PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT
Your landscape has been designed and installed by our team of professionals to be both functional and beautiful. Because we want you to get the most enjoyment and highest return on investment possible from your project, we recommend the following care tips:
WATER
Giving your plants the water they need during their first growing season is the most important thing you can do to help them develop properly and stay healthy.
1. Check to see if the soil 1-2 inches down around your plant(s) is dry. You may also notice some plants will droop or wilt slightly when they are in need of water.
2. When watering, the general rule is to soak each plant’s entire root system when dry. Within the first year of the new planting, you should water when dry (approximately once per week in the Spring and Fall and once every 3-4 days in the heat of the summer) backing off a bit from this schedule when there is ample rain and cooler temperatures. When in doubt, check the soil under the mulch with your finger.
3. If soil is moist, there is no need to water.
4. Remember: over-watering can be just as detrimental as no watering. The goal is to soak the plant to the roots, but not to make the area swampy with standing water.
FERTILIZE
Your new planting(s) was fertilized with a root stimulator and slow release fertilizer at the time of installation which will last until the following growing season. Following the initial fertilization, trees, shrubs and groundcover should be fertilized before growth begins in the spring (March-April) and again in the fall (October-November). Follow instructions on the fertilizer label.
1. Apply recommended amount of fertilizer around the drip line of trees and shrubs (i.e. the circumference around the outside of the foliage).
2. More is not better.
3. Avoid getting fertilizer on plant foliage.
4. If you have any questions, please stop in or give us a call.
PRUNING
These tips are general rules of thumb, but we always encourage you to call or stop in for advice on specific trees or shrubs.
1. If needed, flowering ornamental trees and shrubs should be pruned within six (6) weeks after they are done flowering.
2. Deciduous trees and shrubs (i.e. the ones that lose their leaves in fall) should be pruned during their dormant season. Damaged or diseased branches should be removed as needed.
3. Evergreen trees can be pruned after new growth is complete (late spring/early summer).
4. Evergreen shrubs, such as Taxus and Boxwoods can be pruned.
5. Broadleaf evergreens, such as Rhododendrons and Azaleas can be deadheaded or trimmed when blooming is complete.
6. Ornamental grasses and some perennials, should be cut back within a few inches of the ground in either late fall or early spring.
WEED CONTROL
Weeds not only make your landscape look bad, but they compete with your plants for nutrients and water. They can also attract insects and disease.
1. When possible, pull weeds, especially after a rain when they can be removed easily.
2. You can also apply an herbicide such as Round-Up. Be very careful to only apply to the weeds and avoid any overspray on your landscape plants.
3. Two-to-three times a year, you can apply pre-emergents such as Treflan or Preen to prevent seeds from germinating.
4. Our favorite option next to pulling weeds yourself is to apply mulch in your landscape beds to smother weed seeds.
MULCHING
Mulch preserves moisture and keeps soil cool in the summer and warmer in fall and winter, it smothers weeds, provides valuable nutrients to your plants as it decomposes and happens to add some serious curb appeal.
1. There are many choices when mulching, depending on your personal preference. Use a quality shredded bark or pine needle mulch for best results. All mulches are not created equal. Some companies use ground up wood pallets or other wood by-products and sell it cheap. This can cause a nutrient drain on your landscape and future plant problems.
2. Remove any old crusty mulch layers, and apply a 2-3” layer to landscape beds. Make sure to avoid direct contact with your tree or shrub’s trunk.
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