WATERING YOUR NEW LANDSCAPE: PLANTINGS
These guidelines are a general description of basic watering techniques designed to assist you with your new landscape planting installation. Most importantly, your specific watering needs will vary depending on a few main factors, and attention to these factors is the most important aspect of watering correctly and maintaining a healthy landscape. The first growing season is the most critical and will set the standard for all plantings to ensure that your plants survive and thrive.
VARIABLES AND SITE CONDITIONS
Temperature, rainfall, sun exposure, steep slopes, and soil composition are all factors that need to be considered. Plant material in full sun, or on a sloped area, will require more watering than material in partial shade on level ground. Trees planted in heavy clay soils will be amended around the planting area, but the surrounding clay soils can act like a bowl, retaining water. Root rot from poor drainage can be just as deadly as underwatering. Please inquire about your soil composition during your project so that we can provide you with the best watering guidelines.
QUANTITY
Volume of water should be determined by the size of your plant, the soil composition and how dry existing conditions are when watering. Checking the soil around your tree or plant 24 hours after you water should give you an indication of how fast the water is being absorbed. Try to maintain a moist soil consistency and not muddy or powdery dry.
FREQUENCY
New plants should be watered every 1-2 days for anywhere between 2 and 4 weeks. This will keep the soil moist enough to reduce transplant shock and promote root growth. After the first 2-4 weeks, watering should occur more heavily and less frequently to promote deeper root growth. One heavy watering every 2-3 days for approximately 2 weeks and then watering as necessary based on soil consistency is recommended. Please keep in mind that temperature and rainfall will play large roles in the amount of water needed!
AT A GLANCE
NEW PLANTINGS
- Keep new plants moist by watering every 1-2 days.
- Check soil conditions before you water.
- Reduce watering frequency over 2-4 weeks, but increase the amount of water to promote deep root growth.
- Apply water slowly to give the plant a chance to absorb water deep into the root system.
F.A.Q.
1.It rained, do I still need to water?
a. When in doubt, check that soil! A quick thunderstorm can produce a lot of volume but it often runs off sooner than it is absorbed by the plant. Long, soaking rains may hep to reduce your watering but check conditions to be sure.
2. What’s the best way to check soil moisture consistency?
a. Use a small gardening tool, stick or long screwdriver to create a small hole next to the newly planted root ball. Try to get at least 6″ deep to check for moisture content. Sometimes freshly watered plants will look wet on top but the roots below are still sitting in dry soil. Prepare to get your hands dirty! Feel the soil with your bare hands to assess the moisture level.
3. I’m noticing drooping and wilting, what should I do?
a. Start by checking your soil conditions and assess if it is moist, muddy, or dry. Then email us! We’ll help navigate the issue and make recommendations to get your plants back on track.
THANK YOU FOR
CHOOSING TO
GROW WITH US
WATERING YOUR NEW LAWN
These guidelines are a general description of basic watering techniques designed to assist you with your new lawn installation. Most importantly, your specific watering needs will vary depending on a few main factors, and attention to these factors is the most important aspect of achieving initial seed germination and continued growth. The first growing season is the most critical, and will set the standard for you new lawn’s ability to thrive.
THE SEED IS INSTALLED AND STRAW COVERS THE AREA: WHAT’S NEXT?
Newly seeded lawns need to have the top 2 inches of soil be kept moist for the first couple of weeks. Watering twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, is critical for optimal seed germination. The straw that covers your yard helps to keep the soil from drying out too quickly. Depending on the size of your new lawn area, sprinklers may be set up on zones in order to keep enough pressure to operate the sprinklers correctly. Each zone should get about 15-20 minutes of watering. If puddling on top of the soil occurs, reduce the amount of watering time to keep the soil from washing or rotting prior to germination. Weather, time of year, and soil conditions will all impact the time needed for watering, so prepare for some ‘trial and error’ in the beginning stages of watering.
GERMINATION BEGINS!
Depending on your exact seed mix, you should start seeing tiny blades of grass poke up through the straw in 7-10 days. Watering can be gradually reduced at this time to once a day, 3-4x per week. The amount of watering time should increase in order to allow a deeper watering to promote root growth. Continue to monitor the depth of moisture in the soil by hand and adjust watering times as needed to reach a depth of 3″.
1 MONTH AND BEYOND
The lawn should be well on its way to establishment at this point, and may even require the first mowing. Watering can continue to be reduced to an ‘as-needed’ basis depending on the weather, but plan continue watering 2x a week with a longer watering time. Weather conditions such as high temperatures or droughts may necessitate the watering to increase at any time in the first growing season. A few visual signs that the lawn is stressed due to lack of watering could be grass discoloration, wilting, or slow to rebound after being walked on. The first year of your lawn will likely not be a picture-perfect, lush lawn.
AT A GLANCE
LAWN INSTALLATION
- Keep the soil consistently moist until germination (7-10 days).
- Once germination occurs, reduce watering frequency and increase volume to promote root growth.
- The right tools really help: Tower sprinklers can reach large areas while arched sprinklers can help to address smaller, tight areas. Watering Timers can be used to set up zones, length of watering time, and the time of day.
Full establishment takes more than 1 growing season, and should be supplemented with lawn care treatments to assist with pests, diseases, and growth. Ask your Project Manager about getting a quote for our seasonal lawn treatment program.
F.A.Q.
1. It rained, do I still need to water?
a. When in doubt, check that soil! A quick thunderstorm can produce a lot of volume but it often runs off sooner than it is absorbed into the soil. Long, soaking rains may hep to reduce your watering but check conditions to be sure.
2. When should I mow?
a. There is no “set time” after seeding, but please wait until the new lawn is roughly 4-5 inches and “full”. Some areas may grow faster than others due to environmental and weather conditions. It is recommended to use a push mower (if possible) to avoid compacting the soil and putting stress on new grass.
3. What do I do with all the straw?
a. Leave it! The straw plays a major role in the development of your lawn. The new grass will grow up through it and the straw will break down over time. If straw matting was installed,
the netting is biodegradable and will break down. Removal of the straw matting can pull the new grass up from the soil. In some cases, the edges may need to be trimmed with scissors to avoid a conflict with a mower.
