Guide To New Plant Establishment
Tee To Green Grounds Management Company would like to share the following guidelines to help guarantee the success of your new plants.
Watering
- Recently transplanted plants need special care due to their limited root systems.
- Initially, new plants and trees should receive a heavy but slow watering.
- Do not over-water. Plants should never sit in standing water. Too much water can be as bad as too little water.
- We recommend using soaker hoses or let the water trickle out of the end of a regular hose around the ball area of the plant.
- If a sprinkler must be used, you may need to water for a long period of time to put enough water down to get to the roots.
- For the first year, new plantings need about one inch of water a week.
- During hot or dry periods plants should be watered several times a week.
- Look for drooping or wilting leaves to indicate a problem.
- Water perennials every other day until they are established, and then proceed watering on a weekly basis.
- Trees should be watered slowly for up to two years.
Pruning / Trimming
- At planting, only remove any broken or injured branches.
- As needed, proper pruning and trimming is necessary for the health and appearance of the plant.
- Most non-flowering shrubs can be trimmed two times a year.
- Flowering shrubs should only be trimmed after they are finished blooming to prevent removing new buds.
- Perennials are typically cut back in the winter before any new growth appears.
Fertilizing
- Just like your lawn, plants will be healthier and have stronger roots if they are regularly fertilized.
- Usually, it is better to not fertilize during the planting process since this can cause root burn.
- Flowering ornamental shrubs and evergreens should be fertilized two times per year.
- For best results, use a slow release granular fertilizer with proper analysis.
