Congratulations on your new landscape. As you know All Natural Landscape will warrantee your landscape for one year. Should any plants die, we will in the spring and fall replace them, provided you the homeowner do your part to maintain the plants and landscape properly. To help you with this responsibility, we have outlined some basic guidelines for ongoing maintenance.
1. New Lawn Care
2. New Plant Care
3. New Irrigation System
If you follow these suggestions, your landscape should grow and flourish. If you don’t, you will have wasted your landscape investment.
In the future, we will provide an Adobe formatted version of this information titled "Care and Feeding of your new Landscape."
Go TopNew Lawn Care
SEED LAWN
Your new seed lawn should germinate in 7-14 days. Germination is dependent on air temperatures and moisture. Water should be applied so as to keep the seed damp. People, kids and animals must be keep off the new lawn until mowing (approx. 4-6 weeks). Sprinklers should be set to run for a few minutes 3-5 times per day. Remember the new seed must be keep moist to germinate.
SOD LAWN
Your new sod lawn should start growing immediately. Roots will set within 2 weeks. People, kids and animals must be keep off new sod lawn until roots are set and turf is firm (approx. 4 weeks). Water should be applied so as to keep the sod from drying out. Sprinklers should be set to run for 10 minutes, 2-3 times per day for 2-3 weeks.
SPRINKLERS
After roots have set, turn down sprinklers to water 5 times per week, 10-15 minutes per day. Set the clock so the new lawn does not water for two days in a row. On the second non-watering day mow your new lawn with your mower set on the highest cutting height. Then mow again in the opposite direction at the normal height of two inches (bag and remove clippings). Continue watering and mowing (2") on this schedule for six weeks. After six weeks turn your sprinklers down to a normal watering schedule, which will depend on exposure, sun, drainage, wind and rain. As you continue turning down your system the lawn will "tell" you when it is getting just enough water. Remember it is better to water long and deep, than short and often.
FERTILIZER
At six weeks, fertilize your new lawn with a quality, slow release fertilizer, something similar to 21-7-15, 50 % slow release. Broadleaf weeds can be a problem in a new seed lawn. Broadleaf weeds should not be a problem in a new sod lawn. If broadleaf weeds are a problem treat the lawn with a "weed & feed" the first couple applications of fertilizer. After that we recommend fertilization 5-6 times per year adding weed control with two applications. You may notice weed grasses in your new lawn. These are grasses native to Oregon and cannot be removed with "weed & feed". If weed grasses bother you, you must hand pull them on a regular basis.
PESTS
Pest can be a problem in your lawn. Pests can be molds, funguses, insects or moles, and all must be treated differently. Many pests take advantage of a weak or underfertilized lawn. Regular fertilization should prohibit most problems. European Crane Fly is the only pest we recommend you treat for automatically. Cranefly grubs "hatch" in early spring and can cause considerable damage in very little time. Watch your lawn for thinning in the early spring and treat if necessary.
MOWING
Mow your lawn weekly during the months of March-October. You will normally mow your lawn 38-42 times per year. Mower blades should be sharp and the lawn should be cut at 1 ½ - 2" height. Bag all clippings. Edge your new lawn every two weeks. We recommend you mow in a different direction every week. This minimizes ruts and soil compaction. We recommend you aerate your lawn yearly. During the year, leaves and debris may fall on the new lawn, it is very important to rake and remove debris weekly. Debris that is left on the grass will kill and leave dead patches and can cause pest problems. Oak leaves are particularly hard on grass and will stain concrete.
New Irrigation System
Your irrigation system was installed using the latest and best commercial quality parts. We have installed hundreds of irrigation systems and have very little problems with them. Your new system should give you years of trouble free operation provided you do a couple things every year.