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| Q: How often should I water my new plants? | |
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A: New plants should be watered two to three times a week, depending on weather conditions. Generally the soil around the plants should remain moist. |
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| Q: Do I need to fertilize my plants? | |
| A: For optimum growth and development plants may be given a foliage application of a fertilizer such as Miracle-Gro once a month during the growing season. A granular, slow-release fertilizer may be applied once in the spring and once in the fall. | |
| Q: Should I be concerned if the leaves on my new trees dry up or change color early? | |
| A: It is not uncommon for a tree to experience transplant shock shortly after it is planted. The tree will typically recover on its own and grow a new set of leaves later in the season or go dormant and grow a new set of leaves the next spring. | |
| Q: What pruning is necessary for my new plants? | |
| A: The plants typically will not need to be pruned during the first year. After that, pruning depends on the type of plant. For perennials, dead flowers and stems should be removed during the season. In the fall, ornamental grasses should be cut down to about five to seven inches from the ground; other perennials four to six inches from the ground. Shrubs that flower in the spring should not be cut back in the fall since buds for the next spring will already be in place. Shrubs that flower on new growth later in the season may be cut back in the fall. | |
| Q: Do I have to remove the stakes that are supporting my new trees? | |
| A: We will remove the stakes for you. The stakes help the tree grow straight and typically need to be in place for one year. | |
| Q: How often should I refresh the bark in my new landscape? | |
| A: We recommend maintaining a three to four-inch base of bark through-out your landscape. The mulch will usually decompose at a rate of one inch per season so it would be best to add a one-inch layer of fresh mulch every spring. | |
| Q: What should I do if bark is being washed-out from my new landscape when it rains? | |
| A: Some wash-out is normal, especially during heavy rains. If the wash-out seems extreme you may want to consider adding an eaves trough, downspout, or some sort of rain diverter to the roof of your house if there currently are none of these. We can also deal with extreme cases by installing stone pits or retaining walls. | |
| Q: How can I keep weeds out of my landscape? | |
| A: Seeds can be spread by air, birds and small animals so it is impossible to completely stop weeds. It is best to take a few minutes to hand-pull the weeds when you see them to prevent them from spreading. |
Copyright 2005 Hollandia Gardens, Inc.