That’s why an initiative like this is so exciting for Franklin.”Ĭurrently, Franklin, Tennessee, is on course to be certified as the first Smart Yard community in Tennessee in 2021, with more than 700 downtown neighborhood residents receiving monthly newsletters packed with science-based guidance and information on healthy landscaping practices. But we can all be better stewards of our own yards and the surrounding green spaces. “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. I pledge to minimize my reliance on weed and insect controls and take a healthier approach to lawn care in order to ensure the health and safety of our watershed.A Tennessee Smart Yard meets the needs of people and our environment through intentional actions that create and sustain healthy landscapes.Not leave fertilizer, weed or insect controls on impervious surfaces.Use herbicides/insecticides sparingly and only in the spots needed.Allow clover to grow so it can compliment grasses, fill in where grass can't grow and help control weeds.Turn my irrigation system off if it is going to rain. Water my lawn wisely and infrequently.I will read the directions before applying. Know the size of my lawn and not over-apply fertilizer.Create a minimum 25 feet buffer zone of untreated grass or other vegetation around water bodies.Mow my lawn when it reaches 3 inches or more and leave the clipping on the lawn to act as a natural fertilizer.Fertilize in the Fall not the Spring to encourage root growth for a hardier lawn.Use only fertilizer that contains slow or time release nitrogen. ![]()
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