Seeding
Day of Installation:
Upon the initial sowing of your new seeded lawn, a moderate watering will be required (approximately 1-2 inches of water saturation throughout all surface areas). If the area is larger than 1,000 sf. It may be easiest to define zones in your lawn. Provide a thorough soaking for approximately 10-15 minutes of watering in each zone. Standard garden sprinklers are recommended to provide an even watering pattern to each zone.
Summer Installation Times:
In the summer, after seeding, water up to 2 times each day for 10-15 minutes each set during daylight hours, preferably in the morning and early evening. Avoid midafternoon watering as reflection of the sunlight off of the water can cause more harm than good. Continue this watering schedule for up to 21 days or until substantial visible germination develops. These short, frequent waterings are very important to ensure the new rooting and the soil beneath stay
moist.
Spring & Fall Installation Times:
In the spring and fall months when temperatures are cooler, the daily watering may be reduced to only 1-2 times each day for 10-15 minutes each set. Again, if your new lawn is larger than 1,000sf. It may be easier to set up multiple sprinklers and hoses to define ‘zones’ in your yard. Continue this watering schedule for up to 21 days or until substantial visible germination develops. These short, frequent watering are very important to ensure the new rooting and the soil beneath stay moist.
Duration of watering a newly seeded lawn can take anywhere from 4-6 weeks to fully establish. After this time, check multiple areas of the new yard for proper rooting and germination.
Fertilizing:
Up to 4x applications of standard fertilizer may be applied the first year, *Avoid pre-emergent & weed control applications for up to 6 months to any newly seeded areas.
Long-Term Care:
Aeration & overseeding is recommended 1-2 times per year (spring or fall), especially in wooded or shade prone areas. This will help oxygenate your lawn, allow it to breathe, reduce compaction, and promote new seed germination throughout any sparse lawn areas.
New Sod
Day of Installation:
Upon the initial installation of your new lawn, a heavy watering will be required (1-2 inches of water saturation throughout all surface areas). If the area is larger than 1,000 sf. It may be easiest to define zones in your lawn. Provide a thorough soaking for approximately 10-15 minutes of watering in each zone. Standard garden sprinklers are recommended to provide an even watering pattern to each zone.
Summer Installation Times:
In the summer, after sod installation, water 3-4 times each day for 10-15 minutes each set during daylight hours. Avoid midafternoon watering as reflection of the sunlight off of the water can cause more harm than good. Continue this waterings schedule for 10-14 days or until rooting develops sufficiently to prevent the sod from being lifted from the soil. These short, frequent watering are very important to ensure the roots and the soil beneath stay moist.
*Upon the end of the 14th day, to test to see if the sod pieces have begun rooting, grab a corner of a sod piece, if you are able to lift up, rooting has not occurred yet. Continue watering to schedule until the sod pieces cannot be lifted from their installed position.
Spring & Fall Installation Times:
In the spring and fall months when temperatures are cooler, the daily waterings may be reduced to 1-2 times each day for 10-15 minutes each set. Again, if your new lawn is larger than 1,000 sf. It may be easier to setup multiple sprinklers and hoses to defined ‘zones’ in your yard. Continue this watering schedule for 10-14 days or until rooting develops sufficiently to prevent the sod from being lifted from the soil. These short, frequent watering is very important to ensure the roots and the soil beneath stay moist.
*Upon the end of the 14th day, to test to see if the sod pieces have begun rooting, grab a corner of a sod piece, if you are able to lift up, rooting has not occurred yet. Continue watering to schedule until the sod pieces cannot be lifted from their installed position.
Duration of watering a newly sodded lawn can take anywhere from 2-3 weeks to fully establish. After the initial 2-3 weeks, check multiple areas of the new yard for proper rooting. Keep a close eye on any dry or browning areas in parts of the yard upon the first month. If you notice corners, hard to reach areas or browning, continue watering to provide a thorough soaking. Weeks 3-4 may be watered 10-15 minutes every other day or as-needed. During the first few weeks, try to keep foot & pet traffic on your new lawn to a minimum. The moist ground is quite soft and easy to leave unwanted ruts or footprints.
