Lawn Care
Our plant, tree, and lawn maintenance services help enhance your outdoor space, keeping grass green, vegetation controlled, and ecosystem supported and protected.
Watering
Initial watering: Immediately after laying fresh turf, water it thoroughly to ensure good soil moisture. Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy until the grass is established. Early morning is the best time to water to minimize evaporation and fungal growth.
Hot or Drought periods: In hot or dry periods, water early in the morning or late in the evening to reduce evaporation, and try to avoid watering the lawn during the hottest part of the day.
Mowing
First mow: Don’t mow until the grass has grown to a height of about 3-4 inches. Ensure the mower blade is sharp to avoid tearing the grass.
Regular mowing: After the first mow, keep the grass at a recommended height based on the grass type (typically 2.5-3 inches). Avoid cutting more than one-third of the grass height in a single mow to prevent stress on the lawn.
Mowing frequency: During the growing season, mow every 1-2 weeks, but be sure to adjust based on how fast the grass is growing.
Manual weed removal
For a more natural approach, regularly inspect your lawn for weeds and remove them manually or use a weed puller.
Overseeding
Overseeding technique: If there are patches or thinning spots in your lawn, overseed during the early fall (for cool-season grasses) or spring (for warm-season grasses). Overseeding helps fill in gaps and improves the lawn’s density.
Before overseeding: Mow the lawn low and rake up debris to allow better seed-to-soil contact.
Patience and Consistency
Give it time: A new lawn will take some time to establish itself. Be patient with the process and continue caring for it regularly.
Consistency is key: Stay consistent with mowing, watering, and fertilizing to encourage a strong, healthy lawn.
Maintaining Planting Beds
Watering
Initial watering: Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil around the roots and remove any air pockets.
Regular watering: New planting beds will need consistent watering, especially during dry periods. Water deeply at the base of the plants to encourage deep root growth, typically 1-1.5 inches of water per week. Water early in the morning to prevent fungal diseases.
Drip irrigation or soaker hoses: Consider using drip irrigation or soaker hoses to provide water directly to the roots while minimizing evaporation and water waste.
Mulching
Apply mulch: Mulch helps retain moisture, suppresses weeds, and improves soil quality as it decomposes. Apply a 2-4 inch layer of organic mulch like shredded bark, wood chips, or straw after planting. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the plant stems to avoid rot.
Replenish mulch: Over time, mulch will break down and decompose. Replenish the mulch layer as needed, usually once or twice a year.
Weed Control
Weed regularly: Keep weeds under control by hand-pulling or using a hoe. Weeds compete with your plants for water, nutrients, and sunlight, so it’s important to remove them promptly.
Fertilizing
Ongoing fertilization: Follow the manufacturer’s directions for fertilizing throughout the growing season. Some plants may need more frequent feeding than others, especially if they are heavy feeders (like vegetables).
Organic options: Organic fertilizers like compost, fish emulsion, or bone meal are excellent alternatives to chemical fertilizers. These improve soil health over time.
Pruning and Deadheading
Pruning: Regularly prune dead, damaged, or diseased stems and branches from your plants. This encourages healthy growth and keeps the plant looking tidy.
Deadheading: For flowering plants, remove spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming and prevent the plant from using energy to set seeds.
Cut back perennials: After the growing season ends, cut back perennial plants that die back in the winter, leaving about 2-4 inches above the ground.
Pest and Disease Management
Inspect plants regularly: Check for pests, such as aphids, slugs, or caterpillars, as well as signs of disease like yellowing leaves or mold.
Prevent diseases: Good air circulation and proper watering can help prevent fungal diseases. Water at the base of plants to keep foliage dry and reduce the likelihood of diseases like powdery mildew.
Mulching and Winter Care
Winterizing: For colder climates, mulch can also help protect plants from the winter cold. A thicker layer of mulch (3-5 inches) will insulate the roots of plants that are sensitive to frost.
Seasonal adjustments: In the Autumn, cut back dead growth, remove any spent plants, and replenish mulch to protect perennials. In spring, remove any winter mulch or debris to help new growth emerge.
