subject: Ahwatukee Landscaping: Basic Tips For Lawns, Trees, Shrubs And Cacti [print this page] Youve made a significant investment in your Ahwatukee landscaping and you want to make sure you enjoy your yard for years to come. Living plants need proper and regular care to flourish. The first step involves learning how to provide that care. Even if you hire a professional Ahwatukee landscaping company to provide regular maintenance, its important to know what type of care each of your plants requires.
Sod Lawns
A healthy lawn needs sunlight, water, fertilizer and mowing. If a sod lawn has just been installed, youll need to water more heavily for the first few weeks until the roots take hold. You may have to irrigate your new sod lawn up to four times a day for about five minutes each during the first couple of weeks.
Irrigation needs will taper off until the sod is rooted, which typically occurs after four weeks. Once rooted, you should water your lawn every three days.
When your lawn is established, youll need to develop a fertilization schedule. Typically, fertilization for lawns in Ahwatukee landscaping is done on a monthly basis. Professional landscapers recommend using a complete fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the proper ratios.
After two or three weeks, your new sod lawn will need to be mowed. Proper mowing cuts only the top one inch or so of your grass blades. If your mower blades are dull or you cut too far down, you risk turning your lawn brown.
Trees
When a tree is first planted, it will have to adjust and acclimate before it becomes established in its new location. Proper care during this period is crucial to a trees survival.
Watering depends on the species, location, time of year, soil and age. For the first couple of weeks, youll probably need to water every day or every other day. The best method is deep watering. In other words, you want the water to reach down far so the trees roots will grow deep into the ground.
After the first couple of weeks, youll have to customize your watering schedule and amount to each trees specific needs. By observing the water drainage and soil condition between watering, you can develop the proper method for effective irrigation.
Pruning is mainly done for aesthetics. However, the primary reason to prune a tree is stability and strength to withstand wind. One guideline is to not allow a trees canopy to become larger than its root base. In addition, only secondary branches should be pruned so the trees major branches can become stronger.
Shrubs
With regards to watering, more care should be provided in the spring and summer months versus the fall and winter months. For new shrubs, the first six weeks will be most important in terms of proper care. More water is required during this time for plants established in spring or summer months.
In general, the soil of newly planted shrubs should be kept moist for the first two weeks, or until you see new growth. After that, you should water shrubs based on the guidelines for the particular species.
Regarding pruning, less is better when it comes to shrubs. You want to prune to maintain a natural shape and to allow sun to hit the lower branches of the shrub. And, pruning should be avoided during any periods frost may occur.
Cacti and Succulents
Symbolic of Arizona landscapes, cacti and succulents adapt well to harsh desert environments. They tolerate sun, heat and low water extremely well. Although they require less care than other Ahwatukee landscaping elements, they do require some attention.
A good rule of thumb would be to water your cacti and succulents once a month, depending on the amount of rain received during that period. Extra watering can promote more growth and flowering, but it can also cause some problems. If you over-water cacti and succulents, you increase the risk of pest attacks and the plant not surviving.
Hiring an Ahwatukee Landscaping Company
For all Ahwatukee landscaping, irrigations systems can help establish proper times and amounts of water. Each plant will require different irrigation levels. A qualified landscaper can install the right systems for all of your plants and simplify the overall process for you.
In addition, maintenance can be handled by a landscaping company to ensure the best care of your plants, especially if youre pressed for time. Many homeowners find hiring an Ahwatukee landscaping company to be a smart decision to protect their investment.
