments you can make to improve your soil. Common amendments include lime for soil pH imbalances and nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus applications.
\n\n\n\nHealthy lawns resist insects, weeds, and diseases, and taller grass blades develop deeper roots and a dense appearance. Mowing is necessary for maintenance, but it stresses your turfgrass, leaving it more susceptible to pests, drought, and sunscald. Murfreesboro’s warm, wet springs kick-start the active growing season for most plants and warm-season turfgrasses in March.
\n\n\n\nYour grass variety determines your unique mowing schedule and lawn height. To avoid injuring your lawn, never remove more than one-third of the leaf blade regardless of your cultivar. and always cut less, more often. You should mow weekly during the active growing season and aim to mow every two weeks during your turfgrass’ off-season.
\n\n\n\nAlways mow within the recommended range for your grass type and leave clippings unless you see large clumps on your lawn.
\n\n\n\n| Grass Type | Recommended Mowing Height |
| Bermudagrass | 0.75 – 1.5 inches |
| Centipedegrass | 1 – 2 inches |
| Fine Fescue | 1.5 – 2.5 inches |
| Kentucky Bluegrass | 1.5 – 2.5 inches |
| Perennial Ryegrass | 1.5 – 2.5 inches |
| Tall Fescue | 2 – 3 inches |
| Zoysiagrass | 0.75 – 1.5 inches |
Bermudagrass, centipedegrass, and Zoysiagrass are all low-maintenance, warm-season cultivars that go dormant during Murfreesboro’s cold winter months. Growth peaks in summer, but the active growing season begins in late spring. Aim to mow every seven to 10 days to maintain the recommended mowing height for your cultivar and encourage deeper roots and a more dense and resilient turfgrass.
\n\n\n\nCool-season Tennessee turfgrasses include fine fescue, tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass. Unlike their warm-season counterparts, these cultivars remain green through most winter months but can go dormant during hot, dry months in the summer.
\n\n\n\nActive growth for cool-season varieties peaks in the early spring and fall. Mow cool-season grasses to their recommended heights every seven days during early spring. Aim to decrease mowing frequency to every 14 days in mid to late spring when growth has slowed.
\n\n\n\n![\"a](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Watering-Lawn.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pxhere
\n\n\n\nUnless your lawn is brand new, all grass varieties respond well to the typical conditions of a Murfreesboro spring. The best watering method for Tennessee turfgrasses is as needed early in the morning, starting in May. It is true what they say about April showers bringing May flowers. April in the `Boro is wet, typically providing more than enough precipitation for your plants and turfgrass.
\n\n\n\nYou will know it is time to water your turfgrass when you notice a dark blue-gray color, footprinting, or wilted, folded, or curled leaves. Water all varieties twice per week, aiming for one-half inch of water per session to moisten the top 4 to 6 inches of soil and encourage deeper roots.
\n\n\n\n![\"Weed](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Contorl-Weed.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pixabay
\n\n\n\nMurfreesboro’s subtropical climate and wet spring weather create the optimal habitat for plant growth, including weeds. Weeds signify an underlying problem with your lawn’s health and maintenance plan. They thrive in low-nitrogen soils, imbalanced pH, and thinning damaged turf.
\n\n\n\nWeeds steal nutrients, water, and sunlight from your grass and spread pests and diseases. The best control and prevention method is routine maintenance, coupled with supplemental chemical methods like post-emergent herbicides and pre-emergent herbicides.
\n\n\n\nPre-emergent herbicides minimize the number of weeds in your yard by killing seeds before germination. Apply pre-emergent herbicides in mid-March when soil temperatures reach 65 degrees Fahrenheit to control grassy weeds.
\n\n\n\nLook for solutions containing prodiamine, dithiopyr, benefin, or pendimethalin. Wait 60 days and apply a second application of pre-emergent herbicide in mid to late May.
\n\n\n\nCommon grassy weeds in Murfreesboro include:
\n\n\n\nPost-emergent herbicides target annual and perennial broadleaf weeds, disrupting their growth. Use these herbicides year-round to target weeds you can see.
\n\n\n\nDo not use post-emergent herbicides if temperatures rise above 90 degrees Fahrenheit or fall below 40 degrees Fahrenheit or if your lawn is moisture stressed. Additionally, be sure to wait a few days after a fresh mow before applying chemical treatments.
\n\n\n\nCommon perennial and annual broadleaf weeds include:
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/iStock-1351445035-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Istock
\n\n\n\nDifferent insects invade particular grass cultivars at different times. The most common Murfreesboro springtime pests include chinch bugs, billbugs, and sod webworms.
