Professional landscaping can add a lot of enjoyment to your home – not to mention value! But like most things in life, your landscaping job will only last as long as it is being properly cared for. If you want to maximize your landscaping investment, it is important to follow these basic maintenance tips.
Watering
Making sure that new plants are properly watered is extremely important – particularly in hot weather. In the first week after planting, most new plants can be “flooded” – this will not harm them. Just be careful not to wash away any of the mulch or soil. The exact amount of water required will, of course, depend on the type of plant, and our experts will be happy to guide you on this.
Tree Stakes and Wrapping
If trees have been planted as part of your landscaping, proper care over the first year is essential in keeping them healthy. Young trees are most likely to blow over during their first spring when the ground is wet and may need staking for 6-12 months after they’ve been planted.
Ensure that the tree stakes are removed within a reasonable amount of time. If they are on for too long, whatever method of tieing the tree becomes an issue with the growth of the tree. It will hold back the tree, in addition to cutting into the bark of the tree. Too often you can see the effect of this 4-5 years after a landscape project where the neglect has a detrimental effect on the trees.
Weed Control and Mulching
As part of your landscaping, Envision Landscapes takes measures to eliminate weeds as well as prevent new ones from growing. Eventually, however, some maintenance on your part will be required. If a few weeds appear, pulling them by hand is the easiest method of removal.
However, once the mulch starts to thin more weeds are likely to appear. To prevent this, additional mulch should be applied at least every other year. Maintain at least 2-3 inches of mulch over the soil. This will both help prevent weeds as well as hold on to moisture for your plants.
Pruning
To keep trees and perennials from getting unruly and to stimulate their growth, some pruning is usually required. When you prune will depend on the type of plant. In general, you should prune evergreens in the spring or summer. Flowering plants such as Rose of Sharon or lilac should be pruned early spring before they begin to bud and perennials like lavender and ornamental grasses should be cut down to a few inches in the spring before new growth appears.
Winter Protection
The plants we use in our landscaping are generally cold-hardy perennials and need no extra protection during Canadian winters. In some cases, however, a little extra protection is warranted. For example, if there has not been much rain in the fall, some watering before the ground freezes can help prevent injury to your evergreens. Also having enough of a mulch barrier protects root systems from drastic changes in temperature. And if you live in an area with lots of squirrels and rabbits, you may want to put rodent guards on young trees to protect them as well.
Of course, our experts at Envision Landscapes will provide you with more specific instructions directly related to the plants and features in your landscape – but as you can see a little bit of care goes a long way toward maximizing your investment. If you have question about the maintenance of your landscape or are looking for landscaping maintenance services, give us a call today at 905-648-4040.