HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR PLANTS

A newly transplanted tree or shrub has undergone a stressful event.  Care for a short time will help your plant quickly reestablish itself and produce for you the beauty you want.  The basic needs of your new plants following planting are:  WATER, FERTILIZER, and PROTECTION.

WATERING PROCEDURES

This is the most difficult to prescribe.  Too little water will cause your plants to wilt and die.  Too much water will cause them to yellow and drown.  It may be necessary to water once a day or once a week. Watering will depend on plant species, size, location, and the weather conditions. The following is a rule of thumb to follow for normal conditions:

1. Spring and fall planting while the plants are dormant: soak your new plant thoroughly when planted, then 2 times the first week and once a week thereafter.

2. Summer planting:  Soak thoroughly when planted.  Water 3 times the first week, then 2 times a week for three weeks and once a week thereafter.  Don’t guess if a plant needs water.  Take a hand spade and dig down 6 inches along side of the plant.  If the ground is moist, the plant does not need water.  If the ground is dry, water the plant thoroughly.

NOTE:

• Our Wisconsin soils and weather vary tremendously!  The above quidelines for watering should be modifies as follows for unique conditions:

Heavy clay soil or cool wet weather – water less often.  Check your plants.

Sandy soil or very hot weather - water more often.  Check your plants.

• Plant roots are deep.  When you water, soak thoroughly.  The best way to do this is to leave an open hose trickling at the base of each plant until the ground absorbs all the water it can.

• Remember, plants can be killed by too much water.  Don’t water a little every day.  Water heavily but only as scheduled.

FERTILIZATION

All nursery stock should be fertilized once a year.  (Early Spring) following the first growing season for healthy plant material.  Healthy plant material resists disease.  Don’t use a Turf Weed & Feed product on trees, shrubs, or perennials; use only fertilizer.

PROTECTION

Plants require varying degrees of protection against wind, insects, sunburn, rodents, and winter damage.

1. In most cases all planted trees that have smooth bark should be wrapped with tree wrap in the fall of the first years to guard against sunscald and frost cracks.  The wrapping must be removed the following spring.

2. Rabbits and mice can chew on the bark of many plants during the winter.  Some of the most susceptible plants are burning bush and other Euonymus, flowering crabs, hawthorns, flowering plums, flowering almond, Nanking cherry, willows, fruit trees, hazelnut, witch hazel and young maples.

The best way to protect these plants is to place a cylinder of mesh hardware wire around them at least 30 inches high.  While this list includes the plants most susceptible to damage, if rabbits get hungry enough, they may injure other plants.  Check your plants periodically during the winter.  Tree wrap is good to use to protect the bark.  Repellent sprays are also available for shrubs.

3. Certain plants need winter protection.  All evergreens should go into the winter with plenty of soil moisture.  Roses must be mounded with 6 – 12 inches of straw or leaf mulch or cover with rose cones after a hard freeze in the fall.  Don’t remove cones until frost is out of the ground in spring.

4. Always keep your planting beds weed free by light frequent cultivation, hand pulling or with the use of a herbicide.  This keeps the planting bed neat and prevents the weeds from using water and fertilizer meant for the plants.

DANGER SIGNS:

1. Leaves look wilted, dry, and are dropping:  not enough water, add more.

2. Leaves look yellow, droopy, and brown or black at the margin:  too much water, apply less often and cultivate the soil to allow it to dry.

3. Too much or too little both produce much of the same effect.  If you are not sure, dig down next to the roots.  If the ground is soggy and water logged there is too much water, if the soil is dry there is not enough water.

PRUNING

Know the growth pattern of your plants (round, oval, etc.) before your prune.  Plants can be kept to a desired size by pruning.

1. Evergreens:  prune in early spring because new growth will hide the cut.  You can prune until the end of July to allow wounds to heal before the plant goes dormant.

2. Trees & Shrubs:  best to prune in late fall through early spring while in the dormant stage.

3. Bleeding Trees:  Maples, Birches, and Elms are best to prune in late summer or early Fall.  Otherwise flowing sap may attract insects which spread disease.

4. Flowering Shrubs:  Prune flowering shrubs soon after the flowers have faded to allow time for new wood and bud growth.  

NOTE:

• Dead, dying or diseased wood can be removed any time except on Oak Trees. Oaks should only be pruned during the dormant period.
   

GUARANTEE

Shulfer’s Sprinklers, Landscaping, and Garden Center shall supply one replacement plant or offer a substitute plant under the following terms and conditions:

TERMS

Plants are guaranteed for one year form the date of contractor’s installation.

Request for plant replacement must be made within the one year guarantee period.

Guarantee is applicable only for invoices paid within 30 days.

Transplanted plants or plants not hardy to this climate zone are not guaranteed.

CONDITIONS

Microclimate or drainage shall not have been altered after plant installation.

Installed plants shall have received adequate water by owner as per the plant care brochure.

Breakage or damage after the plant is installed by contractors is not covered under guarantee.  Animal or insect damage after the plant is installed by contractor is not covered under guarantee.