\n\n\n\nChinch bugs affect most Tennessee turfgrasses. Watch for yellow spots in sunny locations, signifying chinch bug activity. These foliage-seeking insects suck vital plant juices from your turfgrass until fall with peak activity occurring in March or April.
\n\n\n\nDIY collect chinch bugs using a coffee can with both ends removed to create a hollow pipe. Insert the can into the soil inside the affected area. Fill the can with water and leave it for a few days. Chinch bugs will float to the top of the can for removal. If you notice more than 15 chinch bugs per square foot, it is time to call a professional.
\n\n\n\nThere are several species of billbugs affecting Tennessee turfgrasses. Hunting billbugs are a problem for homeowners with Zoysiagrass and centipedegrass, while bluegrass billbugs wreak havoc on Kentucky bluegrass. Watch for irregular-shaped patches of dead turf. Like chinch bugs, billbugs feed on the roots of turfgrasses, sucking vital nutrients from the plant.
\n\n\n\nInfestations are often misdiagnosed as dormancy in middle Tennessee, but billbug activity peaks in the late spring and lasts through summer. Treat billbugs with an insecticide application containing bifenthrin, beta-cyfluthrin, or imidacloprid.
\n\n\n\nSod webworms are the nocturnal larvae of lawn moths. These pests feed on grass blades and create tunnels just below your lawn’s surface. Sod webworms attack most grass cultivars, preferring fescues and bluegrass. Watch for small brown spots of dead turfgrass that rapidly increase in size during dry spells. Treat sod webworms with an insecticide application containing bifenthrin.
\n\n\n\n![\"Bown](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Lawn-Diseases.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Kris Lord / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nLawn diseases and fungi love Tennessee’s subtropical climate. The best defense against these lawn invaders is routine maintenance, watering, and fertilization for a healthy and dense lawn. Some of the most common diseases affecting Murfreesboro turfgrasses are large patch, dollar spot, helminthosporium diseases, and rust.
\n\n\n\nLarge patch is a fungus affecting many Tennessee turfgrasses, including ryegrass, tall fescue, and bermudagrass. The fungus typically occurs in April or May and lasts through the end of summer in cool-season cultivars. Watch for brown, circular patches several feet in diameter.
\n\n\n\nMost large patch infestations do not respond to fungicide applications. The most effective control and prevention method is proper lawn maintenance. Improve drainage and air movement. Monitor patches and limit fertilization in affected areas. Avoid over-watering.
\n\n\n\nDollar spot affects bluegrass, ryegrass, bermudagrass, and Zoysiagrass. It is caused by a fungus living in Tennessee soils. Watch for circular brown or yellow spots that look like dollar coins in spring through fall.
\n\n\n\nLike most fungi, treat dollar spot with proper lawn maintenance. Maintain nitrogen levels by applying a nitrogen-based fertilizer and minimize moisture stress by ensuring proper drainage. Always water deeply and infrequently in the early morning to reduce foliage wetness.
\n\n\n\nHelminthosporium diseases affect all turfgrass species. Numerous fungi species cause these leafspot diseases, affecting grass blades, crowns, or roots. Watch for dark, circular lesions that expand to light-brown dead turf. Most diseases affect roots and crowns, causing turf thinning and fading, especially during dry periods, but occur year-round in Murfreesboro.
\n\n\n\nCombat infections with proper lawn maintenance. Improve air circulation by removing thatch. Avoid fertilization and post-emergent weed killers while the disease is active. Monitor and fix drainage issues and avoid over-watering to prevent active and future infestations. Apply a fungicide at the first signs of infection.
\n\n\n\nNematodes affect all Tennessee turfgrasses. The best prevention method is proper lawn maintenance to develop dense roots. Nematodes are unsegmented roundworms. Watch for yellowing and thinning turf, especially during dry periods.
\n\n\n\nNematode populations peak in fall but remain a problem for some homeowners in the spring, and nematodes need moisture to survive. Apply nematicides like Indemnify to affected areas alongside routine lawn maintenance and proper yard drainage.
\n\n\n\nPowdery mildew affects Kentucky bluegrass in the cool, wet months of early spring. This fungus produces a white or gray powdery growth on grass blades. Watch for yellow areas of dying turfgrass.
\n\n\n\nTreat powdery mildew with proper lawn maintenance and fungicide applications. Remove thatch, avoid fertilization and post-emergent weed killers while the disease is active, and monitor and fix drainage issues. Avoid over-watering to prevent active and future infestations.
\n\n\n\nRust is a tissue-dwelling fungus active in spring through fall. Be on the lookout for yellow flecks and raised areas on grass blades and thinning, wilting turf. Rust affects bluegrass, ryegrass, tall fescue, and Zoysiagrass.
