View Our Digital Designs Call Us Today
Your newly planted shrubs and trees require adequate water. For the first two weeks, water each plant thoroughly every 3 days. Do this by allowing water to run from the garden hose at low pressure near the base of each plant, until the soil is loose and muddy. This may be as quick as a minute for shrubs or take as long as 15 minutes for large trees.
After the initial two-week period, water plants on an as needed basis. You will want to check the soil near the plants by lightly digging with your hand. The soil should be moist, not muddy or too dry. If the soil is dry, give plants a thorough soaking.
Some soils drain quickly while others drain slowly. Too much water can kill a plant as does too little. Plants with wilted leaves are showing signs of stress that may be from either cause. Be aware that soil coverings such as fabric with stone or bark help retain moisture. You will need to check the soil beneath these materials. The easiest way to do this is at a plant where a slice was made for the plant to fit through the fabric. Check you plants once a week for the first year.
Lawn sprinkler systems may over water new trees and shrubs.
Trees only need to be staked straight if they become loose or crooked.
Do not allow grass to grow close to the new trees and shrubs. This can cause a stressful situation for the plant to grow in.
If plants do not look healthy call us for an evaluation.
A quality fertilization program for established plants can help plants to thrive and grow aggressively. Be sure to do this at the correct time of the year.
Call Aspen Property Care offices if you have any questions or concerns. Aspen Property Care has professional programs that are available to help you care for your landscape.
Provide water by sprinkling once or twice a day to keep the top layer of soil constantly moist. Avoid standing water. Keep traffic off as much as possible. If a mulch material was used, be sure to recover any areas that may have become bare due to wind, rain or traffic. Once grass appears (7-14 days) allow the soil surface to dry out slightly between waterings; this may be every other day or so. Due to wind sun and shade some areas may need more or less attention than others. By 4-5 weeks you new lawn will only require water twice a week. NOTE: Be sure to keep young grass moist in hot and windy weather. These conditions can destroy a newly seeded lawn.
Use a new lawn starter fertilizer when you new lawn is 4 weeks old. Fertilize every 6 weeks with a quality product thereafter.
Many new weeds will also grow in a new lawn. Do not attempt to spray weeds until the lawn has been mowed for the third time. You may kill the new grass.
It takes a minimum of a year of quality care to turn a newly seeded lawn into a sod-like condition. It will take longer yet if the new lawn does not receive proper water, fertilization and weed control.
Thin areas in the lawn will thicken in with quality care. Bare spots will need to be reseeded. Call for an evaluation.
Mowing your newly seeded lawn can take place as soon as possible. For the first year of your new seed, mow it at your lawn mowers highest setting. Keep lawn mower blades sharp, and mow often enough so that you’re not removing more than 1/3 of the height.
Normally the straw and/or netting can be left in place. However, if any straw or netting has bunched up it should be removed before mowing. It is very easy to cut with a knife.
The lawn will need to dry out for a few days before you mow so you don’t rut the lawn. Grass clippings should be left on the lawn, unless they’re excessive.
The initial watering of the sod will require a very thorough soaking. Water should be applied until all areas are soaked to a soil depth of 2” or so. Then provide daily watering of approximately ¼ “ of water until the sod is established (about 2 weeks). Narrow strips of sod and edge areas such as along curbs, drives, and walks may need extra attention to prevent drying out. IF YOU DO NOT WATER ENOUGH THE SOD WILL SHRINK AND/OR DIE! You need to water enough to maintain a lush green color and yet not remain soggy for extended periods of time.
Sod that is fading or graying in color is not receiving adequate water. During very hot or windy weather, try to keep water on the sod during the worst parts of the day to help counteract the effects of the sun and wind. Evening watering is less desirable as it may promote disease. After 2-2 ½ weeks, watering should be cut back to twice a week or as needed to keep it green and lush.
Your new sod should be mowed at approximately 10 days and be kept mowed thereafter. It will need to be dry for a few days before mowing. Grass clippings should be left on the lawn unless they’re excessive.
To keep a lawn looking lush it requires an average of 1” of water per week. Thorough soaking of ½ “ of water or more are much more beneficial than numerous light waterings. A lawn that is constantly moist is very susceptible to many lawn diseases, and to having a shallow root system, which makes it more susceptible to drought and frost damage.
To measure the amount your sprinklers are delivering, simply take three (3) vertically sided containers such as a soup can or drinking glass and place them about the area being sprinkled. When the containers each have ½” of water in them, you’ll know that is the amount of time to run your system. It may be as little as 15 minutes or as much as 90 minutes.
Set your system to run for this amount of time once every four (4) days. It is important to try to water in the early morning hours, such as between 4:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. This allows the water to soak in before the sun gets too hot, and also allows the grass to dry off which is important for disease prevention.
Late afternoon and evening waterings on a regular basis is an invitation for fungus type diseases, which can severely damage a lawn. If evenings are your only opportunity to water, do it less often and apply more water like 1-1 ½” per time. By doing this the grass plants will not be consistently damp but should have enough water to stay green and healthy.
Aspen Property Care would be happy to help you set-up your watering system if you need help or to answer your watering questions.