New Landscape Instructions
Care Instructions for your Newly Installed Landscape
Here are some general tips and problem solving solutions for your new landscape. As with any construction project questions will come up after the completion. If you have any questions please feel free to call us at 609-268-1502 or
email us at info@oakshade.com
- The MOST IMPORTANT RULE in caring for your new shrub or tree is to WATER IT. 90% of the time this is what kills a tree. A sprinkler system MAY NOT BE ENOUGH to water a shrub or tree. This depends on your soil, weather conditions, rainfall, temperature, ect ect.
Irrigation System
Spray Zones – puts out a fan-like spray of water; usually covering beds with shrubs/trees and narrow lawn areas
Generally speaking – Spray Zones should be set to be approx. 10-20 minutes per zone – Less in the spring/fall, more in the summer.
Lawn/Hunter Zones – puts out a stream of water and rotates up to 360 degrees
Generally speaking – Hunter zones should be set to 20-40 minutes per zone, more if it is in hot sun, less if it has more shade.
** Regardless of the type of zone, we recommend daily watering for optimum results. Newly installed landscaping has a grace period of watering that varies from town to town – but generally speaking 2-4 weeks. After that, if your township does not allow for daily watering – error on the side of more watering time per zone if only allowed to water every other day. On days that you are not allowed to water, please ensure that newly installed plantings/lawn is additionally watered by hand/hose, ect. ADDITIONAL WATERING WILL BE NECESSARY in periods of intense heat or dry conditions. Call us if you have any questions, we are here to help you be successful.
Hose/Hand Watering
Large Trees & Shrubs
-Place a hose at the base of the tree.
-Turn the hose on a light trickle and leave for approximately 15-20 minutes depending on the size of the tree. A very large root-ball will require 20-25 where as a smaller one will only need 15-20. If you are using a soaker hose, leave water on soaker hoses for approximately 60-90 minutes per watering to ensure water reaches to the lower levels of the soil.
-This should be done approximately every third day. If it is extremely hot out (85+ with high humidity) the new planting should be watered every day.
-A well mulched tree will withstand the summer heat much better, it is recommended to have 2-4” of fresh mulch especially during that first year.
Shrub: -Follow the same instructions for watering a tree only the amount of time necessary will probably be only 5-10 minutes to reach the lowest depths of the roots.
Perennials/Small Plantings: – Hand Water with hose-end nozzle and generally soak ground around each plant. 5-7 Minutes to reach lowest depths of roots.
Soil Types:
Different types of soil exist all over South Jersey. We range from heavy clay found in Marlton/Mt. Laurel to extremely sandy soils of Medford and Shamong.
Pay attention to your soil type – Despite all efforts and good intentions , watering times based on it “seems like a lot” and “my friend in _____ town only waters ___ minutes per day” can be mis-informed. If you think its getting enough water, make sure it isn’t getting too much by digging a small hole near the tree and checking for the presence of standing water in the soil. If this is the case, don’t water it until this subsides. If the soil is dry, WATER IT THOROUGHLY!!!! Any other questions or concerns please give us a call.
- Pay attention to you’re newly installed plants for signs of wilt or decline! Obvious signs include wilting or curling of leaves, a sudden drop of all the leaves on a tree, a sudden drop of all the needles on an evergreen, or the plant loses its color and begins to turn orange/rust. If any of these signs occur, first make sure that the plant is getting enough water. If you think its getting enough water, make sure it isn’t getting too much by digging a small hole near the tree and checking for the presence of standing water in the soil. If this is the case, don’t water it until this subsides. If the soil is dry, WATER IT THOROUGHLY!!!! Any other questions or concerns please give us a call.
- Don’t fertilize the new planting until approximately one year or 2 full growing seasons have passed. This is a good guideline to prevent burning the new roots.
- An adequate amount of mulch has been installed. The first layer of mulch will decompose quickly and bare spots may appear in 3-4 months’ time. This is normal. Succeeding layers of mulch will not dissipate as quickly.
- Do not trim any of the new shrubbery unless they are at least 6 months old. Flowering shrubs or trees should not be pruned or trimmed until after their flowering season. In addition, DO NOT trim in HOT weather. You could potentially burn the plant and cause significant damage or death to the plant.
- NEW SOD NEEDS TO BE KEPT MOIST/WET!!!! Newly sodded lawns should be watered 35min-1hr each day, 2 times a day, for the FIRST WEEK to 2 WEEKS. If it is extremely hot out, (85 deg. or more) pay attention to potentially dry spots in lawn which may be due to the wind dispersing the irrigation. If it appears dry, WATER IT, WATER IT, WATER IT!!!! You can lose sod in the span of a couple of hours depending on the time of day, heat, ect.
Subsequent weeks the lawn should be watered once a day, preferably in the early morning, for 30-45 minutes. This is a general guideline, specific sun/shade and temperature variations may adjust your particular watering schedule.
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- The new lawn should not be cut until at least 10 days has passed. It is highly recommended that you wait 14 days. The first cut must be bagged and the height should be approx. 3” tall. DO NOT let grass clumps sit on the lawn, and do not cut the lawn when it is wet.
- The new sod has been fertilized. Further fertilization instructions please call us as conditions and weather change throughout the season
- A lawn should be kept at a minimum of 3” during the summertime and should be lowered during the fall time.
- DO NOT cut the lawn when it is wet, this will leave clumps in the grass and may cause bare spots and disease. If it has to be cut, then bag it.
At Oakshade Nursery we strive to provide the best service to our customers and we want you to be fully satisfied with you outdoor environment. Please call us with any concerns or questions that arise throughout the season. Thank you very much for your business and we hope you will continue to be part of the Oakshade family of customers for many years to come.
Larry Zimmer Steven Zimmer
