The Best Defense for Healthy Turf in Sumner County

July 11, 2024


When it comes to turf healthcare, a proactive approach is an unbeatable game plan. You’ve likely heard the well-known philosophy of “The best defense is a good offense,” right? Well, this philosophy is also a proven way to maintain a vibrant and healthy lawn. Not just during the growing season but season after season for as long as you plan to own your property.

Proactive lawn care offers numerous benefits, including fewer weeds, pests, and diseases. The winning result? Lush, resilient turf you can be proud of and a lawn that’s able to overcome problems year-round. Yes, even the most stubborn weeds that are unfortunately common in our area.

At Puryear Farms, we’re dedicated to providing our clients with comprehensive care for their lawns. Here’s a breakdown of exactly how we make it happen with a results-oriented plan.

The Healthy Lawn Playbook: 5 Key Components

  1. Nutrient Management
  2. Weed Management
  3. Pest Control
  4. Core Aeration with Overseeding
  5. Disease Management

Combined, these five components put you on the offensive with healthy actions for your turf, building up a strong defense against a variety of potential lawn problems.

Proper nutrient management means staying ahead of the game with consistent fertilization at the right time, while adapting to weather changes. Improper timing has several pitfalls such as your specific grass type being unable to absorb the nitrogen or iron. Ultimately, nutrients create the ideal foundation for your turf — healthy soil.

Integrated weed management means using every tactic available for fending off unsightly weeds, including organic and inorganic methods. Being proactive and knowing weeds’ weakest life stages are the best ways to manage Tennessee weeds like clover, nutsedge, crabgrass, etc.

Lawn pests are guaranteed to take the offensive if you don’t beat them to the punch. That starts with monitoring, early detection, and targeted treatments to prevent infestations. White grubs are a common pest that have ruined many Sumner County lawns when that outcome could have been prevented by simply checking for signs of grubs.

There’s nothing healthier (or more natural) for turf than core aeration and overseeding. Property owners often focus on watering and sunlight, but may not know the importance of air when it comes to a healthy landscape. Aeration loosens the soil, providing free flow of air that enhances grass root function and growth. Overseeding tall fescue replaces lost or thinned grass and complements aeration as seeds have openings deeper into the lawn after the aerator removes “plugs” of soil.

Lastly, disease management depends on a two-pronged offensive and defensive strategy. Preventative measures (more tips upcoming) against harmful fungi like brown patch can save you money on curative measures after a lawn disease begins spreading. However, when the climate and other elements outside your control lead to turf disease, sometimes you have no choice but to be proactive with a fungicide, for example.

Remember, even the best playbook leaves room for real-time adjustments. Tweaking your irrigation and maintenance schedules based on seasonal changes, extra rainfall, and dry spells is part of a winning strategy for an outstanding lawn.

How does our company approach turf care?

Puryear Farms’ Year-Round Turf Care Program

Our comprehensive Turf Health Care Program begins in February, providing nutrients and weed management all the way through November.

  • February – Mid-March: Nitrogen fertilizer with pre- & post-emergent herbicide for winter weed control and crabgrass prevention.
  • Mid-March – April: Fertilizer blend with pre-emergent for extended summer weed control.
  • April – Mid-June: Blended fertilizer with iron and pre- and post-emergent herbicide for summer weed control.
  • Mid-June – Mid-August: Blended fertilizer with iron and specialized herbicide for late summer weeds.
  • Mid-August – Mid-October: Balanced fertilizer specifically designed for root development.
  • Mid-October – November: High nitrogen fertilizer designed to promote winter nutrient storage.

Each of the six treatments is designed to enhance your turf while preparing it for the next growth stage, then in November, readying the lawn for the next season. So do the following extra tips.

Sumner County Homeowner Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Lawn

For over three decades, Puryear Farms has provided irrigation and mowing services to commercial property owners and HOA communities. We provide professional turf management for hundreds of large properties and community spaces so we understand the steps individual homeowners can take to keep their lawn attractive and healthy all year.

Ideal Watering Practices: We can’t overstate how vital it is to water at the proper times. Early morning or late evening is ideal as it prevents many problems from improper timing, such as evaporation during hot times or fungus growth due to oversaturation. Water for long periods so the moisture soaks down to the grass roots. 

Irrigation Checks: Even perfect timing can’t be a “set it and forget it” strategy since no system is perfect, including irrigation systems. Homeowners should regularly look for signs of poor plant and grass health that can indicate irrigation problems like leaks, damaged or clogged heads, and low water pressure. At Puryear Farms, in addition to irrigation system start-ups and winterization, our Mid-Season Checks defend our clients’ lawns from issues that lead to under-watering or over-watering.

Mowing Tips: Mowing at the proper height for your grass type is critical to turf health. Mowing too low can stress the turf, especially during Tennessee’s hottest days. On the flip side, setting the mower height too high can leave soil-level shade created by tall grass blades, which allows moisture to promote harmful fungus. As for the mower blades, the sharper, the better. You want a clean cut instead of a jagged, damaging “rip” from dull blades.

How about three more easy lawn tips?

  • A little raking goes a long way to prevent thatch build-up. Remove the thatch to avoid reduced airflow and poor water penetration.
  • Soil moisture checks ensure your soil is receiving the right amount of water. Use a moisture checker or screwdriver — you should be able to push the screwdriver in at least six inches and ideally have soil stick to it and not be soggy (too wet) or crumbly (too dry).
  • White grubs are as problematic as a Crimson Tide jersey in Neyland Stadium, so be watchful. Look for gradual thinning of the grass, yellowing, or scattered dead patches. Another way to spot grub infestations is with a natural detector — animals digging in the lawn to get to grubs to eat.

Puryear Farms’ Best Defense for Healthy Lawns

The above tips help you stay on offense to protect your turf all 52 weeks per year. And when you partner with Puryear Farms, you’re in good hands with our six-step Turf Health Care Program. But we aim even higher with turf classes and extensive training for all our team members. 

Mower blades are changed every other day to ensure crisp, healthy cutting that benefits your lawn. Also, our technicians constantly monitor turf, soil, and weather conditions to determine proper mowing height. We even alternate mowing patterns during the growing season. Why? By going this extra mile, we reduce thatch build-up and soil compaction that can cause unhealthy turf.

Need a mowing quote for your commercial or HOA property? Contact Puryear Farms today. We have called Middle Tennessee home since 1991 and offer professional landscaping services you can rely on. Ask about our innovative Robotic Mowing that reduces noise, lowers energy use, and is ideal for unique properties.