Most homeowners want an attractive yard to complement a beautiful home. I see many homeowners struggling to have thick grass. However, our Tennessee soils and climate are just not right for this.
Lush lawns also come with a high environmental price because upkeep can require heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides. In the United States, 30 million acres of lawn drink 270 billion gallons of water a week. It takes about 800 million gallons of gas a year to keep it all cut.
There is a wonderful solution for our area. We can install low-maintenance areas with trees, shrubs and perennials. It is less costly to have a lovely yard with perennial flower beds than a big lawn.
Selecting appropriate plant varieties can greatly reduce water use as well. A properly planned green landscape, slows water runoff, traps chemical pollution and improves air quality. A well-designed yard can significantly increase the property value.
New homes usually have a bland assortment of trees and shrubs planted too close to the foundation. I would rather start out with no landscaping at all. The best advice I can give homeowners who want to have a nice yard is to do lots of homework.