Sarah's Garden Care Guide
The first season is mostly about helping everything settle in. Consistent watering, a little path maintenance, and occasional cleanup are all this garden should need while it establishes.
ESTABLISHING YOUR NEW GARDEN
Check Before You Water
Push a finger 2 inches past the mulch and into the soil. If it still feels moist, wait. If it is beginning to dry, water deeply.
A rule of thumb for the first week is water new perennials planted in late fall every other day and shrubs every 3-4 days.
BUT...Don't automatically water on schedule. Check the soil first,
Skip watering when Mother Nature has already done the job, but a light sprinkle might not cut it.
Overspray from the clover laen also will mean leas watering.
Even when it's cold, your plants, specifcally trees and shrubs, will need some hydration occationally.
Don't fertilize automatically. Your plants should spend their first year developing healthy root systems rather than being pushed into rapid growth.
New Perennials + Shrubs
THEY'RE WILTING! Yes, they are likely going into transplant shock, which is totally normal. Give en a few days to perk up. Water slowly and deeply with a drip hose rather than giving them a quick daily spray.
The first two weeks require the most attention. After about two weeks, the plants should begin establishing enough that you can relax the routine a bit. By about one month, watering should become considerably less hands-on—just keep checking the soil and adjust for rainfall and weather.
We recommend leaving the seedheads and grasses for the birds over winter and cutting them back in February or March.
Serviceberry + Crab Apple
Give newly planted trees a longer, slower soak. A watering bag makes this much easier during the first growing season.
New Clover Lawn
The newly seeded clover is the exception to the deep-watering rule at first. While the seed is germinating, keep the surface consistently moist with gentle watering rather than allowing it to dry completely between waterings.Once the clover is established, gradually reduce the frequency of watering.
DO NOT put any broad leaf weed killer or pre-emergeant on this lawn. Reseed in early spring if needed. We used a white microclover like this one.
WATERING SETUP WE RECOMMEND
Solid Brass Two-Way Hose Splitter
Leave the watering system connected to one side while keeping the other side available for regular hand watering.
Heavy Duty Soaker Hoses
*ESSENTIAL* Ideal for slowly watering the planted beds while keeping the water where it's needed: around the root zone. Two would be handy—one for the front and one for the back.
Expandable Hose
Use this to connect the drip or soaker hoses together and extend the watering setup through the planted beds.
Melnor MiniMax Spike Sprinklers
*ESSENTIAL* For the new clover lawn. Adjust the coverage to the seeded area and use gentle, shorter watering cycles to keep the soil surface moist while the clover germinates.
Tree Watering Bags
An easy way to give newly planted trees a slow, deep drink during establishment without standing outside holding the hose. Remove and give a day break every few days.
A LITTLE SEASONAL CLEANUP
Your new path and' garden circle are meant to develop a natural, lived-in character. They don't need to look perfectly groomed every day.
The gravel will gradually compact with use and weather. Some minor movement, small low spots, and loose material are normal during the first season. After heavy rain, check for areas where water consistently travels across the path. If material repeatedly washes out in the same location, contact La Madrina before adding more fines. The underlying drainage may need adjustment.
Heavy Duty Bow Rake for Gravel
*ESSENTIAL* Use the flat side lightly to redistribute loose Brassfield fines, smooth small low spots and tidy the path and circular patio as needed.
Optional: Gravel Stabilizer Treatment
Estimated $80 — ask your La Madrina salesperson.
Try stabilizer at edges only, rather than treating the entire path. It can help hold material where foot traffic or runoff repeatedly pushes the fines out of place while allowing the rest of the path to retain its natural appearance. You can always see how it goes without, then do it later if you want.
This garden doesn't need constant pruning. Leave most healthy perennial growth alone through the growing season. Deadhead when you want a cleaner appearance, remove damaged stems as needed, and allow some flowers and seedheads to remain for seasonal interest.
8" Pro Garden Snips
Great for deadheading, fine stems and quick garden cleanup without reaching for full-size pruners. You can wait until spring for this.
NICE TO HAVE
These Garden Guide extras aren't necessary, but they can make routine garden care considerably easier.
Compact Leaf Gun, Battery powered
Perfect for quickly clearing leaves and plant debris from the Brassfield fines. Use a lower setting around loose material so you're moving leaves—not the path.
Govee Smart WiFi Sprinkler Timer
Useful during establishment when consistent watering matters most. Automate the routine when helpful, but still check the soil and skip watering after adequate rainfall.
Quick-Connect Set
Makes switching between the soaker hoses, sprinkler and hand-watering nozzle much easier without constantly threading and unthreading hose fittings.
7-Function Spray Nozzle
Use the gentle shower setting for hand watering newly planted perennials and shrubs rather than using a concentrated jet. Good for spot watering perennials of shrubs' day off.
Weeding Apron with Kangaroo Pouch
Just so adorable!! Pull weeds as you walk the garden and toss them straight into the pouch. It's especially handy for the short weekly maintenance sessions this garden was designed around. You won't need to week until spring, through.
FINISHING TOUCHES
Here are two of Robyn's favorite products for enjoying the new garden and completing the patio as a destination within the landscape.
Modern Bird Bath
Place it near the edge of the circle or just within the surrounding planting rather than directly in the center. It creates a focal point without taking over the patio.
Solid Pine Wood Stand + Hammock
Position it where you can enjoy the best view of the garden at that particular time of year. As the plants grow, bloom and change through the seasons, the best view will change too.
Landscape Lighting
Before you run out and buy cheap solar lights, ask your designer for a ligthing design.
Haphazardly placed fixtures can break the spell of enchantent with a single dark spot or glare, and there are options for every budget..
SEASONAL GARDEN GUIDE MAINTENANCE CA;LENDAR
October–November
Monitor soil moisture, water when needed, keep clover seed moist during germination, and remove leaves from the path.
December–January
Mostly leave things alone. Water trees and shrubs during extended dry periods when the ground is thawed. Repair furniture and structures,
February–March
Cut back old perennial growth, check mulch depth, begin watching for weeds, and assess clover coverage. Book now for a small Aptil cleen-up with La Madrina with 2 yard total pre-emergent and mulch refresh.
April–May
Overseed thin clover areas, remove weeds early, and check emerging perennials.
June–August
Weed. Water deeply during dry periods, deadhead selectively, and enjoy the flowers and pollinators.
September–October
Evaluate plant growth, make minor adjustments, and schedule fall garden cleanup if desired. Pwerwash furniture.
NEED A HAND?
La Madrina Landscape can return for seasonal garden care, mulch, cleanup and adjustments as the landscape matures.
Design • Build • Nurture
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