ASPEN
DESIGN BUILD ASSOCIATES
LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTURE & CONSTRUCTION
Homeowner
Landscape Maintenance Guidelines: 02-21-07
IRRIGATION
Serious problems occur when sprinkler systems are unplugged or turned off on new landscapes. The first several days are critical. Often when construction work or moving is going on irrigation controllers are carelessly turned off or unplugged. This often kills plants, or at least greatly stresses them. Be vigilant & check regularly to make sure the system is running properly & that no one has tampered with it. For more extensive information, refer to our separate irrigation guidelines.
SOD
Newly laid sod must be kept moist by multiple light waterings as needed through out the day daily until it roots in & is ready for it's first mowing. If allowed to dry out at all it will shrink & leave gaps between pieces. Over watering may cause soil erosion. After it has rooted in & grown enough for the first mowing watering may be cautiously incrementally reduced. Mowing when to wet will leave ruts in the grade (especially in young lawns without a full season of root growth to hold the soil together). Perennial Rye grass should be allowed to grow to 3 or 4 inches & then cut back 1 inch as often as needed. Begin a fertilization program 30 days after installation (per the local & seasonal standards). After lawn is thoroughly established incrementally phase into normal local/seasonal maintenance practices (consult with a local qualified horticulturalist). Weed & feed as needed per manufacturers specifications. Aerate & de-thatch annually as needed. Over seed every fall & spring as needed. Because our local soils are generally acidic clay it is necessary to apply lime & gypsum seasonally per the advise of a qualified professional (even if your soil has been amended &/or covered with topsoil). Consult with a qualified local professional if you ever see any evidence of possible pests or disease. Over-seed lawns spring & fall as needed to maintain lush quality.
Do not water until the second day, then water lightly multiple times per day as needed to keep seed from drying out without washing it away. Sprouts will die quickly if allowed to dry out after germinating. If weeds appear owner will need to apply appropriate weed herbicide (Weed & Feed). In warm weather seed lawns take about two months of extra care to catch up with sod installations, otherwise their needs are similar.
PLANTS
Most plants are intentionally planted high because, in the long run, they will die if planted to deep in poorly draining soil, such as we have in the northwest. For the short run however, this exposes them to a greater threat of dying from drying out. New plantings should be watered daily as needed to keep them from drying out. Even with a sprinkler system, since the plants have not yet rooted in, it is often necessary to hand water daily for the first week or two, because sprinkling the ground doesn't deliver enough water directly to the root ball of the plant. Through the first season plants need daily watering. After one summer most plants can't tolerate soil that is continually too wet. Begin a fertilization program within 90 days of installation per local seasonal maintenance practices (consult with a qualified local horticulturalist).
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851-5151; 5543 54th Ct SE, Salem, OR 97301; RLA#328, LCB#6800