TN Yards & Neighborhoods

NINE PRINCIPLES 1. Right Plant, Right Place 2. Manage Soils and Mulch 3. Appropriate Turf Grass Management 4. Water Efficiently 5. Use Fertilizer Appropriately 6. Managing Yard Pests 7. Reduce Storm Water Runoff / its Pollutants 8. Provide for Wildlife 9. Protect Water’s Edge

TYN NINE PRINCIPLES 1. Right Plant, Right Place. Family Needs: play area, gardens, pool, screening, pet area, barbecue area. Maintenance: high/low/medium. Site Conditions: shade/sun, sandy/clay/ loam, drainage. Identify Plants: family needs

1. Right Plant, Right Place

TYN NINE PRINCIPLES 2. Manage Soils and Mulch. Soil: air/water/minerals/organic matter like sponge, supermarket, liver. Healthy Soil: test/plan/reminders. Mulch: moisture/temp/structure/beauty

2. Manage Soils and Mulch

TYN NINE PRINCIPLES 3. Appropriate Turf Grass Management.. Grass Selection: cool season vs warm season. Factors: Mowing – height, frequency, timing. Check/Treat: turf grass pests. Shaded Areas: other ground covers, shade garden with mulch

3. Appropriate Turf Grass Mangmnt

TYN NINE PRINCIPLES 4. Water Efficiently. Morning watering. Give lawn a break. Plants tell you when they need water. Over watering also causes problems. During growing season - 1 in. of water/week. Track rain fall

4. Water Efficiently

TYN NINE PRINCIPLES 5. Use Fertilizer Appropriately. Nitrogen: green leafy, grass type. Phosphorus: root/bud growth. Potassium: disease/drought tolerance. Grass clippings left-less nitrogen. Match fertilizer to needs. Slow release. Sweep off pavements

5. Use Fertilizer Appropriately

TYN NINE PRINCIPLES 6. Manage Yard Pests. 1% of all insects harmful. Check lawn and beds regularly. Identify. Spot treat. Use low levels of insecticides. Read the label

6. Manage Yard Pests IPM – Integrated Pest Management. Prevention: healthy plants. Detect and identify enemies: good/bad bugs?. Make a decision: what can you live with?. Intervene: non-toxic approach

TYN NINE PRINCIPLES 7. Reduce Stormwater Runoff / Pollutants. Observe runoff: where does it go?. Increase porous/pervious surfaces. Rain gardens filter stormwater. Rain barrels hold back stormwater/recycle. Grass lined swales filter stormwater

7. Reduce Stormwater Runoff

TYN NINE PRINCIPLES 8. Provide for Wildlife. TN has 1,500 species of animals. Provide food for wildlife. Provide water for wildlife. Provide shelter for wildlife

8. Provide for Wildlife

TYN NINE PRINCIPLES 9. Provide for Water’s Edge. Plant trees, shrubs along waters edge. Wider the stand the more beneficial. Remove exotic and invasive plants by edge

9. Protect Waters Edge Riparian Zone. Along the river bank. Turf grass roots too shallow. Mixture of trees and shrubs. Shading. Filtration. Stabilization. Wildlife habitat

TN Yards & Neighborhoods Yardstick for Tennessee Yard Done Right Value TENNESSEE YARD DONE RIGHT ACTIONS 10 in. 1. Right Plant, Right Place 10 in. 2. Manage Soils and Mulches 8 in. 3. Appropriate Turfgrass Management 6 in. 4. Water Efficiently 9 in. 5. Use Fertilizer Appropriately 6 in. 6. Manage Yard Pests 10 in. 7. Reduce Stormwater Runoff and Its Pollutants 7 in. 8. Provide for Wildlife 6 in. 9. Protect Water’s Edge 72 TOTAL INCHES FOR YOUR TENNESSEE YARD DONE RIGHT ACTIONS A TN yard that measures up to at least 36 inches is a TN Yard Done Right. How Long Is Your Tennessee Yardstick for Your Yard/Neighborhood?

TN Yards & Neighborhoods Yardstick for Tennessee Yard Done Right 1. Right Plant, Right Place Value TENNESSEE YARD DONE RIGHT ACTIONS 2 in. Determine your family’s needs for your yard 2 in. Assess types of plants suited for your yard’s site conditions 2 in. Group plants to their maintenance needs 1 in. Save energy by shading the air conditioning compressor 1 in. Use deciduous trees on south/west sides for sun exposure 1 in. Help stop spread of invasive exotic plants by removing them 1 in. Preserve existing vegetation, especially trees, when building

TN Yards & Neighborhoods Yardstick for Tennessee Yard Done Right 2. Manage Soils and Mulches Value TENNESSEE YARD DONE RIGHT ACTIONS 2 in. Soil test using composite sample 2 in. Soil test for each planting area 2 in. Amend soil according to soil test results 1 in. Keep 2-3 inch layer of mulch around trees/plants not touching 1 in. Create self mulching areas under trees where leaves fall/stay 1 in. Use organic mulches: pine straw, leaves, hardwood, yard wastes 1 in. Use kitchen/yard wastes to create compost or mulch

