Young plants, much like young children or babies are more fragile; they need more attention and more care. Here are a couple tips to help you care for your new plants!
1.) WATER is one of the most important needs for new plants. New plants require around 1 inch of water per week. This is important, because without sufficient water, there’s no way for the roots to become hydrated. Letting the water run for a minimum of 30 mins-1 hour will ensure enough water is present to soak into the roots. These waters should be scheduled for the late evening or early morning. Watering at night will result in root rot and watering during the day will evaporate the water before it has the chance to sink into the soil and reach the roots. Therefore make sure your irrigation is up-and-working and that the times are scheduled to water at the right times of day.
2.) MULCH sometimes has a bad rep, but not only is it ascetically pleasing, it’s an environmentally, wholistic, and natural option to improve plant health and increase the appearance of the landscaping. In addition, laying mulch properly, around 3 inches thick, help plants retain moisture, regulate the temperate of the root system, and decreases weed growth (instead of using dangerous chemicals such a Round-up).
3.) PRUNING encourages increased growth on both new, and mature plants. In mature plants, a great deal of plant material can be removed during pruning. However, when pruning newly installed plant material, only about 3-6 inches of plant material should be removed. In addition, this material should be pruned evenly, on all branches/stalks of the plant to ensure new growth develops horizontally and vertically. Pruning should be done every 7-10 days to allow enough time in-between, for the plant to produce new growth.
Water, mulch, and pruning are our top tips for new landscape installations. Other care tips include fertilize plants as needed and stake-up large plants. Continue to read our post to learn about not only caring for new landscape, but also your preexisting landscape! Thanks for stoping by!