![]() ![]() But we can all be better stewards of our own yards and the surrounding green spaces. #Yard smarts how to#“I think we all want to do more to improve the quality of life within our communities,” adds Ravener, “but often just don’t know how to do that outside our own areas of expertise. Taylor Reeder, UT Extension agent in Williamson County, and Bob Ravener, committee chair for the initiative with the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Franklin, have played important roles in spearheading the initiative and helping spread the word about the program so that more residents can become involved. “Once an entire community gets on board with this concept of stewardship, the potential environmental impacts can increase exponentially.” Ludwig, who is based in Knoxville, is working with several key individuals in Williamson County for this initiative. “This is really the first effort of its kind here in Tennessee,” states Ludwig. A rain chain is used to disperse rooftop runoff into a permeable area and is a wonderful way to add interest while reducing the amount of stormwater runoff leaving your property that could otherwise contribute to local flooding or transport pollution. ![]() The pilot program in Franklin takes the certification to the next level, with residents across the community and the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Franklin all involved in creating an entire Smart Yard community. From managing runoff in beneficial ways to incorporating native plants into residential landscapes, an online certification tool lists dozens of potential steps individual residents can take to make their yard or property a certified Tennessee Smart Yard. Built on nine foundational principles of stewardship and responsibility, the program works to build awareness of small steps that can have a big impact statewide. Through the Smart Yards program, homeowners and residents across Tennessee incorporate lawn and property management guidelines that yield healthier, more sustainable landscapes. ![]() Franklin, Tennessee, in Williamson County, is currently pursuing certification through the University of Tennessee Extension Smart Yards program, led by Andrea Ludwig, an associate professor in the Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science. The first-ever Tennessee Smart Yards Community is working towards certification. Image courtesy UTIA.Ĭurrent Pilot Program Underway, Set to Expand Statewide This Franklin-area yard showcases how a Tennessee Smart Yard is in balance with the natural environment, in part, with natural pine straw mulch that helps maintain soil moisture and protect against erosion without any added dyes or chemicals. (Mar.A Tennessee Smart Yard meets the needs of people and our environment through intentional actions that create and sustain healthy landscapes. Advice for weeds ranges from hand-pulling to herbicidal spot-treatment to complete starting over solutions for insect pests include both beneficial nematodes and insecticidal soaps. While this is not a guide to an entirely organic yard-the authors describe themselves as ``reluctant and cautious users of pesticides''-it does offer choices. After a discussion of effective techniques for general lawn care, the Balls take on compaction problems, soil rebuilding, drainage and re-seeding a final section tackles insect and animal pests and grass diseases. This non-technical and clearly written guide considers, specifically, the ``northern'' or ``cool weather'' grasses, those comprising lawns from Maine to North Carolina and west to the Dakotas as well as the Pacific Northwest. The authors-he's the gardening expert for NBC's Today and she is a garden writer-contend that this dream is a very real possibility, demanding ``significant effort in the first year or two,'' after which the lawn will begin to take care of itself. ``Yardeners''-ordinary homeowners caring for lawns and gardens-dream of a low-maintenance lawn without weeds or pests that requires infrequent mowing or watering. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |