Protect Your Investment
Your Investment
A beautiful new landscape is a significant investment in your property’s value and your daily enjoyment. The long-term success of your new lawn and plants depends on the care they receive immediately following installation. To help you protect this investment and ensure everything gets a healthy start, we have compiled our expert care guidelines.
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Plant Care Instruction
Water is the life source of your plants, shrubs, and trees! Newly planted trees and shrubs should be kept moist throughout the first year. A thorough soaking of each plant should be done at least three times a week for the first three weeks, and twice a week for the balance of the year. Be mindful of current weather conditions and vary watering accordingly. A sporadic watering cycle is the most beneficial (ex: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday) Watering 2 times a day on hot (plus 90 degree) summer days is highly recommended. Wilting is often a sign of lack of water. Watering in the early morning (natural dew point) is best and if watering is needed twice the second is generally best late afternoon (4:00 p.m.). Do not water mid-day (the sun burns the water off and can harm foliage) nor in the late evening (this can cause fungus).
Do not fertilize shrubs or trees for at least 24 months following installation (we install slow-release fertilizer that provides the first 2 years needed for new plants installed). After 2 years you may fertilize annually in the spring with a slow-release fertilizer.
The removal of excess growth and any diseased or dead wood is essential to the health of all plants, young or old. The use of sharp pruners will prevent damage to plants. Making clean cuts greatly reduces the chance of disease and insect infestation. Pruning can be done generally anytime depending on the type of plant:
• Deciduous trees should be pruned in late fall.
• Non-flowering shrubs can be pruned anytime (deciduous and evergreen).
• Flowering trees and shrubs should be pruned after blooming.
• Major pruning back of any plant should be done in late fall/early spring.
• Trees and shrubs touching/rubbing structures should be pruned at any time.
Inspect new plantings periodically for signs of pest and/or disease damage (splotchy leaves, split bark, egg clusters, burnt ends on leaves, wilt, etc.).
If you notice your plant/shrub/tree suffering within 30 days of your installation. Please contact us as soon as you can for a health check.
Sod Care InstructioN
The key to establishing new sod is to keep it properly watered for the first month. Immediately after installing sod, water thoroughly making it spongy to the step. The new sod should be kept thoroughly wet to a depth of 4″ to 6″ and watered 2-3 times a day during the first 7 to 14 days depending on the season. Lift a corner of the sod to determine the depth of moisture. In the first week, it is especially important to keep the new sod damp. During this time stay off the sod so it can take root and you do not sink in and leave depressions from your footsteps. During hot weather, sprinklers should run several times a day, so the new sod never dries out. If allowed to dry out, the sod will shrink, brown, and can die. The roots of your new sod will penetrate the soil faster and root down sooner if properly watered. At the end of week 2, dry up the yard enough so you can mow.
The following 2 weeks are used to transition from frequent daily watering to fewer cycles per day and increase the number of days between waterings. During week 3, reduce waterings to 1-2 times per day and skip a day between watering if the new sod is not drying out. By week 4, water 1 time every other day. After week 4, your new yard should be ready to go 2 to 3 days between watering. Water your lawn in the early morning (at the natural dew point) and the late afternoon (4PM) to allow surface water to dry before dark. To reduce run-off on hills and promote deep root growth, reduce watering times in half. One hour later, run the irrigation cycle again and apply the rest of the water. This allows the water to soak into heavy soils.
Fertilize new sod for the first time no earlier than 60 days after laying the sod. Apply fertilizer as recommended by the results of a soil test or broadcast a slow-release, granular fertilizer with a 10-10-10 or similar formula at a rate of no more than 1 pound nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn. If the sod struggled to become established and was slow to root, wait to fertilize the sod until about 60 days after new growth appeared, or the sod rooted securely. Weed control should start 60-90 days after installation. Broadleaf weeds and clumping weeds can overtake lawns quickly. Preventing and controlling weeds is necessary to a healthy turf.
Your new lawn will need more water during the first growing season and especially the first 6 months. As it roots deeper over the course of a year, it will need less water. If your lawn looks dry, it probably needs watering. The key to new sod care during this time is deep watering less frequently. This will help the roots grow down and develop a deep root system that uses less water. It is ok after the first two months to stress your lawn a little. This means letting your yard dry out a bit and when you see signs of stress starting to appear, make sure to water it. This will also allow you to fine tune the sprinkler system and adjust heads for proper coverage and change nozzles for more or less water in certain spots.
Your new lawn should be mowed at the end of week 2 or if your lawn exceeds 3 1/2″ tall. Back off on the watering so the turf is dry to the touch and firm enough to walk on without sinking in. If your new lawn reaches over 3 1/2″, mow off a third of the length even if it has not been two weeks. Do not cut shorter than 2″ for the first few times you mow. Exercise caution the first time you mow so you do not damage or pull up the sod. If some of the sod does move around, don’t worry. Just put it back in place and it will grow in.