Mowing:
After 10-14 days, if the new sod has reached 4-5” in new height you may mow no more than 1/3 off all new sodded areas.
Fertilizing:
Up to 4x applications of standard fertilizer may be applied the first year, *Avoid pre-emergent & weed control applications your first year.
Long-Term Care:
Aeration & overseeding is recommended 1-2 times per year (spring or fall)
New Plantings (perennials, shrubs & trees)
Immediately after planting:
Water your new plants thoroughly. Use an open ended hose running at medium pressure, try not to use a sprinkler. A thorough soaking will take from 20 seconds for small plants, to 2-3 minutes for larger shrubs and trees (See chart below).
Watering plants in the ground for 1 year or less:
Water twice weekly with an open ended hose running at medium pressure, using the chart below. Continue with this watering schedule for up to 1 full year. If drought conditions exist (potentially in June – August), water every second day. Trees that have watering/grow bags attached around the base of their trunks, should be filled and watered every other day.
| Small Plants (#1 gallon container size and smaller) | ~20-30 seconds of watering/soaking |
| Medium Plants (#3-#7 gallon container size) | ~1-2 minutes of watering/soaking |
| Larger Plants & Trees (#10 gallon container and bigger) | Between 2-3 minutes of watering/soaking |
Always check soil moisture before watering. Symptoms for over watering and under watering can look similar. If you are unsure if the plant needs watering, take a sturdy stick and push it into the ground next to the plants root ball to the approximate bottom of the plant’s hole. Pull the stick out. If it is extremely wet, do not water. If it is dry, it is in need of water. (A moisture meter will also work).
*Watering wand or a spray gun (on a gentle setting) are suitable for use.
*Rainfall (less than 1”) should NOT be considered watering.
New Plant Care Instructions:
Aside from the routine watering schedule highlighted above, all newly installed plants have four remaining basic needs that should be provided for optimal health.
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Fertilizer
Fertilizer is essential to plant and root growth. A slow-release granular fertilizer, such as Osmocote, is typically the best option. Osmocote only needs to be applied about every three months. Plants that prefer acidic soil can be fertilized with Holly-tone. Always water thoroughly after fertilizing. Miracle-Gro can also be used every two weeks while watering if preferred.
Shrubs & Perennials: Sprinkle one tablespoon of granular fertilizer around the base of shrubs and one teaspoon around perennials. If fertilizer gets on the leaves or branches, brush it off immediately to prevent leaf burn.
Trees: Spread two to three tablespoons of granular fertilizer around the base of the tree near the drip line (the outer edge of the branches), where the feeder roots are located. Tree fertilizer spikes are also an excellent option because they place nutrients closer to the root system.
Evergreen Shrubs: These shrubs prefer acidic soil and benefit from an acid fertilizer such as Holly-tone or Mir-Acid.
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Mulch
Mulch improves the appearance of landscaping, retains soil moisture, helps regulate soil temperature, and reduces weed growth. Apply 2–3 inches of mulch every one to two years. Do not allow more than 3 inches of mulch to accumulate around plants, as excessive mulch can prevent moisture and air from reaching the soil.
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Pruning
Pruning improves the shape, appearance, and overall vigor of shrubs and trees while helping maintain their desired size. Never remove more than one-third of a plant’s branches during a single season. Make cuts just above another branch or leaf, and avoid leaving branch stubs.
Most shrubs should be pruned while dormant in early spring before new growth begins. Spring-flowering shrubs should only be pruned shortly after they finish blooming to avoid removing next season’s flower buds.
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Stakes
Some newly planted trees may require staking to prevent leaning during strong winds. Stakes should be removed within one year. Leaving them on longer can cause serious damage to the tree.
Additional Professional Assistance
Over the years, we have partnered closely with a network of trusted green industry professionals. While our trained staff at Edwards Lawn & Landscaping can provide ongoing maintenance for most of the items listed above, we recommend a dedicated fertilization program to ensure long-term plant health.
For routine plant fertilization (Item #1 above), we recommend our service partner, Bartlett Tree Experts. They can provide an ongoing fertilization program tailored to your landscape. Be sure to mention that Edwards Lawn & Landscaping referred you to receive preferred pricing.