General Plant Care Instructions
Watering Instructions
You can download our watering instructions Here
Proper watering is critical to your plant's health. Regular watering will not only insure healthy plants that will get off to a good start but the will also grow faster and look better. The following instructions are just guidelines as there are many variables involved. (See note below) Automatic irrigation systems are the ultimate in convenience and will help you target and control the exact amount of water you are applying, however if you cannot install one, the following guidelines should be followed.
Windy areas, slopes, and roof overhangs will also affect watering. Plants in these situations will require extra water.
Watering guidelines for 1st year plantings in the Spring:
After new plantings are installed it is critical to provide water to the plant. This will settle the soil around the plant roots, and remove any air pockets. Proper watering is critical for the establishment of new plantings. The following information is provided as a guideline, as no watering schedule can address each specific situation. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Soaker Hoses
When we install your landscape plantings, we may install soaker hoses. They are wound through the planting beds below the mulch and are held down with clips. We will put flags at the connections so you will know where to connect the garden hose. After installation, it is important to thoroughly soak the plantings. Thereafter, during the first three weeks, water 3 times per week until the water starts to run off into the bed edge. Then water 2 times per week for the next 6 weeks and once per week after that. If we receive 1” or more of rain, you can skip one watering. The length of time to run the hoses will depend on your water pressure and how many hoses are attached together. We may attach 2 or 3 hoses end to end. You may have more than one connection.
Gator Bags are our preference for watering trees. We may install more than one per tree depending on the size of the tree. They should be filled at least 3 times per week for the first summer.
Watering Instructions for Fall Planting
If the plant still has leaves, follow the spring watering instructions until Thanksgiving or until the leaves come off.
If the plant has already lost its leaves, soak THOROUGHLY one time after planting.
Begin watering following the spring guidelines once new growth appears in the spring.
Watering Instructions for Plants that have been in the ground for more than one year
Observe the weather. Are we experiencing and unusually dry or wet year? In drought years, even well established plants (including large trees) may require additional water. When water is scarce, let the lawn go first. Turf will go dormant, and although it will look bad, it will recover. Your landscape plantings will not. Drought stress one year can carry over for several years, making plants more subject to disease and insect problems, dieback and general decline.
Sod
Immediately after installation, apply about 1" of water to the new sod. This can be measured by placing an empty can near the sprinkler and watching how long it takes to fill to one inch. New sod needs to be kept soft and spongy for the next 2 to 3 weeks until it has a chance to firmly root. Limit activity on your new sod as much as possible during this time. Remember that sode near buildings or pavement will dry out quickly due to reflected heat. Do not mow sod until it has completely rooted, and mow at a high setting initially.
Grass Seed
Immediately after installation, apply use a sprinkler and water the entire area for about 30-45 minutes. Water daily thereafter until the grass fills in. The best time for this is early morning or in the evening. Limit activity on it as much as possible. When the lawn starts to fill in (usually after about 30-40 days) you can slowly back off on the watering. Seed germination is not always even.
General Maintenance Services
- Regular weeding will help keep your gardens weed free.
- Garden Maintenance Services will keep your gardens looking top notch. We offer a variety of schedules to meet your needs and budget.
- Liquid fertilization of seasonal flowers will keep them looking their best and blooming like crazy. This should be started in the summer.
- Deer Spraying Service will discourage deer from feeding on your landscaping. We spray on a 2 week schedule.
- Trimming and pruning – we will keep your shrubs looking manicured all season long.
- Lawn mowing, trimming, edging and blowing is offered in select areas.
- Lawn Overseeding, Fertilization. Liming, and Weed control applications will keep your lawn looking terrific.
- Spring and Fall cleanups are described in detail below.
Below are schedules of our recommendations for your landscape beds and gardens. Please contact us to set up an estimate for any of these services.
Seasonal Maintenance - Spring
- Trimming Shrubs: We know how and what to trim in the spring.
- Cutting Back Perennials and Grasses: May be done in fall or spring. Some perennials and grasses may offer winter interest or seedheads that are food sources for birds. It is up to you whether or not to leave them standing through the winter or to cut them down in late fall.
- Once the cutting back and trimming is done, we rake the beds to loosen and remove old crusty mulch, leaves, twigs and other debris. We then shovel edge the beds.
- We apply a granular pre-emergent weed control to reduce weed populations later in the season. Professional products are much more effective than what is sold at hardware stores.
- We apply a general purpose fertilizer.
- We apply a systemic insect control if needed for specific plantings.
- We apply a new 2-3" layer of mulch around the plantings.
- Optionally, we install your seasonal flowers for the extra color in the garden. We plant them with a slow release fertilizer to make sure they get a great start and continue to look good throughout the season.
Seasonal Maintenance - Fall
- Trimming Shrubs: We know how and what to trim in the fall.
- Cutting Back Perennials and Grasses: May be done in fall or spring. Some perennials and grasses may offer winter interest or seedheads that are food sources for birds. It is up to you whether or not to leave them standing through the winter or to cut them down in late fall.
- Once the cutting back and trimming is done, we rake the beds to loosen and remove old crusty mulch, leaves, twigs and other debris. We then shovel edge the beds.
- We apply a new 2-3" layer of mulch around the plantings.
- Optionally, we install your seasonal flowers for the extra color in the garden. We plant them with a slow release fertilizer to make sure they get a great start and continue to look good throughout the season..
