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Recommended Care for Newly Installed Landscapes 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 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. 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
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