Tree & Shrub Care

New Tree/Shrub Care  

Proper watering is the single most important aspect of having a healthy tree surviving in a landscape. Newly planted trees and shrubs have a reduced root system that will dry out quickly if not watered properly. 

                    
Watering Trees and Shrubs

Trees and shrubs should be checked every day for the first few weeks depending on the weather. Trees and shrubs planted in extreme conditions eg: along south side of house or fence and hot, windy locations should be watered more frequently. Periodically check the soil by gently digging a few inches deep to check for moisture. Water your large caliper tree every couple of days during the hot summer months. You can water the tree well to overflowing each time. After a few weeks reduce watering to weekly, again watering the tree well until overflowing. Watering shrubs should be every day or so depending on temperature. It is easy to spot a dry shrub as the leaves will become wilted very quickly when first planted. Over watering is also common mistake made by home gardeners who may "love" their tree or shrub to death.

Signs of underwatering: 

yellowing of leaves, crunchy leaves, dry leaves falling off (crunchy)

Signs of overwatering:

yellowing of leaves, curled leaves (not crunchy), moist leaves falling off (softer, not crunchy)

A few tips to consider with watering: 

Use a deep root feeder as this product allows for the water to be delivered to the roots below the surface which encourages the tree or shrub to send its roots deep down towards the water source. Trees/shrubs with deep root systems are better able to withstand drought.

Avoid shallow watering. Trees or shrubs watered with a sprinkler or light misting will only encourage shallow surface roots to develop as the water is not saturating deep into the soil. Ultimately the tree or shrub will not be able to withstand severe drought conditions as well as a tree/shrub with deep, well established roots.

A tree water bag is a useful product if you are busy person and still want a healthy tree or shrub without the obligation to stand around with a garden hose. A tree watering bag can be filled up every 2-5 days depending on the trees watering needs and it slowly releases the water over a 6-10 hour period. It provides a slower relapse of water allowing the water to soak deep into the soil, avoiding runoff water. There are many different brands and sizes of tree watering bags available at local retailers and online.

Tree Stakes

If tree stakes are installed they should be removed or wires adjusted after one to two years. Wires can be loosened to allow the tree trunk to continue to grow should the tree stakes still be required. The image on the right shows the cutting of the trees bark caused by the guide wires being left on the tree to long. As the tree grows the tree will continue to grow over the wires, restricting movement of nutrients through the tree bark.

Fertilizing trees or shrubs should be done in the spring or fall. Consult with a local garden center or horticultural expert for what is best option for your plants.

New Sod watering

Avoid walking on fresh sod once watering has started. The extra moist soil is very susceptible to any weight and indentations can be left behind. New sod should be watered every day the first week, every second day the second week and every third day the third week. Light rain is not enough to support sod. It is best to water early in the morning or in the evening as less water evaporates. Water lightly and for a long time (deep watering) so the water soaks in and doesn’t run off.

It is easy to spot sod that has not had enough water as the edge will start drying up and turning yellow/brown. Make sure to manually water areas that the sprinkler misses eg. corners or other areas of the yard hidden alongside the house, fence, sheds, or other obstacles the sprinkler hits.

For the first week of so you should be able to easily pull up a corner of the sod to see if the sod is getting enough water. If the roots are dry or the ground underneath is dry it is best to get more water on the sod. If the roots are really wet and the ground is well saturated underneath that means your watering schedule is working well. If the sod corner does not easily lift up that is a  sign that the new roots are beginning to grow. Do not pull the sod up anymore as it will damage the new roots.

Cutting new sod

You can mow new sod as soon as the roots start to grow or when it is anchored to the ground, so that it won’t lift up (typically 2 to 3 weeks). Do not remove more than 1/3 of the blade of grass at one cutting. It is better to mow more frequently to get to the desired height, than to remove too much at one time. 

It is important to pick up the lawn clippings for the first few cuttings as you do not want to smother the lawn with clippings, preventing sunlight and water from reaching the roots. Try to keep new sod a bit longer in length until the roots become more established. This will allow the grass to focus on root development, rather than recovering from a cutting. Keeping the grass longer will also help to keep the sod from drying out as fast. A good grass height is 3 inches. This length helps to reduce evaporation and is a healthy height for residential lawns.

Aeration and Power Raking

Do not aerate or power rake new lawns, as the roots will not be strong enough to stay anchored in the soil. Allow one full growing season for the roots to establish before performing these services. 

General Care

Keep walkways and patios free of debris, dirt and anything that might stain the surface.

Wash as needed with with normal water pressure from a hose. Avoid using pressure washers as the polymeric sand or jointing sand can be washed loose resulting in loose blocks. 

In the event of block settlement or polymeric sand coming loose, contact your landscaper to repair the area of concern.

Winter Care

Do not use metal edged shovels, scrapers, or ice chippers on concrete blocks as the surfaces will  get scratched and/or chipped.

Do not use ice melt products on concrete blocks as they can cause unwanted pitting and flaking of  the surface.

Keeping the surfaces free of snow will help prevent unwanted ice build up. In the event that the surfaces do become icy, sand is the best option to use.