Plant Care Tips
Practical guidance for watering, feeding, and tending your landscape.
Keep every plant thriving
Learn how to spot stress early, adjust irrigation, and prune for healthy growth throughout the year.
What healthy plants need
Good soil, consistent moisture, and seasonally-timed pruning are the foundation of every landscape we maintain.
- Soil health: add compost, check drainage, and avoid piling mulch against trunks.
- Watering rhythm: deep, infrequent watering for roots; adjust drip lines as canopies grow.
- Sun exposure: match plant selections to actual hours of light, not just the label.
- Pruning timing: prune flowering shrubs after bloom; structural pruning in dormancy.
How to apply these tips
Walk your beds monthly. Check moisture three inches down, look under leaves for pests, and note any canopy changes that alter sun exposure. Small adjustments prevent costly replacements.
- Group plants by water needs and adjust zones instead of watering everything equally.
- Sharpen and sanitize tools to make clean cuts that heal quickly.
- Set reminders for fertilizer windows and pre-emergent applications.
- Photograph trouble spots and compare month to month to track improvement.
Watering and feeding by season
Adjusting water and nutrients to the weather keeps roots healthy and prevents stress.
Spring
Deep water 1–2x weekly; add slow-release fertilizer as new growth pushes.
Summer
Water early morning; increase drip in heat waves; monitor wilt during drought.
Fall
Reduce irrigation as temps drop; feed evergreens; add compost to beds.
Winter
Water before hard freezes if soil is dry; protect tender plants with mulch.
Maintenance basics
- Mulch 2–3 inches deep, keeping it off trunks to prevent rot and pests.
- Use drip irrigation in beds to minimize disease and water loss.
- Clean pruners between plants to avoid spreading fungus or scale.
- Check soil moisture 3–4 inches down before watering again.
- Spot weeds early; remove with roots to keep beds tidy and nutrient-rich.
Common issues and quick fixes
Yellowing leaves
Often overwatering or poor drainage. Improve soil, reduce frequency, and ensure downspouts are routed.
Brown tips
Heat or wind stress. Deep water, mulch, and add temporary shade for new installs.
Sparse blooms
Check sunlight hours; prune after flowering for shrubs; feed with balanced fertilizer in spring.
Pest pressure
Look for aphids, scale, or borers. Use horticultural oil in dormant season and targeted treatments in growth season.
Annual care calendar
- February–March: Cut back perennials, edge beds, pre-emergent for weeds.
- April–May: Feed turf and shrubs, install annual color, refresh mulch.
- June–August: Monitor irrigation, deadhead spent blooms, treat pests.
- September–October: Overseed or aerate lawns, plant trees/shrubs, adjust timers down.
- November–December: Winterize irrigation, protect tender plants, final leaf clean-up.
Need tailored care for your plants?
We set up watering plans, pruning schedules, and seasonal visits that match your landscape.