Plant Care Resources

Whether brand new or newly renovated, your landscaping is an investment in the value of your home. You can protect the value of your investment by following the helpful tips listed below, thereby guaranteeing that you will enjoy your new landscaping for years to come.

WATERING

Properly watering you new landscape is essential to its survival, especially in Central Illinois where recent summers have featured drought-like conditions.

Check plants to see if they need watering by sticking your finger 2-3 inches into the soil at the base of the plant. If the soil is cool and moist, your plants should be fine for the moment. However, if the soil is dry and crumbly to the touch, turn your hose on to a pencil size trickle at the base of the plant. When watering your plants it is a good idea to hand water each plant individually rather than watering many plants at once using a lawn sprinkler. The sprinkler is quicker, but watering the entire plant poses a greater risk of leaf disease. Allow the hose to trickle for 3-5 minutes for each plant. (For larger trees and shrubs, allot more time.) This slow intake of water will allow for deeper root system development, which is a defense mechanism for plants during drought situations. In summary, follow these simple rules: * Check you plants at least once every 1-2 weeks. * Water your plants only as needed. * Water your plants at the base to avoid leaf disease.

Finally, high winds, high temperatures, and high humidity may call for additional and more frequent watering.

SOIL AMENDMENTS

The peat moss and fertilizer surrounding your newly planted trees and shrubs should be sufficient as a soil amendment. The peat moss acts as a source of organic matter, which has good water holding capacity.

Perennials, groundcovers, and even your trees and shrubs can be given another source of organic matter known as mushroom compost. Mushroom compost can be applied as a top-dressing or tilled and raked into beds annually. Mushroom compost can be used in combination with peat moss.

Shredded hardwood bark mulch not only looks good, but also adds a constant source of organic matter. It should be applied no more than 3 to 4 inches in depth for landscape beds. When adding organic matter to beds, the use of peat moss, mushroom compost, and bark mulch together will not only improve the soil, but also allow for air movement, drainage, and increased water holding capacity.

SOD AND SEED CARE

To ensure proper germination, newly planted grass seed should be kept moist continuously. Seed mixes that contain perennial rye grass should germinate in 7-14 days while blue grass mixes should germinate in 14-21 days. You should move sprinklers and hoses around to maintain constant moisture until germination. It is important not to allow your seed to dry out. You may add straw as a light top-dressing to conserve moisture and to protect against erosion.

You should keep new sod completely saturated during the establishment period. The drying out of your sod is severely stressful and could be fatal. Watering should be increased and monitored during periods of high winds, temperatures and humidity.

PRUNING

It may not be necessary to prune your new shrubs and trees during their first few years. When the time comes for pruning and plant care maintenance, follow the general guidelines below.

TREES/SHRUBS

For flowering trees and shrubs, prune immediately after flowering has occurred. Pruning flowering trees and shrubs in the fall may result in little or no flowering the following spring.

EVERGREENS

Most evergreens should be pruned in late winter or early spring when they are dormant and before new growth begins.

ANNUALS/PERENNIALS/ORNAMENTAL GRASSES

Wait for a hard frost or until flowering has finished to cut back annuals and perennials. Cut annuals and perennials back to the ground and dispose of the debris. Waiting to cut back plants in the spring may encourage overwintering of insects and disease. Ornamental grasses may be left untouched through the winter months in order to add an element of winter interest to your landscape, and then cut down to the ground in early March before new growth begins. When pruning, always follow these additional rules of thumb: * Never remove more than 1/3 of any plant. * Make certain that pruning equipment is properly sharpened. * Wear protective gear such as gloves and safety glasses.

FERTILIZATION

Many of the plants that have been installed in your new landscape have already been given granular fertilizer at the nurseries that they originated from. These plants will be sufficiently fertilized for 1-2 years. After the first few years, you may fertilize your plants by adding additional amounts of a balanced granular fertilizer (10-10-10 analysis) or a liquid fertilizer such as Root Stimulator. Root Stimulator can be applied to trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials and ground cover. Deep root feeding is recommended for trees to maintain good health. You may need to repeat fertilization for plants that flower often and heavily. Always follow label instructions when applying fertilizer of any kind.