Requirements for Maintaining Your Landscape
We at Kennedy's appreciate the opportunity of working with you and completing
the installation of your new landscape planting. We are proud of our work and
feel sure that you are, too. Please take a few minutes to review these
maintenance requirements. Your immediate attention to this is necessary to
insure the success and survival of your plants.
Your care is required to establish strong root systems on your plantings. To
accomplish this YOU MUST:
· Deep water large trees and shrubs the first
day by placing a slow running hose near the base of each plant, saturating the
plant hole until thoroughly wet. Repeat this every 2 days for one week, then
continue once or twice a week depending on the weather.
· Bed plantings may be watered by hand or by
sprinkler to saturate soil 6" deep (watering in the early am reduces loss of
water to evaporation). Repeat every 2 days for one week, then continue once
per week.
· It’s a good idea to syringe all plants with
water mist a few times per day the first week. This procedure is especially
helpful for transplanted plants. Misting will help reduce wilting and leaf
drop (more often on hot days). Most trees and shrubs wilt and drop a few
leaves regardless of care, this is a natural process resulting from
transplanting shock and should not result in permanent injury to the plants.
· Keep in mind that water requirements are
subject to environmental conditions. Hot and dry weather means extra water,
cool and moist weather requires less water. Ideally, your landscape should
receive 1" of water per week (this includes natural rain fall). You can
determine the amount of soil moisture by taking a soil sample at a depth of
six inches and squeezing a handful of it. If the soil ball holds together when
released but is not sticky, soil moisture is favorable.
Seed and sod areas
· Should be kept wet at all times
until approximately 1" of growth is apparent. At that time, begin to
water heavily and less frequently until grass has been mowed a two or three
times. Lawn areas require at least 1" of water per week to remain in a
healthy growing condition.
· Fertilizer for your sod or seed was applied
at installation and will remain effective for 30 days. Consequently a second
application of turf fertilizer is strongly recommended after the 30 day period
along with watering to encourage maximum development. No weed killer of any
kind should be used for the first 45 days.
In order to get the most satisfaction from your landscape over the years to come,
we also suggest that you:
· Continue watering especially during hot, dry
spells in summer and also in the late fall. This will assure adequate moisture
through the winter. This is especially important for evergreens.
· Trim off dead or undesirable branching with
clean, sharp pruning shears.
· Weed all planting beds as soon as weeds
appear. Allowing weeds to establish will increase their populations as well as
making their removal more difficult. We encourage you to mark beds near
driveways that require snow plowing prior to the first snowfall.
· Re- mulch your landscape as necessary to
maintain a 1½" layer of mulch. this will help retard weeds, retain
moisture, decrease rapid changes in soil temperature and give your landscape a
fresh, clean appearance. Maintaining a well defined edging of bed lines will
highlight your landscape further.
· Fertilize all plantings with tree and shrub
fertilizer in early spring and in the fall. For specific fertilizer
recommendations, please consult your landscape designer or our garden center
staff. Rhododendrons and Azaleas prefer a fertilizer application after
flowering.
· Note: Your plants were planted with a slow
release fertilizer which will last 8-9 months. No fertilizer is recommended
until the following spring.
· Observe carefully leaves and stems for
insects and /or unusual coloring or disfiguring of leaves. Early detection of
insects and diseases will allow for control before extensive damage occurs.
Immediately consult your designer or our garden center staff with any
questions or concerns.
We at Kennedy's are always interested in answering any
questions you may have concerning your landscape. Do not hesitate to give us a
call. Thank you for your business.
