Care for Your Garden
Your landscape is a dynamic environment that is constantly growing and evolving. It needs maintenance as it matures, including pruning, mulching and weeding.Just like changing the oil in your car or cleaning your chimney, there are tasks required to keep your landscape “Well tuned.”
How to Water New Plantings
The key to establishing plants is watering. Monitor and water new plants a minimum of two seasons after planting. For example, plants installed in the spring need watering through the spring and summer. Plants installed in the summer will need water through the summer and into fall.
New plants should need one to two inches of water per week. Irrigate with a watering can, bucket, hose, sprinkler, your irrigation system or the rain. You must keep the soil moist while your plants are establishing.
Water new plantings daily if there is insufficient rainfall. If using a hose or watering can water each plant multiple times to make sure the water soaks in. Water all the plants once and return when the water soaks in and water again. If using a sprinkler or irrigation system water long enough for the water to soak in to a minimum of four inches.
You can overwater your plants, especially in areas with clay soils that don’t drain well. Confirm that your plants need water by brushing the mulch aside under a plant and feel the soil an inch down. If the soil feels dry, it’s time to water. New plants don’t have established root systems. It’s up to you to make sure there is ample water available.
Continue watering even through October. Wilting plant leaves are a sign that they need more water.
Not all plants that start the race will make it to the finish line. There are some losses on every job, regardless of how carefully we ready the site and select your plants. If you notice a plant that looks like it’s not going to make the finish line please contact us so we can check and/or replace it as soon as possible.
Should I Fertilize?
The plants we installed a very hardy in our environment and can do well without much extra help and many of the plants have already been fertilized at planting time. That being said, additional fertilizer can be used beginning a year after planting to keep plants happy and healthy. Also, as the mulch breaks down and is regularly re applied, it gives your plants most of the nutrients they need.
How Often Should I Mulch?
Re-apply mulch every year or two. Annual light mulching minimizes weeds, conserves soil moisture and keep your landscape looking fresh and new. Applying mulch less often may result in more weeds and less oohs and ahs by the neighbors.
Apply mulch to a total depth of two to three inches . Mulch over three inches starves roots of oxygen and encourages bark and root chewing rodents.
When buying mulch use a finely ground natural bark product. Purchase mulch made of bark as opposed to wood. Quality mulch will cost twice as much as the base offering at your supplier. It’s worth every penny.
How do I maintain new lawn?
For grass areas that have been seeded, keep the area consistently moist (but not flooded) and undisturbed for at least five days. Straw may have been used to protect the seed, and it will decompose naturally. Seeded lawns should be fertilized in the Fall, or as outlined by your lawn fertilizer professional. We recommend a balanced fertilizer such as Scott’s Turf Builder™ for lawn fertilization. Note that you should put at least 1/2" of water on your lawn immediately after fertilizing for the first time. If you do not put enough water on your new lawn after fertilizing, your new lawn could burn. The new lawn may be cut for the first time when the grass is approximately 4" high. Always avoid the use of any of the weed & feed fertilizers with brand new seeding or sodding. The chemicals used in these fertilizers can damage or kill your newly planted grass while it is attempting to establish itself.
Where new sod has been installed, keep the sodded area moist, but not flooded. Proper watering is critical for establishment of new sod. You can resume regular mowing after about 15 days or when sod remains attached when you try to pull it up. Use caution when walking on the new sod, especially when the ground below is very wet. Always avoid the use of any of the weed & feed fertilizers with new seeding or sodding. The chemicals used in these fertilizers can damage or kill your newly planted grass while it is attempting to establish itself.
Can You Help Maintain my Gardens?
If you would like assistance maintaining your gardens our Garden Maintenance Program is for you. This service entails monthly visits during the growing season to tend to the essentials of garden care, including edging, mulching, weeding, pruning, dead-heading, and fall clean up.