If you notice your plant/shrub/tree suffering within 30 days of your installation. Please contact us as soon as you can for a health check.
Sod Care Instruction
The key to establishing new sod is to keep it properly watered for the first month. Immediately after installing sod, water thoroughly making it spongy to the step. The new sod should be kept thoroughly wet to a depth of 4″ to 6″ and watered 2-3 times a day during the first 7 to 14 days depending on the season. Lift a corner of the sod to determine the depth of moisture. In the first week, it is especially important to keep the new sod damp. During this time stay off the sod so it can take root and you do not sink in and leave depressions from your footsteps. During hot weather, sprinklers should run several times a day, so the new sod never dries out. If allowed to dry out, the sod will shrink, brown, and can die. The roots of your new sod will penetrate the soil faster and root down sooner if properly watered. At the end of week 2, dry up the yard enough so you can mow.
The following 2 weeks are used to transition from frequent daily watering to fewer cycles per day and increase the number of days between waterings. During week 3, reduce waterings to 1-2 times per day and skip a day between watering if the new sod is not drying out. By week 4, water 1 time every other day. After week 4, your new yard should be ready to go 2 to 3 days between watering. Water your lawn in the early morning (at the natural dew point) and the late afternoon (4PM) to allow surface water to dry before dark. To reduce run-off on hills and promote deep root growth, reduce watering times in half. One hour later, run the irrigation cycle again and apply the rest of the water. This allows the water to soak into heavy soils.
Fertilize new sod for the first time no earlier than 60 days after laying the sod. Apply fertilizer as recommended by the results of a soil test or broadcast a slow-release, granular fertilizer with a 10-10-10 or similar formula at a rate of no more than 1 pound nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn. If the sod struggled to become established and was slow to root, wait to fertilize the sod until about 60 days after new growth appeared, or the sod rooted securely. Weed control should start 60-90 days after installation. Broadleaf weeds and clumping weeds can overtake lawns quickly. Preventing and controlling weeds is necessary to a healthy turf.
Your new lawn will need more water during the first growing season and especially the first 6 months. As it roots deeper over the course of a year, it will need less water. If your lawn looks dry, it probably needs watering. The key to new sod care during this time is deep watering less frequently. This will help the roots grow down and develop a deep root system that uses less water. It is ok after the first two months to stress your lawn a little. This means letting your yard dry out a bit and when you see signs of stress starting to appear, make sure to water it. This will also allow you to fine tune the sprinkler system and adjust heads for proper coverage and change nozzles for more or less water in certain spots.
Your new lawn should be mowed at the end of week 2 or if your lawn exceeds 3 1/2″ tall. Back off on the watering so the turf is dry to the touch and firm enough to walk on without sinking in. If your new lawn reaches over 3 1/2″, mow off a third of the length even if it has not been two weeks. Do not cut shorter than 2″ for the first few times you mow. Exercise caution the first time you mow so you do not damage or pull up the sod. If some of the sod does move around, don’t worry. Just put it back in place and it will grow in.
If you notice your plant/shrub/tree suffering within 30 days of your installation. Please contact us as soon as you can for a health check.
Plant Care Instruction
Water is the life source of your plants, shrubs, and trees! Newly planted trees and shrubs should be kept moist throughout the first year. A thorough soaking of each plant should be done at least three times a week for the first three weeks, and twice a week for the balance of the year. Be mindful of current weather conditions and vary watering accordingly. A sporadic watering cycle is the most beneficial (ex: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday) Watering 2 times a day on hot (plus 90 degree) summer days is highly recommended. Wilting is often a sign of lack of water. Watering in the early morning (natural dew point) is best and if watering is needed twice the second is generally best late afternoon (4:00 p.m.). Do not water mid-day (the sun burns the water off and can harm foliage) nor in the late evening (this can cause fungus).
Do not fertilize shrubs or trees for at least 24 months following installation (we install slow-release fertilizer that provides the first 2 years needed for new plants installed). After 2 years you may fertilize annually in the spring with a slow-release fertilizer.
The removal of excess growth and any diseased or dead wood is essential to the health of all plants, young or old. The use of sharp pruners will prevent damage to plants. Making clean cuts greatly reduces the chance of disease and insect infestation. Pruning can be done generally anytime depending on the type of plant:
• Deciduous trees should be pruned in late fall.
• Non-flowering shrubs can be pruned anytime (deciduous and evergreen).
• Flowering trees and shrubs should be pruned after blooming.
• Major pruning back of any plant should be done in late fall/early spring.
• Trees and shrubs touching/rubbing structures should be pruned at any time.
Inspect new plantings periodically for signs of pest and/or disease damage (splotchy leaves, split bark, egg clusters, burnt ends on leaves, wilt, etc.).
If you notice your plant/shrub/tree suffering within 30 days of your installation. Please contact us as soon as you can for a health check.