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Initial Care and Maintenance
After your landscape is installed it will be up to you to provide proper initial care
to help your new plantings get established and begin to thrive in their new
environment. Your next step will be the establishment of a periodic maintenance
program to protect of your investment and ensure your continued enjoyment of your
landscape in the years to come.
The best time to water your lawn and gardens is early in the morning. Watering
during the heat of the day is inefficient due to evaporation loss. Watering during
the evening can encourage fungus growth. If your plants begin to wither during the
heat of the day, you'll find placing your hose under the canopy of the plant and trickling
a little water on the ground will perk them up.
The following watering schedule is for watering shrubs, trees and groundcovers under
two typical weather conditions:
- Normal conditions with temperature under 90oF with occasional rain, and
- Drought conditions with temperature above 90oF and no rain.
With regard to how much water is needed, sufficient watering is achieved by filling the
water saucer, around the base of the plant, twice per application or to a depth of 12
inches. Remember, rain only substitutes for a scheduled watering of shrubs,
trees and groundcover when at least 2 inches of rainfall has been verified.
Certain soil types and other factors (i.e., percolation, tree species, etc.) can make
it necessary to deviate from this schedule. The soil around your plants should
occasionally be probed to determine moisture content and whether or not this schedule is
working in your situations. If you have any question, please contact
us for advise.
Watering Schedule for Shrubs, Trees and Groundcovers
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Plants
transplanted between... |
| Basic Stages |
May 1 and Sept. 30 |
Oct. 1 and April 30 |
| Initial shock (1st 30 days) |
- Water every day for the first 3 days, then
- every other day for 10 days, then
- twice a week for 2 weeks.
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- Water every 3 days for 2 weeks, then
- twice a week for 2 weeks.
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| Establishment (First growing season from April to October) |
- Normal weather - water once per week.
- Drought weather - water twice per week.
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- Normal weather - water once per week.
- Drought weather - water twice per week.
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| Sustainment (Second and third growing season) |
- Normal weather - water every 2-3 weeks.
- Drought weather - water every 1-2 weeks.
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- Normal weather - water every 2-3 weeks.
- Drought weather - water every 1-2 weeks.
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Here are some tips for establishing and maintaining beautiful lawns. It is
absolutely essential to provide adequate water during the initial stages of germination
for newly seeded lawns and establishment of sodded lawns. Just seeding and throwing straw
over the ground, or installing sod and hoping for the best is not enough.
For proper establishment and maintenance of beautiful lawns, here is a schedule is for
watering and mowing of lawns during three stages:
- Germination Stage (during first 3 weeks after seeding),
- Establishment Stage (during 1st growing season), and
- Sustainment Stage (during the 2nd & 3rd growing seasons).
Sprinkling your lawn for 2-4 hours is the equivalent of about 1 inch of natural
rainfall, depending, of course, on the amount of water being sprayed. To determine
what water pressures to use, place a rain gauge in the sprinkling area and check it
periodically with different water pressures to see how much water you are applying.
Watering & Mowing Schedule for Lawns
| Basic Stages |
Watering |
Mowing |
| Germination Stage (first 3 weeks after newly seeding) |
Set up enough sprinklers to cover total seeded area without
moving them (to keep from walking on soft ground).
- Initially water to depth of 4-6 inches.
- Lightly water every day, or every other day, dependent upon weather conditions. It
is important to keep seed damp, but not soggy!.
Hot or windy conditions will cause the soil to dry out more quickly; conversely, cool
or cloudy days will result in less moisture loss. Watering frequency needs to be
adjusted accordingly. |
Do not mow until the grass has reached 3 1/2 inches. |
| Establishment Stage (during the first growing season for
newly seeded and sodded lawns) |
During this stage the lawn should be thoroughly soaked 4 to 6
inches deep, once per week either from natural rainfall or by sprinkling. |
When the grass reaches 3 1/2 inches tall, it is ready to be
mowed. During this stage it is best to mow to a height of 2 1/2 to 3 inches.
Caution: Avoid mowing when the ground is soggy, for obvious reasons. |
| Sustainment Stage (during the second and third growing season
and beyond) |
Natural rainfall should keep your lawns looking nice in the
Spring and Fall. During the heat of the Summer, you may want to water your lawn
rather than letting it go dormant during the hot dry months. |
Mow grass often to avoid harsh cutting with overly tall
grass. Use a mulching mower to add nutrients back into the soil. |
The continuing growth and success of your landscape depends upon your maintenance
program. Remember, low maintenance does not mean no maintenance. All
landscapes require some level of care. Here are a few tips to get you started.
| Maintenance Area |
Maintenance Tips |
| Fertilization |
Be careful not to over fertilize. This can be more
hazardous to the health of your plants than under fertilization.
- Fertilize in early Spring for most plants. For lawns, consider fertilizing in the
Early Spring (with weed control additives), Late Spring/Early Summer (with insect control
additives), and Late Fall (with root growth formulations) for lawns.
- Use a slow-release fertilizer according to instructions on package or special
formulations for specific plant groups (such as azaleas and camellias).
- For most plants, sprinkle fertilizer under outside edge of plant canopy. To avoid
fertilizer burns, do not allow fertilizer to contact foliage or stems or any plant part.
- Water after fertilization.
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| Pruning |
If pruning for flowering or shaping, a rule of thumb is to
prune soon after blooming.
- Avoid excessive pruning.
- Prune out dead or diseased parts.
Do not prune foliage of bulb plants until the foliage turns yellow. |
| Mulching |
Keep plant material mulched for temperature control in
extreme heat and extreme cold, and to help control weeds. Mulch should not exceed 3 inches
in depth. |
| Bulbs |
Plants that grow from bulbs require a little extra care. To
encourage continued health and growth...
- Apply bone meal in the fall, or as soon as foliage comes up.
- After blooming, apply packaged cow manure.
- Prune foliage after turning yellow.
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Copyright © 2002-06 Living Landscapes
12063 Laurel Oak Drive,
Indianapolis, IN 46236
Phone: 317-823-1586, Fax: 317-823-2444
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