Homeowner Aftercare
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IMMEDIATE MAINTENANCE
WATERING PROCECURES
ANNUAL FLOWER CARE
LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
LAWN MAINTENANCE
NEWLY SEEDED LAWNS
Here is a guideline for Immediate Maintenance of your new landscape:
If you had new plants installed...
* feel the soil in the area around the roots and water when dry
* water slowly and deeply using a hose not a sprinkler
* check your plants often in hot weather
* look for wilting and yellowing every week
* don't keep the soil soaking wet all of the time, it will rot the root system
* don't let the plants become bone dry
* don't water by the calendar, water as plants need it
If you had sod installed...
* don't step on it when it's wet, you will have a difficult time repairing the damage
* keep the sod damp for the first ten days, sprinkle approximately 1" per day
* water every other day during the second week, sprinkling 1" of water each time
* until the sod is rooted, check under it for dampness
* overlap edges when watering so you don't miss any area
* water and mow as needed after two weeks
* try to avoid late afternoon or evening watering, morning is best
* mow consistently every week to promote rapid root growth
If you had grass seed^^ sown...
* keep the area damp at least 3" down for one month
* water slowly with a fine mist spray to avoid erosion
* don't water so long in one spot that a puddle forms, you can always go back
* try to avoid late afternoon or evening watering, morning is best
* mow after seedlings 2" - 2.5" and consistently thereafter to promote root growth
* the most critical time to water when seed has entered keep soil wet
^^Due to the sensitivity of seedlings to weather conditions and watering, we do not guarantee seeding at all, so please follow the above instructions.^^
Watering Procedures
Watering is the most important single factor in establishing newly installed plants.
Here are some guidelines to follow for different types of plantings:
Trees, Evergreens and Large Ornamentals
Twice or three times per week over the first three to four weeks, you should water the base of the plants for between 15 and 20 minutes. Root feeders can be used, or you can water manually.
During the growing season you need to water when the temperatures are high, on windy days or during drought periods.
Shrubs, Small Evergreen and Small Ornamentals
Three or four times per week over the first three to four weeks, depending on weather conditions, water the base of each plant by hand for several minutes.
During the growing season you need to water when the temperatures are high, on windy days or during drought periods.
Perennial, Groundcover and Small Plantings
Three or four times per week over the first three to four weeks water the area between 20 and 25 minutes using a sprinkler system, soaker hose or sweat hose. If watering by hand, soak all of the new plantings. Once the plants are established, check the soil moisture before watering.
During the growing season you need to water when the temperatures are high, on windy days or during drought periods.
General Tips
Over watering is as harmful as under watering. Excessive watering can rot the roots of the plantings. Allow the soil to dry out before soaking them again. Check plantings weekly. After plantings are established, water less frequently but water deeper to establish a deeper root system.
Weekly use your finger to check the soil 2” – 3” deep around plantings to see if the soil is dry. Start watering when dry.
Plants in full sun dry out faster than plants in the shade. Shallow rooted plants, such as perennials, annuals and groundcovers, dry out much more quickly than deep rooted plants. Check them regularly and water more frequently.
Plants under an overhang will need ongoing watering because natural rainfall does not reach them.
Sprinkler systems are not to be used for plants with deep roots, trees, shrubs, evergreens and ornamentals. When sprinkler heads are used for perennials and annuals make sure sprinkler heads are not obstructed by these plantings.
Annual Flower Care
A colorful array of flowers has recently been installed at your home. We have watered them in thoroughly.
To help keep them healthy and flourishing they need to be watered every other day. If the weather gets hot, they may need watering every day. If your flowers appear droopy, it is often a sign they need water.
The best time to water your flowers is early morning or evening. Sprinkling them during the day can leave droplets of water on the leaves and petals which can magnify the sun's rays and burn your flowers. If you water during the day, water your flowers at their base.
This watering schedule needs to be established and maintained until the flowers can establish their root systems. This takes approximately three to four weeks.
To encourage your flowers to grow more rapidly and luxuriantly, we recommend a liquid fertilizer application once per month. (If you are one of our maintenance clients, we take care of this for you.)
