Is your property in need of some privacy? Often we turn to plants to help create a ‘Green Fence,’ or screen planting. Living screens help to hide neighbors, utilities, or other unsightly areas. This publication has practical tips and detailed plant lists that will help you to create a screen planting to treasure for years […] …
Stewardship in Lawns, Gardens, and Landscapes
In Tennessee, we have a wide range of natural beauty, which include a diverse and valuable range of surface waters. We also have a growing population and expanding urban and suburban areas that can threaten these water resources, so residents are a critically important part of stewarding our soil and water resources. This section provides resources to assist citizens in designing and managing home landscapes in a way that supports soil health and high quality water resources.
Stabilize Streambanks and Ditches with Live Stake Cuttings
Live stakes are cuttings from dormant woody vegetation that can be driven into wet soils of streambanks or shorelines for an easy and cost-effective way to revegetate a bare bank. Just as rebar strengthens concrete by reducing cracking and keeping it together, plant roots can do the same for soil. Trees and shrubs native to […] …
Sustainable Landscaping Planning & Plant Selection
Viewing residential landscapes as part of a larger ecosystem with unique niches and growing conditions can help homeowners to make wise decisions when it comes to planning for and installing a landscape design. This publication provides practical tools that will not only help to provide a balanced sustainable design, but meet homeowner needs while providing […] …
The Tennessee Vegetable Garden: Stewardship in Soil Management
Managing soil health and quality in the home garden involves more than just the proper application of fertilizer. Soil quality is a measure of the function of the soil to support plants, but also infiltrate and store water along with supporting the various organisms that reside in soils. This publication provides information on the function […] …
Using Mulches in Managed Landscapes
Mulches are used in managed landscapes to control weeds, moderate soil temperature and moisture conditions and improve the aesthetics of the planting. Although there are many benefits of mulches, there are also many factors to consider in their use. This publication provides an overview of organic and inorganic mulches as well as their effects on […] …
