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Recommended Care for Newly Installed Landscapes

 Congratulations on the purchase of your new landscape. Please feel free to call with any questions concerning your new plantings. We are happy to help you keep your new plantings healthy and growing.

General First Year Care

Watering

Giving your plants thorough and timely watering is the most important maintenance item you will do. The first 2 weeks after your plants have been installed is an important time while your plantings are getting acclimated to their new space and beginning to root out into the surrounding soils.  How much water you give your plants is dependent upon the time of year when your plantings have been installed. All the plantings will have been ‘watered in’ by the planting crew during the installation so you will have a head start on the watering but if it is warm and dry, late spring or summer or early fall, be very attentive to your watering, we would recommend watering a new planting in warm, dry weather every 2-3 days for 10-14 days.  In the early spring or late fall if the seasonal rains are occurring you may only need to water once or not at all in this first 2 weeks, but if you are not sure, check the soil. Take a spade or trowel and open the soil and feel if it is moist. Again, if you’re not sure, Water!  Plants that require regular watering and often wilt if not properly watered are, Spiraea, Barberry, Hydrangea, and other leafy plants, Keep an eye on these plants for indications that the landscape needs water.

What amount of water should you use, watering very thoroughly and less often is much better than small amounts, more often.  Water the plant until you can tell that the soil is saturated around the plant, hand watering may mean 2-3minutes per plant with a hose or if you use a sprinkler that might mean1-2 hours of watering. Use a rain gauge if you use a sprinkler and get an inch of water on your planting per week.

Because we have prepared the ground your plantings will quickly begin to ‘root out’ into the surrounding soil. This will make watering easier because the plants will begin to draw water from the surrounding soil. This does not mean you can stop watering. Thorough watering 1-2 times a week may be necessary in hot, dry weather but usually watering one time a week is adequate. Use your common sense, if it is dry, water, if it’s raining regularly, don’t.

If an automated irrigation system is watering your landscape be careful not to over water.  We have seen this problem and it can become difficult to correct because of the heavy clay soils in this area. Most irrigation systems have separate zones for irrigating the shrubs and lawn because of individual watering needs, lawns usually require more water than your landscape beds. Learn the system and watch to make sure it is working properly, giving adequate coverage.

If you have questions, call 314-966-0028

Fertilization

Natural organic soil amendments have been incorporated into your new planting beds and this will feed your plantings at least through the first year, of course there are exceptions such as azaleas that will need extra fertilization before and after they flower. After the first year you may use a granular general-purpose tree and shrub food, following label directions, feeding in the late fall. You may also feel free to use liquid fertilizers in the spring and summer, following label directions. If you have questions, call 314-966-0028

Pruning

Your landscape will not require pruning through the first year. The following years pruning will be dependent upon the type of plantings you have. General rules to follow, know when your flowering plants flower and when they set bud, pruning after a plant flower usually is a good time. Some plants can easily be pruned in the winter   making next summer’s care easier, i.e., spiraea, trimming 25-50% off in the winter. Evergreens will best be pruned in early summer or in the winter, not in the fall. Some plants to watch; shrub sand tree hollies, can grow very erratically, trim off the wild growth and keep the plant trimmed to give it a full look. Hydrangeas will need trimming every year but wait till spring and check for winter dye back and trim only the dead wood off, many hydrangeas flower on second year wood, or wood that is 2 years above ground.  Ornamental grasses will go dormant in the fall but the ‘grass’ will remain above ground unless you trim it off and this is best done in the spring.

Depending upon the type of grass, trim back to within 6-10” of the ground. Most perennials die back to the ground so trim them off when they are dormant. Don’t be afraid to prune and if you are not sure what to do, give use a call.

Pests

The best recommendation for dealing with insect, fungus, or who knows what problem is to call the nursery or bring in a leaf or branch off the plant with the problem and ask for help.  

 

What do I do if a plant looks like it’s Dying?

Remember you have a 1 year 50% warranty on your plants (if Sherwood’s Forest installed them) and if you think a plant is dying, please call so that we can hopefully help that plant or, if it is dead, schedule that plant for replacement, 6 Month 50 % warranty if owner plants.

We Greatly Appreciate Your Business and if we can answer any questions or be of service, please call.   314-966-0028