Its so lovely to get new plants in the garden. Especially if you have been through a lot of mess and upheaval getting the hard landscaping in. Now you have your new plant babies here are some tips on how to look after them until they get established.
Watering
Even drought tolerant plants will need watering whilst they establish. Plants have been tended to in nurseries with lots of water and potentially feed. The roots have had all their needs met in a pot and now its our job to encourage them to start to reach out so they can get their needs met from the ground. Until this point its really important to water. It is better to water in large amounts 2 or 3 times a week rather than little and often. Your looking for enough water to get right down to the roots. Please water at the base of the plants and not the leaves. If you have irrigation rings around trees try to keep these topped up. Of course more water is required in the summer but don’t be lulled into a fall sense of security if it has rained, often this doesn’t get down far enough. If you are not sure feel the soil an inch or so down. If the soil is water logged please don’t water. Over watering can be just harmful as underwater. Once the plants are a year or so in you will be able to reduce and then water according to plant types and weather i.e. drought tolerant plants that are happy with infrequent watering or water needy plants like hydrangea which require regular watering. The plants will give you visual indicators. You will probably have a good layer of mulch on your planting areas but to help give moisture in you may want to add a top layer of mulch on your beds annually. The link below shows some great tips on how to water.
https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-water-your-plants/
Weeding
My gardens are normally designed with a good plant density so that there will be little bare soil on show. Until they establish there will be earth on show and so its worth keeping on top of the weeds until the garden has filled out. Its worth remember that weeds can establish from the ground (seed and roots that were already in the soil) and also from seeds that blow onto the surface. Weeds are plants and need light and water to the roots. If you hoe the soil you separate the roots from the plant and kill it this way. If you mulch and or put cardboard down you remove the light source for the weed.
Where it is hard to hoe e.g. in between stones or paving I’ve recently tried this eco method of killing weeds from Nancy Birtwhistle. Do not use this on grouted joints on paving.
https://youtu.be/7OllMlt42so?si=5GFR1zBRvZIyMXsu
Feeding
By investing in prepping in the soil there will be plenty of nutrients in the soil to feed the plant and keep it happy. If you are looking to keep your garden low maintenance you are looking to wean the plants away from fertilisers. Mulching your garden annually will again help provide nutrients within the soil. There will be certain plants that are hungry and need more for example roses and edibles. Plants in pots will need feeding regularly during the growing period as the compost only holds a few months worth of nutrients.
Staking
New trees will require staking (not multi-stem). The purpose of the stake is not to stop the top of the tree moving but to keep the roots of the tree secure in the ground. Once your trees have established (2/3 years) the staking can be removed. Please check that the stakes are not too tight as the plant grows and that the bindings are not rubbing the bark as that can facilitate disease getting into the plants.
Transplant Shock
Your newly planted tree or plant may start to sulk from suffering through the move. They have been very comfortable at the nursery or field they came from and now you have introduced them to the harsh reality of the garden. They can shed all their leaves, please do not worry, this does not mean they are dead. By following all the advice in this post and having patience the majority will come back once they have happier root systems. This can take a year or two.
https://www.angustreeservices.co.uk/helping-trees-recover-transplant-shock/
Lawns
Grass care is a whole subject matter on its own, one I am not an expert in. The suppliers will generally give you advice on how to look after it. Its important to not let it dry out, allow the roots to get down and not walk on it. Not all grass is the same and its important that you get the right mix for your garden. Different varieties have different properties and its good to have a blend that is not just all Rye. When you first start to cut grass make sure that the blades are sharp and set on the highest setting, you don’t want to cut it too short.
Enjoy
Its a real joy watching plants and getting to know them. They all have their own quirks and you will start to get to know what they like. If you have any queries about a plant the rhs is a great resource on how to look after them and any problems you encounter.