Care for Your New Plants
While you are enjoying your new landscape, take some time to look over each plant. It is common for some damage to occur in shipping and planting, so it may be necessary to gently remove a dead leaf or branch. Carefully follow the watering instructions below.
Watering Instructions
Plants need water to survive. Too little water or too much water may be harmful or fatal to your new plantings. It is imperative that you properly water your trees, shrubs, and perennials. These instructions also apply to our spaded trees.
Water your new plantings immediately after installation.
Water slowly until the soil surrounding each plant is completely saturated.
After this initial soaking, water your plants 2 – 3 times per week for the first month. However, you may need to water daily or even less often, depending on weather conditions. When in doubt, check the soil to ensure it is moist.
After one month, water at least one time per week for the duration of the growing season. Be sure to work with Mother Nature. If adequate rainfall occurs during a particular week (1”), you will generally not need to water.
Get to know your soil! Different soil types retain different amounts of moisture.
Helpful hints for watering new plants:
Water in the early morning or late afternoon.
Water slowly to allow saturation.
Long, deep watering is better than frequent light watering.
It is good to let the soil dry out between watering.
Water plants at their base, not the foliage to help prevent disease, fungus, and insect problems.
Always water during dry spells.
A droopy plant does not always need more water…maybe less. Be sure to check the soil.
Pruning
Pruning is offered in spring, summer, and fall. There are certain times to prune different species of plants. Our professional pruning staff will estimate the cost after reviewing the site. Recommendations are also offered at the time of estimate.
The late-dormant season is the overall best time for most tree pruning. Pruning just before spring growth leaves fresh wounds exposed for only a short time before new growth begins the wound sealing process. It is also easier to make pruning decisions without leaves obscuring tree branch structure. If you have medium to large-sized trees in need of pruning, we recommend you schedule winter pruning in February or March.
Helpful hints for pruning new plants:
There is no one day of the year that all plants should be pruned. Each species has very specific needs based on the growing season.
River City Lawnscape prunes in two ways:
Structural - The removal of interior limbs and stems to promote interior growth as well as healthy growth of plants. Most plants are to be structurally pruned at River City Lawnscape.
Shearing - The removal of the outermost part of the plant foliage and stems. This is done for shaping plants. If plants are repeatedly sheared year after year, they will assume shapes of meatballs or boxes. Very few plants are approved for shearing by the standards established at River City Lawnscape.
The UMN Extension Office is a great resource for pruning.
The University of MN also has some information about preventative pruning.
Weeds
Sporadic outbreaks of weeds are unavoidable but can be seen more depending on the site conditions and weather. Lawn weeds will be easily controlled with a regimented lawn care program. Weeds in planting beds can be pulled or sprayed with appropriate herbicides. Spraying is often more effective because it kills the entire plant, including the roots. Care must be taken not to spray good plants. Always read and follow the label directions. Certain pre-emergent herbicides are useful but not always recommended for all plants.
Helpful hints for weeding new plants:
Weeds can crop up anytime and anywhere.
Even landscape beds using weed barriers and stone mulch will on occasion experience weed outbreaks.
Weeds do not penetrate professional-grade weed barriers; however, windblown soil and debris on top of weed barriers will often be environmentally friendly enough to harbor weeds.
