Once your new landscape is completed, there are things you’ll need to do to maintain it and you have two choices – do it yourself or hire a professional. You may want to know when to fertilize, prune, take the stakes off young trees, or how often to mow.

Fertilizing

Your landscaper will have applied fertilizer when he/she installed the plantings. The best time for fertilizing lawns and other plantings is in the spring when they’ll be gathering nutrients to produce new leaves or buds. Check to see if there are any restrictions in your area in regard to fertilizing.

Mowing

If sod was laid in your new landscape, the first mowing can take place about 14 days later. The optimal height for lawn grass is approximately 2 ½ inches. At each mowing, you should never remove more than 1/3 of the grass blade to ensure continued good growth.

Pruning

Chances are your new trees, bushes or hedges won’t need trimming for quite some time. Avoid heavy pruning whenever possible and always trim during the winter season. Pruning and trimming stimulates new growth, which also means your plants will need more moisture.

Tree Stakes

There are no hard and fast rules about removing tree stakes. Trees typically anchor themselves sufficiently in 6-12 months. Keeping a tree staked too long will hinder and stunt its growth. One of the ways trees develop strong trunks is by moving freely in the breeze.

Water

A new landscape will require water and unless you’ve installed a programmable irrigation system, you’ll have to take care of the task yourself. Always water during the coolest parts of the day – it allows moisture to go into the ground and minimize evaporation in the heat.

Weed Control

Weeds are especially bad for flower beds. They rob the soil of nutrients needed by any new plantings. If the beds were installed by a landscaper, chances are an under layer of plastic was laid and mulch was applied. Both work to prevent weeds, but homeowners should be vigilant. Many weeds have very small seeds that can easily gain a footing.

RCH Landscaping is a full service landscape company based in Boca Raton, Florida. We design, install, and maintain Commercial and Residential landscapes all around Boca Raton, Delray Beach and The Palm Beach areas. Our team of highly skilled landscape technicians have an undisputed track record of creating and maintaining beautiful commercial and residential landscapes all over South Florida.

Contact RCH Landscaping Today for a Free Estimate

561-779-9760