Care Guide for Residential Landscape Plantings and New Lawn Installations From Seed or Sod
New landscape plantings and new lawn installations have specific care requirements like watering, fertilizing and trimming. Here is a step-by-step guide for caring for your new landscape.
Download this care guide and warranty information here
Caring For Lawns Started From Seed
Light rain showers do not always soak the soil enough. When in doubt… water! Don’t allow the soil surface to dry out, as each time this occurs a percentage of the seed is lost. Watering should result in a thorough soaking without runoff and may be required up to three times per day (early morning, mid-day and early evening) depending on weather conditions.
Watering Seeded Lawns
The number one factor that determines the success or failure of your newly-seeded lawn is watering.
Read More About Watering Grass Seed
- Watering rule of thumb for newly seeded lawns: water 15-20 min 3x/day
- Watering rule of thumb for an existing lawn: water 20-30 min every other day.
- Newly seeded lawns need to be kept damp for up to 5 weeks to achieve the best results.
- Water may be reduced to twice daily after 2 mowings and once daily after 4 mowings.
Seed Germination Stage
The better lawn grasses such as Kentucky Blue and Fescue take up to 3 weeks to germinate, so be patient and keep watering!
Read More About Seed Germination
- Use a blower to keep leaves and debris off the soil
- Walking on it is OK for the purposes of moving sprinklers and debris
- Starter fertilizer must be applied after 3 weeks to strengthen and improve the grass
- Please note that a minimum temperature of 50 degrees F is required for seed germination.
Fertilizer and Weed Control
Weed competition is normal with newly seeded lawns. Don’t panic! Most weeds are annual, and your lawn will ultimately win.
Read More about Fertilizing Newly Seeded Lawns
- Weeds and crabgrass should be expected during the seed germination stage; and especially in spring seeded lawns and during hot weather.
- Do not apply pre-emergent crabgrass control (“Step-1”) to soil prior to or during germination period – unless the product is specifically for newly seeded lawns
- Apply a regular regimen of fertilizer and weed control (if needed) after 4 mowings
Mowing
It may take up to six weeks before your newly seeded lawn is ready to mow. Here are some tips to follow regarding mowing:
Read More About Mowing Newly Seeded Lawns
- Mow when grass reaches 3”. Bag clippings for the first month.
- Never mow shorter than 3”. This will keep the soil surface shaded, reducing drought and weed problems.
- Keep your mower blades sharp to reduce lawn stress and fungus.
- Mow once a week and do not cut off more than 1/3 of the blade in any one mowing.
Continuing Care For Seeded Lawns
Your best lawn is the following year after seeding! Please feel free to call with questions, we’re here to help!
Read More About Continuing Care For Seeded Lawns
- Hire a lawn care service or follow a 4-step lawn care program diligently – timing is critical – especially the first step (crabgrass control) in early spring
- Water all sections evenly for 20-30 minutes every other day. A lawn irrigation system is ideal for this.
- You may to have to overseed in areas of washout or shady areas for best coverage. This is best done in late summer/early fall.
Caring For Sod Lawns
Your new sod lawn looks like it’s always been there – but it still needs care to get firmly rooted in. The requirements are much less nuanced than a seeded lawn and for a shorter period of time.
Watering Sodded Lawns
When watering sodded lawns, there is less concern about runoff and more about watering deep enough.
Read More About Watering New Sod Lawns
- On the first day of installation make sure that all areas of new sod get 2 hours of watering.
- The second day and for the next 2 weeks, 30-40 min of watering 3 times per day - preferably early morning, mid-day and early evening.
- After two weeks, watering can be decreased to 15 – 20 min 2x/day.
- Water thoroughly enough to soak the sod though to the underlying soil and down about an inch. If it rains a significant amount you can reduce watering.
- Watch for drying edges and seams and soak those areas more if needed.
Fertilizing a Sod Lawn
Turf grass is always hungry! Your sod lawn has been growing for several years before it arrive in your yard. It requires nitrogen and other nutrients just as any other established lawn would.
Read More About Fertilizing New Sod Lawns
- Sod should be fertilized with a starter fertilizer right away
- Maintain standard fertilizer program (Summer, Fall) every 5-6 weeks
- Avoid products with weed control unless weeds are an issue (they shouldn’t be)
Mowing a Newly Sodded Lawn
You will be amazed how quickly your sod will grow. Care needs to be taken when mowing a newly sodded lawn until it is rooted in.
Read More About Mowing New Sod Lawns
- New sod may be mowed when it is ready. Mow slowly and avoid sudden turns.
- Bag clippings for the first month
- Never mow shorter than 3”
- Keep your mower blades sharp to reduce lawn stress and fungus
- Mow once a week and do not cut off more than 1/3 of the blade in any one mowing
Caring For New Landscape Plantings
Watering New Trees and Shrubs
Watering requirements for trees and shrubs are very different than turf grass. Rain showers and lawn sprinkler systems do not provide adequate water for plants! The goal is to soak the plant’s root ball all the way though.
However, be careful not to over-water because plant roots need oxygen as well as water. Many trees and shrubs will show signs of wilt when over-watered as well as when dry. Soaker hoses and irrigation system drip zones are a great way to ensure your plants are getting consistent watering.
Here are few tips to maintaining proper moisture for your plants:
Read More About Watering Landscape Plantings
- New trees and shrubs should be soaked through at installation and maintained with regular watering.
- To water your plants, place a hose right at the base of the trunk and turn it on at a pencil-sized trickle. This may take from 20 min up to 2 hrs. depending on the size of the plant.
- Check just beneath the soil surface and keep it neither soggy nor bone dry, but somewhere in between. Poke your finger down an inch or two below the surface to determine if the soil has dried in the root zone. Weather conditions (summer heat, excessive rain) will determine how quickly this happens. Adjust your watering routine accordingly.
- New Plants: drip water 30 – 45 min every other day
- Established Plants: drip water 30 – 45 min every 3 -4 days
Fertilizing New Landscape Plants
“First roots…then shoots.” New trees and shrubs need an established root system before they can begin pushing out top growth. This takes time – typically about 3 years. Our landscape crews condition the soil in the planting hole with root stimulant. This helps the roots take to the new soil.
Read More About Fertilizing New Landscape Plants
- First year: Use no fertilizer
- Second year: Use a slow-release, mycorrhizae-rich fertilizer like Holly-Tone in the spring before mulching
- Third year: Use a slow-release organic fertilizer or a low-nitrogen garden fertilizer like 10-10-10
- Professional tree services can provide deep root fertilizing as well
Continuing Care For Landscape Plants
Unlike lawns, continuing care for your trees and shrubs happens only annually or semi-annually. Still, it is important to not neglect these maintenance items if you want them to grow quickly.
Read More About Other Maintenance Item For Landscape Plants
- Protect broadleaf evergreens from winter damage with an anti-desiccant spray (Wilt-Pruf)
- Maintain a mulch circle around the drip line of the tree to protect the bark from weed encroachment
- Add an inch or so of bark mulch each year to help retain moisture and inhibit weeds
- Do not pile mulch around trunk as it can rot the bark
- Some light pruning may be done to correct branch structure in year two
- Remove any support wires or tree wrap from initial planting in year two