\n\n\n\nTreat this turfgrass disease using a fungicide, and prevent the fungus with proper lawn maintenance. Improve drainage, reduce thatch buildup, and increase the time between irrigation sessions.
\n\n\n\nSoil-dwelling fungus, spring dead spot affects Murfreesboro bermudagrass. Keep an eye out for circular patches of dead grass ranging in diameter from 6 inches to several feet. The easiest way to spot spring dead spot is to monitor your lawn during its active growth phase in May. Areas affected by spring dead spot will not go through the growth process.
\n\n\n\nTreat spring dead spot by removing thatch and aggressively aerating affected areas to relieve soil compaction and increase airflow.
\n\n\n\nSpring is the best time to seed your warm-season lawn in Murfreesboro, while fall is the best time to seed cool-season cultivars. The active growing season encourages fresh growth, filling in thin and patchy areas.
\n\n\n\nOverseeding involves spreading new grass seed over existing turfgrass to fill thin areas. Bermudagrass and centipedegrass are low-maintenance, warm-season cultivars that respond well to spring overseeding.
\n\n\n\nPrepare to seed your Tennessee lawn in May. Spread 0.5 to 1 pound of seed per 1,000 square feet for bermudagrass and 4 ounces per 1,000 square feet for centipedegrass.
\n\n\n\nZoysiagrass does not respond to overseeding. Instead, plan to replant large bare areas using sod plugs in May. Space plugs 6 to 12 inches apart and water well daily. Keep crabgrass at bay by applying a root-safe pre-emergent herbicide.
\n\n\n\n![\"man](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Person-spreading-fertilizer.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pixnio
\n\n\n\nThe best time to apply fertilizer to your Murfreesboro turfgrass is March or April, depending on your grass type. Fertilizer promotes healthy growth. The type of fertilizer for your lawn depends on your turfgrass cultivar and your unique soil sample analysis results.
\n\n\n\nFertilizer comprises three primary nutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Labels have three numbers, such as 15-10-5, which means the fertilizer contains 15% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus, and 5% potassium. Select a fertilizer ratio to satisfy your soil test results.
\n\n\n\nKeep in mind that Tennessee’s soil can be high in phosphorus and potassium. It is often unnecessary to apply fertilizer containing one or both of these chemicals. Instead, apply straight nitrogen depending on your soil test results.
\n\n\n\nWarm season grasses such as bermudagrass, centipedegrass and Zoysiagrass only need one spring fertilizer application. Apply 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet around April 15, but keep in mind that shaded grass requires less fertilizer than grass growing in full sun.
\n\n\n\nCool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass need two spring fertilizer applications to prepare the turfgrasses for the hot summer temperatures. Aim to apply 0.5 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet around March 15. Apply a second round of fertilizer around April 15.
\n\n\n\nMature centipedegrass has low nitrogen requirements. Always follow the amendment recommendations from your soil sample test results. Centipedegrass does not respond well to overfertilization, and nitrogen applications are not typically necessary. High nitrogen levels lead to centipedegrass decline, increased insect activity, and thatch accumulation.
\n\n\n\nUse sprinklers or an automatic irrigation system to apply water in 10- to 20-minute segments, once per day, until the seeds have germinated. The germination process typically takes 10 to 14 days in Tennessee. Be sure to skip watering sessions if it rains.
You should stop fertilizing your lawn at least one month before overseeding to give the new seeds a chance to germinate and grow without struggling against actively growing grass.
Additionally, you can apply fertilizer after overseeding, which is the preferred method. Apply a slow-release fertilizer immediately after overseeding or wait two to three weeks and apply a fast-release fertilizer to your newly seeded lawn.
Overwatering your turfgrass stresses your lawn, leading to increased pests and diseases. Watch for these signs you are overwatering your turfgrass:
• Thick layer of thatch over ¾ inch thick
• Fungus growth including mushrooms
• Increased weed growth, including crabgrass and nutsedge
• Signs of pest activity
• Spongy grass and footprint indents
• Pooling water and increased runoff
Murfreesboro homeowners love three things: hitting the trails outdoors, the MTSU Raiders, and donuts. With the proper spring lawn care schedule and our fall lawn care checklist, you can get your lawn ready for summer or winter and save yourself time so you can get up early to grab your donut before spending the day outdoors.
\n\n\n\nIf you need help identifying a pest or lawn disease, contact a Murfreesboro lawn care pro to help your landscape recover and establish deep southern roots.
\n\n\n\nMain Image Credit: Benjamine House-Murfreesboro / rossograph / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
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