NEWLY INSTALLED ANNUALS, PERENNIALS, SMALL SHRUBS AND GROUND
COVERS:
In general, freshly installed annuals should be watered every day. Your project
manager will be able to tell you about the individual watering needs of your perennials, small shrubs and ground covers for
both the new-installation period and for long-term care. For these smaller plants, a sprinkler works just fine. Turn the sprinkler
on during the day (preferably in the early morning or late afternoon, when the temperature is not at its peak), and let it
run for approximately 2 hours.
**Please note that a plant's watering needs are affected by weather, sun and
soil conditions, as well.
TREES, SHRUBS, AND SMALL PLANTS
Barnes III and Sons includes an initial organic fertilization with all our
plant installations. Therefore, it is not necessary for you to add any fertilizers to your new landscaping.
TRIMMING AND PRUNING
In general trimming dead or crossing branches and unwanted growth when ever
they appear is OK. Just be sure that you do not trim more than one-third of the plant
at any given time. With newly installed trees and large shrubs, it is best not to prune or trim more than is absolutely necessary.
This is because you do not want to over-stress the plants as they adjust to their new environment.
MULCHING
Mulch helps the soil in planting beds retain water, reduces soil temperature
fluctuations, retards weed, helps reduce soil erosion and compaction, and provides nutrients to the soil as it breaks down.
Mulch should be spread evenly to about two to three inches in depth. Do not pile too much mulch under shrubs or around the
base of tree trunks, however. You want to keep these areas as clear as possible, which means a thin layer is all you need.
When your landscaping was installed, Barnes III and Sons laid down
the proper amount of mulch for your project, so you will probably not need to spread more for at least the next 6 months to
a year. The exception to this would be if extreme weather conditions in your area (such as flooding or severe rain or snow
melt run-off).
Sometimes fungus may appear in mulch. Fungus is a normal part of the decomposing
process of wood mulch, and it is usually harmless to plants. Fungus most commonly appears between April and November, after
it has rained. Those unsightly clumps, clusters or slimy patches you see on your mulch may be orange, yellow, brown or some
other color, depending on what variety you have. Here is an excellent Web page describing common mulch fungus and what
to do about them. To check it out click here.
The mulch in your planting beds should be watered along with your plants so that
it is nice and moist. Let the mulch dry out between waterings, but not to the point of cracking. Try not to water on heavily
overcast or rainy days. Following these steps will help keep your planting beds healthy and looking good.
