4 Tips for Caring For Your New Landscape

It’s exciting to improve your property with a beautiful new landscape. Here are some tips to give it the proper care to help it succeed and thrive:

Give it Time

There is always a period of adjustment when new plants are added to your landscape:

2 – 3 Weeks………………………………Flowering annuals and garden vegetables

1 – 2 Months…………………………….Perennials

1 – 2 Growing Seasons…………….Trees, shrubs

Choose the right spot

Choose a spot where the plant has the specific conditions it needs to thrive, such as the correct level of light, soil composition, soil pH and air circulation.

Gradually Acclimate New Plants and Trees

Introduce new plants to their new environment gradually. For instance, if they are coming from a greenhouse environment keep them sheltered from direct midday sun for a few days and out of the wind until they are ready to be planted.

Water As Needed

New plantings need to develop more complete root systems. While they do that make sure they receive adequate watering. A general rule of thumb is to make sure the planting area is kept moist, but not consistently wet.

Caring for Your New Sod

New sod needs regular watering until the root system is fully established – usually one full growing season, but maybe more in heavy soil.

Weeks 1 and 2: Soak it daily with ½” of water (about ½ hour)

Week 3: Soak it every other day with ½” of water (about ½ hour) – or if it is very dry, then every day to ½” (about ½ hour)

Week 4 and beyond: Soak with 1” of water (about 1 hour) once or twice a week as needed. First mowing: When the sod is 4-5” high. Mow down to 3”.

Fertilizer: Wait 60 days after the sod is laid to apply fertilizer. Summer sod does well if it is fertilized in September. Sod laid in the fall should not be fertilized until the following May.