Landscaping Services New Landscaping Care

Landscape Care Instructions / Tips for Success with New Plants
Care Instructions for Newly Seed Lawns | Care Instruction for Newly Sodded Lawns

Landscape Care Instructions / Tips for Success with New Plants

Watering

  • Until your plants are established, provide frequent, light waterings.

  • The rule of thumb is 1” of water every seven to ten days. Mother Nature may help you out with this.

  • Smaller plants such as perennials will need more frequent waterings until the root system is established. This could be as often as every day.

  • When you water, use a hose with a rainwand or watering can, and apply water via a slow trickle directly to the rootball until no more water is absorbed. Overhead sprinklers provide insufficient water for newly installed plants.

  • Once a month, use Fertilome Root Stimulator, Superthrive, or a similar product when watering.

Check Your Plant’s Moisture Needs

  • IMPORTANT: Before watering, check the moisture level of the soil by pulling mulch away from the base of the plant. Feel the soil close to the base of the plant in question. If the surface of the soil is moist, do not water. If the soil seems dry to the touch, go ahead and water as usual. This will be the best indicator of you plant’s moisture needs.

Mulching

  • Using shredded organic mulch around your new plants is a great way to conserve water and keep weeds down.

  • We recommend re-mulching or topdressing your beds annually.

  • Mulch should be applied at a 3” depth for woody shrubs and trees.

  • Mulch should be applied at 1-2” depth for perennials.

Weed Control/Preen Herbicide

  • Preen is a granular pre-emergent herbicide that prevents weed seeds from sprouting in your beds and will greatly reduce hand weeding.

  • If using, reapply every 4-6 weeks throughout the growing season.

  • Always follow label directions.

  • Corn gluten is an organic substitute for Preen that works as well.

Wildlife and Insect Damage

  • Watch your plants carefully for insect, disease and wildlife damage as this is not covered by our warranty.

  • We make every effort to avoid installing plants likely to be damaged by deer in area of high deer population; however we cannot always predict what is safe with 100% accuracy because of changing feeding habits.

  • Rabbits can also cause plant damage.

  • If you find damaged plants, please notify our staff. We can work with you to suggest controls such as pesticides, fungicides, fencing, repellents, and netting.

Communication

  • Don’t hesitate to contact your designer or our garden center staff if you have a question or you see problems developing.

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Care Instructions for Newly Seed Lawns

(Best times to seed are April 15th to June 15th & August 15th to September 30th)
  • Keep traffic across area to a minimum as it compacts the soil and disturbs the grade.
  • Keep your new seed damp but not wet until ready for the first mowing.
  • Any burlap or straw used to hold the seed may be left on the ground to decompose unless it interferes with mowing equipment.
  • The first mowing may occur when grass is 3”-3.5” tall. Do not remove more than 1/3 of the grass blade per mowing.

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Care Instruction for Newly Sodded Lawns

Immediately Following Sodding

  • New sod should be watered daily for the first two weeks. The sod should be kept damp.
  • All traffic across new sod should be kept to a minimum as it separates seams and disturbs the underlying grade.

First Mowing

  • The first mowing can usually occur about three (3) weeks after installation or when sod reaches a height of 3”-3.5” tall.
  • Adjust mowing height to approximately 2.5” and be certain that blades are sharp.
  • Do not water the day before mowing as this will mat the new sod.
  • Repeat mowing procedures approximately once per week during the growing season. Do not remove more than 1/3 of the grass blade per mowing.

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