Care Instructions For After We Leave

Plant Material Installations

Lawn Installations

Grass Seeding Instructions

Watering must be started immediately after the seed is installed

After installation water each area thoroughly twice a day on a daily basis for a minimum of 15 minutes with any conventional sprinkler. The best time to water is early in the morning, with the next best being in the evening. Please avoid watering during the heat of the day.
Daily watering should occur for 6 to 9 weeks depending on the season and volume of rain fall. Our goal is to keep the soil moist but avoid pooling of water.
Once Grass has reached a height of 5 inches, it is ready to be cut for the first time. Mowing height should be at 3.5 inches.
Never cut more then 1/3 of the grass blade with any one cutting.
As with all lawns, a fertilization program will encourage establishing and maintaining thicker and healthier lawn. As part of creating a healthy lawn it is also suggested to apply routine weed control application to minimize unwanted and competing plants.

Sod Installation Instructions

Watering must be started immediately after the sod is installed

After installation, water each area thoroughly twice a day on a daily basis for a minimum of 20 minutes with any conventional sprinkler. The best time to water in early in the morning, with the next best being in the evening. Please avoid watering during the heat of the day.
Daily watering should occur for 5 to 7 weeks depending on the season and volume of rain fall. Our goal is to keep the soil extremely moist (almost soggy but not pooling) initially for the first 3 weeks and then just consistently moist moving forward.
Once Grass has reached a height of 5 inches it is ready to be cut for the first time. Mowing height should be at 3.5 inches.
Never cut more then 1/3 of the grass blade with any one cutting.
As with all lawns a fertilization program will encourage establishing and maintaining thicker and healthier lawn. As part of creating a healthy lawn it is also suggested to apply routine weed control application to minimize unwanted and competing plants.

Maintaining Your Lawn For The Years To Come

Now that your lawn is established, you’ll want to keep it healthy by completing some yearly services, these services may include:

Dethatch

This service removes any dead grass that may be trapped below the grass on the soils surface, removing this helps allow the grass to breathe and allows nutrients to penetrate the soil into the roots, making your lawn healthier and happier

Fertilizing

Fertilizing your lawn yearly gives a consistent dose of nutrients to your lawn, this step should not be skipped and is recommended at least 2 times per year in spring and late summer.

Aeration

Core Aeration is the process of removing 2-3” plugs from your lawn, this helps solve compaction issues and allows water, air and nutrients to go directly to the lawns root system, resulting in a happier, healthier lawn.

Top Dressing & Overseeding

For these two, we don’t recommend getting one without the other. Top dressing is the process of applying a high quality layer of soil (about ¼”) to your lawn, this helps give a fresh supply of nutrients along with fresh soil to help your lawn continue to utilize nutrients properly. Overseeding is the process of applying grass seed on and in your lawn to fill in patchy areas with new growth.

Weed Control

Let’s hope you don’t need this one, but in our world it’s an inevitable misfortune. Weeds happen, it’s an annoying part about life that can’t be avoided. Weed control, pesticide services might be required from time to time. The best way to take care of weeds is to choke them out with a healthy, lush, thick lawn, if your lawn is being overrun; it’s probably time to call in for weed control.

For more information on achieving a healthy lawn visit out Blog post: 7 steps to an amazing healthy lawn

For information on how to do a spring clean up, visit out Blog Post: 7 steps to get your yard ready for spring

Plant Care Instructions

Plant Installation Care & Instructions

Watering should occur daily for the first two weeks to keep the soil moist but not saturated.
Watering should occur every other day from weeks 3 to week 8.
After 1 month plants should be partially rooted in and it is best to remove any supporting straps or guide wires.
Mulch should be kept around all plants and added to annually for retaining moisture and continuing to amend the soil.
Pruning should occur at different times of the year depending the specific plant. Upon request a pruning schedule can be provided to obtain maximum plant health.
All plants should be fertilized at least once a year by method of slow release deep root feeding.

Some plants depending on variety and species may need to be protected during the winter months to ensure a quick recovery from cold weather dormancy.

