Our Lawn and Plant Care Guide
Mowing Practices for Established Lawns
The first cut in the Spring should be done at 2.5 inches. This will remove a lot of grass and open the root crown to the air and allow the soil to warm up faster. This is done around mid-April.
Your second mowing should be done at a height of 3 inches. By your third mowing, you should be cutting your grass to a height of 3.5 inches. This allows the turf grass to fill in nice and thick, helping prevent weed growth and promoting deep root growth.
Watering Instructions for New Landscape Plants
For the first two weeks after installation, plants should be watered every day for 10-15 minutes per area with a sprinkler or soaker hose. The weather will dictate whether more or less watering is needed. If it is hot and dry, water more; if it’s cool and has rained, you can skip a day. Once the plants have adapted to their new environment watering about every third day is usually sufficient. Again, weather is always a factor. For trees, please water daily for 20-30 minutes on a slow trickle for the first two weeks. Then watering can be backed off as needed. A simple way to check if you’re watering enough is to select random spots in the landscape and scrape back the mulch to the soil and dig down about 6-8” — if the ground is moist or wet, you have been watering enough if it is very muddy and soupy you are watering too much. If it is dry, you probably are not watering enough. Every yard is different due to soil types, sun exposure, and plant material. A plant’s first indicator that they are stressed is its leaves will wilt and curl up or turn brown. This means they have been left dry too long and are very thirsty. WATER THEM NOW! Generally, during the second season of plant growth, most plants will have adapted to the environment and require less water than the first season, so watering can be as infrequent as once a week or as needed. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to call and ask for help. We do not warrant or replace plants that have died due to poor watering. There is no exact science to watering. Use your best judgment. Remember, all living things require water to survive, your plants/trees/shrubs included. It is your responsibility to water for good growth!
Care for Newly Planted Trees
Trees enjoy a hose set on a slow trickle for 40 minutes (average 10-15 gallons) a day for 3-4 weeks, longer if during major heat. After 4 weeks, water trees every other day for 40 minutes.
Care for Perennials and Shrubs
Shrubs and perennials will require water after planting. Generally, it will take 4-6 weeks for most plant materials to fully acclimate to a landscape. Watering should be done every day to maintain moist soil but not saturated soil. Water your perennials and shrubs 20-30 minutes a day with a sprinkler or a soaker hose. If excessive heat and dry weather, twice a day may be necessary.
Care for New Sod Lawns
Sod requires a great deal more water because it is already established turf with a root zone that is only ½” to 1” thick. Keep sod wet but not saturated until sod has rooted to the existing soil. You can easily tell when you can no longer lift the sod off the ground.
Example: Weeks 1-2 water 3 times a day 30-40 minutes every day. Weeks 3-4 water 3 times a day every other day at 25 minutes a time.
- Slit-seeded/over-seeded lawns require slightly less water as a newly seeded lawn.
- Weeks 1-2 water lawn twice a day for 20 minutes.
- Weeks 3-4 water lawns 3 days a week 20 minutes.
- Week 5 water lawn as normal.
Care for Newly Seeded Lawns
Newly seeded lawns take 7-14 days to germinate. These areas must be kept moist but not saturated until seed begins to grow.
- Weeks 1-2 water every day 3 times a day 10-15 minutes.
- Weeks 3-4 water 3 times a day 3 days a week for 10-15 minutes.
- Week 5 water 3 days a week once a day for 20 minutes.
- Week 6 and on water lawn as normal.