TN Yards & Neighborhoods Yardstick for Tennessee Yard Done Right 3. Appropriate Turfgrass Management Value TENNESSEE YARD DONE RIGHT ACTIONS 2 in. Design yard to create a practical turf grass area for maintenance 2 in. Mow lawns high to encourage deeper drought/pest tolerant system 1 in. Reduce mowing frequency during drought conditions 1 in. Identify pest problems 1 in. Spot treat for lawn pests. Avoid blanket applications/use least toxic 1 in. Recycle grass clippings by leaving them on the lawn

TN Yards & Neighborhoods Yardstick for Tennessee Yard Done Right 4. Water Efficiently Value TENNESSEE YARD DONE RIGHT ACTIONS 2 in. Place a rain gauge in your yard and track rainfall 2 in. Water lawn and plants according to their need 2 in. Calibrate sprinklers to apply ¾ - 1 inch of water per application

TN Yards & Neighborhoods Yardstick for Tennessee Yard Done Right 5. Use Fertilizer Appropriately Value TENNESSEE YARD DONE RIGHT ACTIONS 2 in. Follow fertilizer application recommendations 2 in. Fertilize only as needed to maintain health of lawn/plants 2 in. Maintain soil pH in recommended range 1 in. Use a slow release fertilizer 1 in. Fertilize during correct season using soil test results and grass type 1 in. Keep fertilizer off pavement or sweep back onto grass

TN Yards & Neighborhoods Yardstick for Tennessee Yard Done Right 6. Manage Yard Pests Value TENNESSEE YARD DONE RIGHT ACTIONS 2 in. Check plants regularly by walking yard and looking for problems 1 in. Whenever possible use non-chemical approaches – prune/pick 1 in. Learn about beneficial insects 1 in. Avoid routine applications of pesticides / treat spots 1 in. Use environmentally-pesticides/horticultural oils and soaps

TN Yards & Neighborhoods Yardstick for Tennessee Yard Done Right 7. Reduce Stormwater Runoff and Its Pollutants Value TENNESSEE YARD DONE RIGHT ACTIONS 2 in. Direct downspouts to drain onto your lawn, swales to be absorbed 1 in. Create rain gardens to catch, filter and hold storm water 1 in. Use porous surfaces/pavers for driveways/walkways 1 in.Collect roof-top runoff in rain barrels for future use 1 in. Decrease soil erosion by maintaining vegetative groundcovers 1 in. Sweep grass clippings, fertilizers and soil from driveways/streets 1 in. Take car to car wash or wash it on your lawn 1 in. Clean up oil spills/leaks on driveway by using cat litter 1 in. Pick up after pets to reduce bacterial/nutrient pollution

TN Yards & Neighborhoods Yardstick for Tennessee Yard Done Right 8. Provide for Wildlife Value TENNESSEE YARD DONE RIGHT ACTIONS 2 in. Identify wildlife critters that you would like to protect and to attract 2 in. Plant vines, shrubs and trees to provide cover, nesting areas / food 2 in. Provide a water source such as bird bath or a small pond 1 in. Provide shelters such as a bat house, bird house, brush pile / snag

TN Yards & Neighborhoods Yardstick for Tennessee Yard Done Right 9. Protect Water’s Edge Value TENNESSEE YARD DONE RIGHT ACTIONS 2 in. Preserve / plant trees, shrubs and other vegetation along water 1 in. Find out more about water bodies and programs to help them 1 in. Create a “no mow, no fertilizer, no pesticide” zone by water bodies 1 in. Seek out guidance on how you help to reduce exotic/invasive plants 1 in. Plant native species along the water’s edge

TN Yards & Neighborhoods NINE PRINCIPLES Value TENNESSEE YARD DONE RIGHT ACTIONS 10 in. 1. Right Plant, Right Place 10 in. 2. Manage Soils and Mulches 8 in. 3. Appropriate Turfgrass Management 6 in. 4. Water Efficiently 9 in. 5. Use Fertilizer Appropriately 6 in. 6. Manage Yard Pests 10 in. 7. Reduce Stormwater Runoff and Its Pollutants 7 in. 8. Provide for Wildlife 6 in. 9. Protect Water’s Edge 72 TOTAL INCHES FOR YOUR TENNESSEE YARD DONE RIGHT ACTIONS A TN yard that measures up to at least 36 inches is a TN Yard Done Right. How Long Is Your Tennessee Yardstick for Your Yard/Neighborhood?

TN Yards & Neighborhoods ACTIONS TO TAKE 1. Test your soil and plant properly 2. Create wildlife habitat 3. Make lawn area practical 4. Protect/enhance vegetated buffers along creeks and stream banks 5. Plant deciduous trees to shade southern/western sides of home 6. Divert storm water runoff to a rain garden 7. Recycle rain water by installing rain barrels 8. Maintain grass-lined swales and detention basins 9. Keep street gutters and storm drains clear of dirt, leaves and grass 10. Use porous surfaces such as graveled driveways and mulch paths 11. Mulch plant beds 12. Compost yard waste

Rain Barrel Uses 1.Watering Indoor Plants 2.Watering New Plants 3.Watering Hanging Plants 4.Watering Container Plants 5.Fertilizing Plants 6.Spraying Plants 7.Watering Special Need Plants 8.Creating Microbes 9.Watering Compost Bin 10. Filling Bird Baths 11. Washing Car on Lawn 12. Filling Septic Trap 13. Watering Potted Plants