Tree Installation Care & Instructions

Watering should occur daily for the first week to keep the soil moist but not saturated.
Watering should occur every other day from weeks 2 to week 8.
Mulch should be kept around all trees and added to annually for retaining moisture and continuing to amend the soil. Be careful not to ‘mound’ the mulch around the tree.
Pruning should occur at different times of the year depending the specific tree. Upon request a pruning schedule can be provided to obtain maximum plant health.
All trees should be fertilized at least once a year by method of slow release deep root feeding.
Keep all support poles in place for a minimum of 1 year after installation, possibly more for smaller trees

Some trees depending on variety and species may need to be protected during the winter months to ensure a quick recovery from cold weather dormancy

Pond Maintenance

Pond Care Instructions

Your new pond will require maintenance from time to time, please follow the guidelines below for information on your pond.

Bacteria Kick-start

Note: If you had an auto dose system installed, you can skip this step.

When we leave, we will add a dose of beneficial bacteria to your pond to kick-start the ecosystem process. We will also give you a beneficial bacteria bottle to add to your pond 2 weeks after we leave and again another dose 2 weeks after that (totaling 3 doses including the initial dose we applied). Please follow directions on the bottle.

Each time you drain your pond to clean it out, you’ll want to add another initial dose of beneficial bacteria.

Empty Collection Basket

Once a week during spring and summer, empty the debris in the collection basket to prevent clogging. You'll want to do this more often during fall.

Clean Filters

Once every 1-2 months, remove the filter pads and bioballs from the skimmer and biofalls, rinse them with water and place them back where they belong.

Fall Cleaning

You’ll want to empty the debris collection basket in the skimmer at least once a week, probably more if there are trees close to the pond. Apply cold water bacteria and ensure all debris is removed from the pond to prevent any issues at a later date.

Winter Shut Down

If you’re shutting the pond down for the winter, you’ll want to remove all electronics from the pond, including all pumps, lights, Ion Gen Probe, auto dose system and any other electronics installed in your pond. You’ll want to remove and inspect the impeller on your pump and clean any lime or calcium build ups with white vinegar and a soft toothbrush. Place all electronics in a frost free zone such as a basement. You can choose to drain the pond or not.

Spring Clean Outs

Although not always necessary, you might want to consider cleaning out your pond once a year, typically in the spring. This will help get rid of excess debris and waste caused from leaves, dirt and other particles. Please follow this easy guide found here to complete your pond clean out found by clicking here

Algae, Bubbles and Other Uncommon Issues that May Arise

If your pond is experiencing some issues, please give us a call at 204-792-9430 so we can ask a few questions to help diagnose the issue. We’ve been trained to assess these issues and will help guide you through the best possible solutions.

Fountain Fall Shut Down

Remove all debris around the fountain

Remove the pump, inspect the impeller, if any calcium build up has occurred, clean the impeller with white vinegar and a soft toothbrush

Store the pump in a frost free zone such as a basement

Now might be a good time to clean the reservoir under the fountain as well, simply remove the fountain, rocks and basin lid. Clean reservoir with a mild cleaner.

Fountains can be left running all winter, ensure to add water to top it off from evaporation and do not turn the pump off even if ice builds around it as this is normal.

If any issues arise, please give us a call at 204-792-9430 and we will help address the issue and guide you through it.

Irrigation Instructions

Irrigation systems require 2 main services each year; Spring clean outs and fall blow outs. The fall blow out and shut down is absolutely necessary in our climate. To make this easier on you, we offer spring open and fall closing services.

Spring Startup

Each spring, the system needs to be started back up. We offer services to get things going for you, along with adjusting your lawns' watering needs for the spring and inspecting the system.

Fall Blowout

Built up water or debris can cause major issues to your system throughout the winter, failure to shut down and blow out the system properly voids your warranty and could cause harm to your system. A simple compressor is not enough to blow the system out properly. We have high powered compressors to ensure the system is blown out properly.

Other

We offer other services as well such as monthly adjustment and maintenance services. Please see our irrigation services page for more information.