Landscape Design and
INSTALLATION
IT ALL STARTS WITH A DREAM
Every landscape design project starts with a plan. When you contact River Valley Landscapes, we provide a detailed roadmap and a project direction before we install your outdoor space design. Our goal is to not only install custom outdoor spaces for the residents of East Tennessee, but also knowledge of our process and our craft.
Tennessee offers a rich selection of native plants that offer color throughout the year. River Valley Landscapes uses the flora native to East Tennessee to help bring your Outdoor Space to life.
East Tennessee really has 3 different plant zones all rolled into one.
With the plateau to the west, the river valley in the middle and the mountains to east, River Valley has a variety of plant life to include in our landscape designs.
We procure most of our plants from local vendors that source plants from regional growers. By using native species grown in our climate we create a better habitat for your plants and provide long lasting landscape solutions.
Tip:
Fertilize your lawn! River Valley Landscapes recommends to use an organic or environmentally friendly fertilizer to ensure a full, healthy, and sustainable outdoor space. Don’t over use your fertilizer, and contact our Landscape Design Artisans if you have any questions about when and how much to fertilize your new outdoor space.
Winter Landscaping Tips from River Valley Landscapes
Helping Your Yard Stay Merry and Bright All Through the Winter
With the New Year right around the corner your landscaping might be the last thing on your mind. But winter is a crucial time to prepare your landscaping. Here are a few of our tips and pointers to keep your outdoor space tidy magical this season.

MAINTAINING A WARM WEATHER OUTDOOR SPACE
With the warm weather back in East Tennessee and bring our beautiful natural scenery back to life, it is the perfect time to begin your planning for a Summer landscape design!
Our skilled landscape artisans at River Valley Landscapes are available to meet and discuss landscape design concepts, strategies, and goals with you. You can also DIY a simple landscape design right in your own yard!
Below we’ll make a few recommendations on plant and tree species, best practices, and what you might expect as a new or seasoned property owner in the Knoxville, Tennessee area.


1. Winter Maintenance
Winter is a season of rest for many plants, but that doesn’t mean you can neglect your yard! Now’s the perfect time to:
Prune: Pruning your landscape during dormancy ensures healthy growth in spring. Allow us to help you shape your dreamscape to perfection!
Decorate: If you’re feeling extra merry and bright this season and ready to welcome those carolers, ensure that your landscape brings them holiday cheer! Rake up debris and leaf litter, clear any defined pathways, and evaluate your outdoor lighting with new bulbs and replacing broken fixtures.

1. Create a plan.
This step can be straightforward and simple. You will need to decide which areas of your property that you would like to improve, and which you may like to focus attention to at a later time. Be it replacing plants or trees that did not survive the cold season, laying a new hardscape, or building an entirely new landscape design with new local plant species included, you will need to plan for it!
If you’re planning to introduce new plant species to your property, we’ll include new hardy varieties in tip #3.
Also, be sure to check out our Hardscape page for more insight on Hardscape designs in East Tennessee!
2. Winter Landscaping
A vibrant winter landscape is achievable with the right design:
Festive Foliage: Incorporate winter-interest plants into your yard. Imagine lush evergreens, striking red holly berries, and the delicate
movement of ornamental grasses swaying in the breeze.
Cozy Up: Design stunning hardscape features like pathways, retaining walls, and fire pits to create a cozy outdoor space you’ll love to enjoy — even in winter!

2. Prepare and start your project
After being cooped up indoors during the colder months, we’re all looking forward to activities outdoors. This is the perfect time to prepare your desired area and begin your new landscape project. If you’re intending to replace old or dead plant species in or around your property, you will need to prepare the soil and ensure that you have sufficient drainage from the area. After tilling the soil, adding a thick layer of organic matter such as locally harvested wood bark, organic compost, peat moss, shredded leaves left over from the cold season, and grass clipping from the first mow after a long winter. Be sure to keep the soil light and airy to allow your new landscape plant to thrive, and don’t forget to check for cables or underground water pipes!


3. Weather Preparedness
The cold season in east Tennessee can change quickly and leave us all guessing, so preventative measures taken each cold season can keep your winter outdoor space thriving until Spring. Some essential steps include:
Insulate: Winterize your outdoor faucets and irrigation systems to prevent costly freeze damage.
Mulching: Adding a layer of mulch not only insulates roots during the cold winter months but also enriches the soil. Consider an added cloth or tarp over tropical plants, vegetables, and blooming perennials to protect your garden from those frigid nights.

3. Selecting new plants
When selecting new plant species in East Tennessee, we recommend to look for heat tolerant plants. Here we’ll suggest a few of our favorites.
Dogwood Tree – Dogwoods are a local favorite and can be seen blooming in the mid spring, and they flower heavily throughout the summer, peaking in late May.
Hydrangea – These beautiful shrubs make great additions to any residential landscape design. While they require adequate moisture, the East Tennessee summer time temperates are perfect for Hydrangeas.
Creeping Phlox – Known for its flowery, creeping appearance, Creeping Phlox remains a species loved by East Tennesseans. This plant can be tolerant of dry spells once matured, and provides a great addition to a new Hardscape designed by River Valley landscapes.
At River Valley Landscapes LLC, we believe your yard deserves care and attention all year round. Whether you’re prepping your plants for winter, dreaming of a cozy hardscape, or helping decorate with natural materials, we’re here to bring your landscaping wonderland to life this holiday season!

4. Caring for your new summer landscape design
Planning and executing a new landscape project in East Tennessee can be a rewarding experience. So don’t forget to provide regular maintenance to your landscape! This can be minimal depending on how extravagant your landscape design becomes. We’ll briefly include a few recommended steps below:
Watering – While the environment in East Tennessee can be forgiving, It’s important to remember to water heavily in dryer months to help combat drought.
Mowing and manicuring – Mowing and trimming regularly can improve the over all look of your landscape design as well as encourage fresh, new growth of your lawn. Make sure to keep those blades sharp to reduce stress on the grass while mowing.
Pest control – As mentioned above, regular mowing and trimming can improve the health of your lawn, but it can also help to reduce the presence of pests. If you do detect a large presence of pests or an infestation, consider researching natural and eco-friendly pest control solutions.


LAWN GRASS CARE TIPS AND TRICKS
It’s no secret that caring for your lawn after a landscaping design installation is a must. In East Tennessee, maintaining a rich outdoor space in the warm weather involves several important practices. We’ll keep it short in this brief guide, and remember to contact River Valley Landscapes should you have any questions while caring for your new outdoor space.
Use a sprinkler system, portable sprinkler, or the good old fashioned water hose to water your grassy areas early in the morning. Watering early in the day helps the newly applied water to recharge the roots and moisturize your grass for longer.
Mow your grass regularly without cutting your grassy areas too short to avoid the top layer of soil drying out.
Fertilize your lawn! River Valley Landscapes recommends to use an organic or environmentally friendly fertilizer to ensure a full, healthy, and sustainable outdoor space. Don’t over use your fertilizer, and contact our Landscape Design Artisans if you have any questions about when and how much to fertilize your new outdoor space.
Finally, keep an eye out for pests and diseases, treating them promptly to maintain a lush, green lawn all summer long.