Supporting Plants
Staking and support: Tall or leggy plants, such as certain flowers or vegetables, may need staking or supports to keep them upright. Use natural materials like bamboo stakes or commercial plant supports, especially if they are prone to toppling in wind or heavy rain.
Support for vines: Install trellises or other vertical supports for climbing plants such as peas, beans, or flowering vines.
Observe and Adjust
Observe growth: Regularly observe how your plants are growing, and adjust care as necessary. If certain plants seem to struggle, check for problems like poor soil, pests, or water stress.
Replenishing soil: Over time, the soil in your planting beds will lose nutrients. Adding compost or other organic amendments once a year will replenish the soil and keep your plants healthy.
Tree Maintenance
Regular Inspections
Check for health and structure: Regularly inspect trees for signs of disease, pest infestations, or structural issues. Look for things like unusual leaf discoloration, holes in the trunk, bark damage, or wilted branches.
Monitor for weak branches: Identify any branches that appear weak, broken, or hanging low. These could pose a risk to your property or surrounding people.
Fungus and disease: If you notice fungal growth on the bark or leaves, such as mushrooms growing at the base or black spots on leaves, consult a tree care professional.
Watering
Deep watering: Newly planted trees require consistent watering, especially in their first few years. Water deeply at the base of the tree to encourage deep root growth. During dry spells, trees need at least 1-1.5 inches of water per week.
Established trees: Established trees usually need less frequent watering. However, during prolonged dry periods, deep watering is still important. Avoid frequent shallow watering, as this encourages shallow root systems.
Mulch: Applying mulch around the base of the tree (2-4 inches) helps retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds. Keep mulch a few inches away from the tree trunk to prevent rot.
Pruning
Prune for health: Pruning should be done to remove dead, diseased, or damaged branches. Cutting these branches helps improve air circulation, reduces disease risk, and improves overall tree structure.
Timing: The best time to prune most trees is during the dormant season (late fall or early spring), though some trees, like certain flowering species, benefit from pruning just after they bloom.
Shape and structure: Prune to maintain a strong structure by removing crossing or rubbing branches and ensuring a central leader (main trunk) is prominent. Proper pruning early on helps avoid structural issues in mature trees.
Avoid heavy pruning: Never remove more than 25-30% of a tree’s canopy in one year, as this can stress the tree and cause long-term damage.
Pest and Disease Management
Regular monitoring: Keep an eye out for pests like aphids, scale insects, or borers, as well as symptoms of diseases such as blight, rust, or mildew. Inspect both the leaves and the trunk for signs of infestation.
Natural remedies: If pests are spotted, use natural treatments like neem oil, insecticidal soap, or introducing beneficial insects (ladybugs for aphids, for example).
Consult professionals: For more severe pest or disease problems, it’s best to consult a certified arborist to avoid harming the tree with improper treatments.
Tree Support and Protection
Staking young trees: When young trees are newly planted, staking them can help prevent wind damage and ensure they grow straight. Use soft, flexible ties and ensure the stakes are not too tight to avoid girdling.
Tree Cabling and Bracing
Support weak branches: If a tree has weak or split branches, cabling or bracing may be necessary to help support the tree and prevent future damage. This is often a good option for older trees with structural issues.
Consult an arborist: It’s best to have a certified arborist assess whether cabling and bracing are necessary and to install the support systems properly.
Tree Growth Management
Manage size and shape: Over time, trees may outgrow their space. Consider the tree’s mature size and regularly prune to keep it within a manageable size. This helps avoid overcrowding or damage to nearby structures or power lines.
Control competing vegetation: Keep nearby plants, grass, or shrubs from overtaking the tree’s root zone. Competitors can limit resources like water and nutrients, stunting the tree’s growth.
Mulching
Apply mulch: Use organic mulch around the base of the tree to regulate temperature, retain moisture, and suppress weeds. Replenish mulch as it decomposes over time.
Tree Removal (When Necessary)
Signs of decline: If a tree is severely diseased, damaged, or a safety hazard, removal may be necessary. Signs of tree decline include extensive dieback, hollow trunks, root rot, or severe leaning.
Consult an arborist: Always consult a certified arborist before removing a tree. They can help determine if the tree can be saved or if removal is the best course of action.
