Garden Maintenance FAQs
Spring is almost here! At Green Thumb Landscaping, we understand the excitement of the new season and all the promise it holds — and we also understand the feeling that comes with looking at your landscaping and seeing all the work that needs to be done!
The appearance of an April garden can be pretty rough and the work involved to get it back to looking beautiful can feel pretty overwhelming. Never fear, we are here to offer you some help with answers to some of our most frequently asked questions about getting your landscaping back into shape for the coming season.
When is a good time to have my garden or property assessed by a landscaping professional?
April is a great time to have a professional come and review your gardens, landscaping, and property. It’s still too early to plant in the soil, as some areas below the frost line may still be frozen, but the shape and slope of your property will be readily visible for a detailed assessment.
A site assessment will allow the landscaper to examine, analyze, and document the elements of your property, including:
- Existing garden beds
- Types of trees and shrubs
- Placement and types of existing plants
- The current condition of the landscape
- Property line and shape of the property
- The placement of the home within the property line
- Any easements
- Influences from other properties
- Existing wiring or outdoor lighting
- Structures
- Pathways
- And more
Once these elements are recorded, we can develop a plan that incorporates existing elements that you wish to keep and can take into account future possibilities and limitations. Green Thumb Landscaping are assessment specialists and will make this process painless.
Do I need to get new mulch for my garden every year?
The short answer is yes.
After every spring thaw you will notice that your mulch has been reduced. Aside from getting raked away, dug up by animals, and faded from the sun, mulch (which is typically made from shredded hardwood bark) will decompose over time.
We recommend adding a fresh layer of mulch to your garden each year to keep the weeds down, the soil moist, and the colour fresh.
Adding a 2-3” layer of new mulch to your garden each year will help to keep your plants healthy and your property looking maintained.
How often do I need to feed my garden plants?
It is vital to regularly feed your plants to keep them healthy, strong, and pest-resistant. Different plants require different types of food and different frequencies of feeding. Here are some general guidelines:
- Add organic or eco-friendly plant food in a liquid form to your container plants and flowering plants that require regular watering.
- Add organic or eco-friendly compost, or granular nutrients, into your soil and work it into the soil evenly.
We recommend feeding at the following intervals:
- Container plants: twice per week.
- Garden bed plants: every 2-3 weeks.
- Landscape shrubs: once each month.
There are many more tips and tricks to maintaining your gardens and landscape. Contact Green Thumb Landscaping today, and we’ll help answer your questions and provide you with a plan to keep your landscaping beautiful, healthy, and strong.
