LANDSCAPE ESTABLISHMENT TIPS

 

Here are basic guidelines to follow to better establish your plantings.

Seeded Lawn Area

___  Water twice daily for 20 minutes for the first 2 weeks.

___  Feed the lawn at 1 month with high nitrogen fertilizer (25-5-15)
        Feed again at 1 month 3 weeks, and again at 3 months.

___  With the smallest mower possible, mow the new grass when
        it reaches 4” in height. Leave the clippings on the lawn
        surface.

___  Use a weed-control spray/ weed and feed on the lawn at 6
        weeks.

___  As an option to the items above, we recommend that you hire
       a lawn care service for the first season of your lawn’s life to 
        eliminate weeds, feed the lawn, and help establish a healthy
        root system.

       Click here for more detailed grass care info

Trees and Shrubs

___  For the first week, water all trees and shrubs every other day for 10
        minutes each, with your hose turned to a slow trickle.  For the next
        month, soak each plant one time per week.  This watering schedule
        is also recommended for any period of drought during the summer.

      

___  Fertilize trees and shrubs as necessary.  Sprinkle 12-12-12 farm
       grade fertilizer at the base of each tree or shrub in the early spring
       and late fall, after the leaves are off the trees. 
       Typical rates are:

         ___  1 cup per application for a 2” diameter tree

         ___  1/3 cup per application for a 24” high shrub

         ___  3 cups per 100 sq. ft. of ground cover

Perennials
 

___ When watering count to ten SLOWLY(one thousand and one, one thousand and two . . .)
 
___ When yellow or wilted- check to see if the soil is too dry or too wet.
       Too wet- soil will be gloppy. Too dry- soil is not moist.
 
___Top dressing plants with compost/ organic matter (aka manure)
      each year helps to keep the soil full of nutrients. Beware that 
      over-fertilizing will cause plants not to flower.
 
      Click here for more detailed info on watering perennials