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PLANT CARE

KENTUCKY LANDSCAPING CARE

  • WATERING

    • As your landscape is establishing, it is important to check the moisture level of the soil under the mulch around each plant with the best water meter around – your finger. Do this periodically throughout the week so you can develop a frame of reference as how your soils respond to changing weather conditions. 
    • Watering your new landscape is important. Check the plants at least every other day for the first several weeks and water to make sure the root ball and the surrounding soil is evenly moist, but not too wet. 
    • Rain doesn’t always adequately water your bed, please check it. 
    • For best results, watering your plants at the soil level is the best way to get water where it is needed. Keeping water off the plant’s leaves protects it from diseases and burning in our warm, humid weather. 
    • Include a liquid fertilizer like Schulz Water Soluble or Monty’s Joy Juice weekly during the growing season for strong roots, foliage and flowers. 
    • Once per week water the entire bed. Water moves from areas of greater concentration to lesser concentration; so, if the bed is dry, then the water applied directly to plants will migrate to the dryer soil in between plants and your plants won’t get the water they need. 
    • Avoid oscillating between really wet and dry soil conditions. Evenly moist soil (cool to the touch) is best for most plants. Ping-ponging between wet and dry soil conditions is the best way to stress a plant and leads to pest and disease problems.
    • Too much water is also bad, always check the soil before watering. 
    • Maintain a consistent 2-3” mulch layer to conserve the water in the soil. 

  • FERTILIZING

    • Fertilizing is so very important because it keeps the necessary Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium levels optimally present in the soil. These are the three nutrients that plants need the most and that are leached from the soil by rain and watering. For optimal plant health and growth, use a granular fertilizer periodically and a water soluble/liquid fertilizer weekly during the growing season. 
    • For acid-loving plants like a Nandina, Rhododendron, Azalea, Dogwood, Fern, Hydrangea, and Evergreen; apply Holly-Tone according to package directions once during March, June, and early August. Fertilize weekly with a water-soluble product during the growing season in the first year to allow a healthy root system to form. 
    • For other flowering shrubs and perennials, apply Rose-Tone according to package directions once during March, June, and early August. Rose-tone isn’t just for roses.
    • Then, fertilize weekly with a water-soluble product during the growing season which allows a healthy root system to develop and keeps the flowers coming. 

  • PRUNING

    • Pruning keeps plants healthy and in shape. Acquainting yourself with the basic plant specific information can made this process easier. 
    • Do not prune at the convenience of the pruner. Prune at the correct time for the plants in your landscape. This is done by knowing the names of the plants. Do this by researching the when & how your plants should be pruned before you begin. 
    • Prune with the correct equipment. Trimmers and sheers are for plants in hedges or boxwoods and hollies. By-pass pruners are good stems under ½ inch. A folding tree saw takes care of the rest. 
    • Keep your equipment clean and sharp. This stops the spread of diseases, pests, and minimizes unhealthy damage to plant tissues. 
    • When shaping with pruners, make your cuts @ a 45-degree angle just above the branch collar or 2-3mm above the bud. 
    • Pruning information can be found at this web-site address: www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu, click the search bar and type ‘pruning’

  • WEED CONTROL

    • This is so important to maintaining a beautiful and healthy landscape. Weeds look unsightly and rob landscape plants of nutrients and water. When your landscape is installed, either a pre-emergent herbicide called Treflan or a weed fabric can be applied. This will not stop weeds that are brought in by wind or wildlife but will serve as a nice foundation to prevent weed growth. 
    • Re-apply Treflan every four months after your installation date. If you ‘fluff’ your mulch during this process it will allow the chemical to travel to the soil’s surface. Finish by ‘watering it in’.
    • Avoid walking in your landscape. Weeds love compacted soil. If you must walk in it for maintenance, walk in the same spots if possible. 
    • Keep mowing and trimming debris out the landscape beds, the debris is full of weed seeds. You can spray your beds with an herbicide, however, please READ THE LABEL before application there are some plants that can be damaged by a herbicide. 
    • The most important trick to proper weed control is to walk your landscape beds weekly and check for troublesome areas. Remove any weeds, this is a safe and simple way to assure your landscaped areas will remain clean and beautiful. 
    • Lastly, maintain a 2-3” mulch or rock layer. Mulch starves weeds of sunlight and conserves the soil’s moisture. 

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