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How to turn your Knoxville yard into a mini wildlife haven

A grassroots effort is helping Tennessee properties become part of a nationwide habitat network.

December 9, 2025 • 
Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto
An upclose view of common milkweed, which is both light and dark pink in color, with greenery out of focus in the background.

If you see these blooms on the roadside — it’s milkweed, and it’s great for pollinators.

Photo via TDEC

Want more from your lawn than just grass? You could turn it into a mini “national park.”

Meet Homegrown National Park, a nationwide grassroots movement that invites property owners to restore wildlife habitats through sustainable planting and the removal of invasive species.

Here’s how it works: Swap a portion of your lawn for native plants that support food webs for local fauna, then watch your yard transform into a natural oasis where wildlife thrives.

Homegrown National Park Map 865

Explore the map for yourself.

Screenshot via Homegrown National Park

Registered habitats are tracked on a digital biodiversity map, so you can see which Scruffy City neighbors are pitching in. Here are two that caught our eye:

  • Borderland Tees has had a habitat across from South Knoxville Elementary since November 2022.
  • Across the river, there’s 160 sqft of native habitat on South Gay Street and Main Street West.

Ready to get started on your own turf? Learn how to register your green space and browse beginner-friendly planting tips.