Lawn maintenance is one of the hardest things to get right with your property during this time of year. Many homeowners struggle, and even more of them don’t realize their lawn isn’t healthy! Did you know there is more to maintaining your lawn than length?
Most of us know not to cut the grass when it’s wet or brown, but not a lot of Nashville residents could tell you what aeration is or give you the proper length to cut your type of grass!
Across Tennessee, the whole midwest, and even the whole United States, we’re starting to see the consequences of unhealthy lawns. And not all of these consequences come from ignorance! Some come from good old misinformation.
We’re constantly learning new things about our wonderful Earth and how to care for it, and that includes nurturing a healthy lawn. By now, you’ve likely heard about recent updates to pesticides and other lawn treatments that are healthier for the ecosystem.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the top tips for nurturing a healthy, beautiful lawn!
The Hassle-Free Route to Maintaining Your Lawn
The simplest option? Leave it to the professionals! Local lawn care companies hire teams of nature and lawn enthusiasts. They can tell what kind of grass you have and the best way to care for it.
They can nurture and grow your lawn by working with Nashville’s specific regional and seasonal requirements— not to mention they bring their own equipment! You can save on time, fuel, and equipment costs by paying one of these teams to do the work.
You can also work with a landscaping company to plant native plants, clean up your planters and decorations, and remove anything invasive.
Lawn care companies handle your turf and its health, while landscaping teams focus on aesthetics and features. If you compare it to art, lawn care handles your canvas, and landscaping brings in the paint.
You can choose to have one-time services or maintenance and upkeep; pricing will vary by provider and property.
The DIY Approach
If you’re more of a hands-on homeowner, then let’s look at the top tips for maintaining a healthy lawn in Nashville.
How to Water Your Lawn
When it comes to watering a lawn, it can be difficult to determine how much water to use and how often. You can install a smart irrigation system with moisture sensors to help. If you would rather water yourself, make sure to go out before ten during the summer— otherwise, your water is going to evaporate faster than your soil can take it in.
Pay attention to local reports on drought conditions and any watering restrictions. You may have to let your lawn go brown if we’re tight on water. If there are no restrictions at play, then you want to provide around 1–1.5” of water per week.
If it rains, that counts! You don’t need to water your lawn if you got an inch or more of rainwater; your preferred meteorologist will report how many inches the different areas in Nashville received.
Ensure Proper Aeration
Lawn aeration helps your soil access oxygen and helps your grassroots have enough space. Middle Tennessee is full of rocky soils, so this step is essential to a healthy lawn.
There are two main ways to aerate: core and spike. Core aeration removes plugs from the soil to create larger areas and more space for compacted soil.
Spike aeration has you poke small holes throughout your lawn. Spike is certainly the easier option, especially if you have a riding mower with a compatible aeration attachment.
Practice Good Mowing Habits
Cutting your grass too short makes it vulnerable to drought and heat damage. What height you aim for depends on what type of grass you have. Some popular grasses for Nashville properties and their ideal heights are as follows:
- Zoysiagrass: 1–2”
- Tall Fescue: 2–3”
- Perennial Ryegrass: 1.5–2.5”
- Kentucky Bluegrass: 2.5–3.5”
- Bermudagrass (hybrids): 0.5–1.5”
- Bermudagrass (common): 1.5–2.5”
If you can get away with it, you should leave your grass clippings after you mow. This helps your lawn retain moisture, especially during our hot summers.
Pest Control
Because we have such a diverse climate in Middle Tennessee, we can see a variety of pests. Your Nashville lawn could receive visits from cicadas, leaf miners, aphids, spider mites, Japanese beetles, and bagworms. Checking in with reputable online sources for an up-to-date list is always a good idea.
You can handle pests in different ways:
- Let your turf care experts treat the lawn
- Introduce beneficial insects (check local ordinances and state law)
- Plant naturally repellent plants like mint or catnip
- Use sonic repellants or citronella candles/torches
- Treat the inside of your home to prevent invasions
- Treat the human and animal family members with special products when they go outside
Not everyone minds the occasional pest. Many are a point of our local ecosystem and serve their purpose. However, sometimes infestations lead to more damage than what is safe for your lawn, trees, and shrubs.
If you decide not to practice pest control, it’s a good idea to have your property’s health inspected at least once a year to check for any diseases or damage, especially tree rot.
Take the First Steps to a Healthy, Natural Lawn!
We can help keep Nashville healthy by switching up our lawn care practices. From keeping our grass lush and healthy to setting out feeders and shade for pollinators and birds, we can encourage Tennessees native non-human residents to thrive as well.
The first step is learning to care for your lawn where you live— and don’t forget to winterize your lawn care equipment!
When in doubt, or if you have concerns about your lawn’s health, it’s never a bad idea to call in the experts. With their help, you and your family can have a healthy, happy lawn to enjoy for years to come.
