What is Plant Material Maintenance? Plant Material Maintenance

Caring for plants to ensure the landscape is performing to its best. Examples:  Fruit production for food  Garden/Flowers for aesthetics  Windbreak health  Tree, shrub and bed health

Amount of maintenance depends on a proper design. The right plant in the right location  Shade or sun  Wet or dry  Mature plant size  Correct hardiness zone

Correct installation is critical Planting depth $100 hole for a $50 tree Soil preparation Mulching Staking of trees Timely watering

The Never Ending Story: Maintenance of the Landscape Pruning Fertilizing Staking Weed control Mulch Bed edging Pest & Disease control Winterization Watering

Pruning Removal of a portion of a plant to  Improve appearance  Promote plant health  Control growth  Control shape Proper times to prune are critical Must have an ultimate goal in mind for pruning

Fertilization Promote growth vs. maintain health Proper timing is critical  Heavy nitrogen in mid summer can kill plants  Fertilizing in late summer can promote growth that will not be hardened off for winter

Staking May be necessary to help establish good form on younger plants Use proper materials Proper time duration

Weed Control Hand Weeding Pre-Emergent Herbicide Post-Emergent Herbicide  Selective or non selective Mulch layer

Mulch Retains moisture Moderates soil temperature fluctuations Aesthetics Prevents mower blight Reduces competition from other plants Organic mulch breaks down to build soil and provide nutrients. Calculator:  1 cubic yard covers 10’ x 10’ x 3” deep

Bed Edging Creates sharp definition between bed and turf Prevents the turf from invading the bed Can be a “V” trench or any number of edging materials can be used

Pest & Disease Control Monitor plants  Know which plants to expect problems on Older spruce and Rhizosphaera needle cast Arborvitae and bagworm When to treat is critical  Euonymus scale crawlers active when catalpa in bloom. License required to treat in many cases Chemical treatment not always the best or easiest

Winterization Proper care given to plants before winter to help them survive cold months  Drought injury going into dormancy  Salt injury  Sun scald  Frost heaving  Animal damage

Watering Too much or too little damages plants Best is infrequent and deep watering Early morning is best time New plants must be watered correctly to help prevent transplant shock

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