How to Take Care of New Outdoor Plants

Do you have new outdoor plants at your home or business? You'll need to provide proper care to keep them looking their best.

Here are some guidelines to get you started.Water
Don't kill your plants with kindness by overwatering. The is the most common mistake gardeners make. Different plants need different levels of moisture between watering. Some plants like moist soil between waterings, while others prefer to dry out completely. Check online or contact us to determine the specific water needs of your plants. (If you follow us on our Facebook page, this would be a great place to ask us!)

Other Important Watering Tips
Check the soil between waterings with a stick, or even your finger, pushing below the top layer of soil or mulch to determine how moist the soil is.

A watering can is an excellent choice for watering plants. Water well around the base.

Water plants thoroughly. Water should run away from the edges of the plant or drain from the hole in the bottom of the pot.

Fertilizer
Plants have individual nutrition needs, and beginning gardeners should be careful not to overfeed their plants. New plant installations will not need fertilizers or food of any kind for the first three months as they come from the nursery prepared for transplant.

Plant fertilizers come in three forms:Water-soluble:a liquid mixed with water and poured on the plant
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Spikes:a solid food that is pushed directly into the soil and releases nutrients slowly
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Granular:sprinkled around the base of a plant and watered in.

Insects or DiseaseKeep an eye open for harmful insects or disease on new plant material. New plantings are not as strong as established plants, so they do require more attention. If you see a concern, you can research the issue or contact us for advice.
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Here's some useful links to help you get started in researching your plants:

• Better Homes & Gardens – Plant Encyclopedia

• The Old Farmer's Almanac – Gardening

• TheSpruce.com

• Landscape Ontario – Plant Care Tips

• Garden.org – Plant Guide

• HGTV.com – Gardens

Next Step:

If you’re struggling to maintain your gardens or other landscaping, we can help. Check out our landscape maintenance plans here.

Here's a few other links you might like:

• It's Finally Spring! Where do I Start with my Landscaping?

• How to Clean Up Your Gardens

Paul Dumaresq, Maintenance Ops Manager

Paul has been with Jeff's since the beginning. In fact, he's the second person Jeff hired. His main role is maintenance operations, but we have a hard time keeping Paul from getting his hands dirty.

Paul has spent years maintaining hundreds of properties and he does so with passion and with pride. Jeff and Dave like to talk, but when Paul has a story going about his kids, no one gets a word in edgewise.