These simple steps will inspire your flowers to thrive throughout the growing season.
Suggested Maintenance Program For Your Landscape
Cultivate unmulched beds monthly. In the spring and in July, apply weed preventer to help reduce weed growth in beds. Using an herbicide, spot spray weeds that do appear.
In the spring, fertilize all plants; prune dead branches and check for split trunks bolting and cabling and bolting as needed. Lightly trim and tie up any bent over evergreens; lightly prune winter burned evergreens, brush off dead needles and apply a rapid grow fertilizer.
During July and August, trim and shape evergreens. Trim all flowering shrubs right after they flower.
Trim ground covers two or three times throughout the season. If newly planted, mulch for the winter with peat moss.
During dry weather, water plants once per week giving them a good soaking.
In the fall, water all newly planted bulbs. Spray fruit trees and certain shrubs with animal repellent. Use netting or apply Deeraway to help keep deer away from plants.
In November, water all evergreens once per week giving them a good soaking and lightly mulch. Apply Wiltproof to protect them from drying winds. Evergreens installed under eaves may be especially susceptible to snow and ice damage; tie branches together and remove heavy snow. Protect evergreens along heavily traveled roads from salt by applying Wiltpruf or using burlap fencing.
After the ground is frozen, prune and mulch all perennials and roses.
During the winter, protect exposed rhododendron with a burlap screen and prune shade trees as needed. This is also a good time for winter pruning.
Suggested Maintenance Program For Your Lawn
March - April
* apply fungicide as a preventative
* heavily stiff rake
* if needed, apply a pre-emergent or combination fertilizer/pre-emergent for crabgrass control * for bluegrass lawns mowing height should be 1.75" - 2.25"
May - June
* seed thin and bare areas using Chalet grass seed mix
* early May, apply starter fertilizer plus pre-emergent in newly seeded full sun areas
* apply fertilizer
* if no seeding is done, apply herbicide or combination fertilizer/herbicide if needed
* for bluegrass lawns mowing height should be 2.25" - 2.50"
* check for fungus, if it reappears, retreat with fungicide
July - August
* for bluegrass lawns mowing height should be 2.50" - 2.75"
* check for insect damage
* apply half rate lawn fertilizer
September - October
* for bluegrass lawns mowing height should be 1.50" - 2.00"
* core aerate, if needed
* seed thin and bare lawn areas, if needed
* apply heavy fall fertilizer
* apply fungicide
* remove all leaves
Note: during winter use calcium chloride instead of salt
Watering:
From late spring, water your lawn twice per week. Your lawn should receive
about 1.25" - 2.50" of water per week. Water in the morning. Your lawn should be dry before nightfall to reduce the chance of developing fungus.
Suggested Maintenance For Newly Seeded Lawns
Millions of tiny particles of "life" have now starter their struggle for existence on your lawn. This means constant care until it gets well established, just as a new born baby would need constant care and protection.
Watering is most essential during this period. During the first four weeks, the area must be kept constantly moist. Do not allow the soil to dry out. Surface watering will do more harm than good and cause the grass roots to turn up for water. The result is shallow rooted turf. When summer arrives, the sun will burn out a shallow turf. Water deeply so the roots will grow down and give you a strong deep turf.
Watering new seed should be done by hand with a fine mist. Do not water continually in one spot causing a puddle. Give the ground a chance to absorb the water and return later to the same spot. Repeat this until the soil is moist at least two or three inches into the ground. A sprinkler is not good for a newly seeded lawn unless you move it frequently leaving it in one spot for only ten to fifteen minutes. Be careful to apply the water slowly in a fine mist to avoid erosion and seed wash out.
We do not and cannot guarantee a lawn. We have sown the best seed and furnished experienced labor but the job is only half complete. From this point on, watering is essential. We also cannot be responsible for the elements; strong winds can dry out a newly seeded lawn or heavy rains can wash it out. Weeds can appear, but weeds appear in all soil conditions.
Some seed may not germinate, you may want to purchase a small amount of grass seed to sow in the bare spots which may appear later.
