It is a shame to see landscape plants, shrubs and trees die, which have sometimes cost a lot of money, due to neglect or poor care. Rather than accepting the loss, giving up and starting over next season, you can save your landscaping investment, with minimal effort and cost, over a three-week period.
Steps
Step 1. Water your plants according to their specific needs
Too little watering is a much more common problem than excessive watering.
- As a general rule, about 2-3 liters of water per week are needed for every 0.10 square meter of vegetation. Or, about 20-30 liters per m2. In other words, it needs to receive at least about 25mm of rain or water every week.
- Most trees require about 2-3 liters of water once a week for every 30cm of height (distributed evenly throughout the root system). Thus, a 6m tall tree should receive 40-60 liters of water once a week.
Step 2. Purchase a sprinkler, garden hose, automatic water timer, and inexpensive rain gauge
You can get this material at major hardware stores or garden centers. This is a small investment (probably 50 euros or less) compared to replacing all the vegetation for thousands of euros. Most people cannot care for their landscaping because they try to water all the plants manually. This often results in poor watering as plant needs are misjudged. Not to mention that it is also a considerable commitment in terms of time.
Step 3. To understand how much water your sprinkler sprays every hour, check the setting of the rain gauge to calibrate it while watering
Check every 15 minutes. When it reaches about 25mm, notice how much time has passed. Depending on your home's water pressure and spray system, this may take 30 to 120 minutes.
Step 4. For subsequent watering, set the timer for the time it takes to reach 2.5cm of water
The timer automatically closes the water so as not to waste it. This technique also allows you to save many hours of work compared to manual irrigation.
Step 5. Water your greenery following a normal routine, even if you think it might rain
It is unlikely that you will overdo it with watering the garden, even if it rains.
Step 6. In the first week you try to save your plants, water until you reach about 8 cm of water for the whole week
To do this, provide 25 mm of water every 48 hours. In this same period, trees should get 6-9 liters of water for every 30 cm (about 3 liters per meter) of height, evenly distributed around the roots.
Step 7. During the second week of care, water the plants until they reach about 5 cm
To do this, provide 25 mm of water every 72 hours. At this point, you should notice that the vegetation begins to recover and become quite green again. Trees should get 4-6 liters of water for every 30 cm of height, evenly distributed around the roots.
Step 8. For each subsequent week water so that the plants get 25mm of water per week
Step 9. Then water each tree once a week so that each gets 2-3 liters for every 30cm of height (per week)
Step 10. After three weeks, provide adequate nutrients to your vegetation
The second most common cause of death of ornamental plants is inadequate nutrition. In other words, fertilize. You can find inexpensive ways to apply fertilizer at hardware stores or garden centers. Purchase a fertilizer that connects to your lawn sprayer. Fertilizers are usually packaged with the common wording of balanced liquid fertilizer. You can often get it for less than 10 euros.
Step 11. Follow the directions on the fertilizer package to apply it using the garden hose that connects to the sprayer
Step 12. Fertilize once a month for the next period, during the growing season, unless otherwise indicated on the package
Step 13. Enrich the soil by applying compost or composted manure
This step should not be ignored. Fertilizer is only a short-term solution, for an immediate rescue. Instead, creating organic land is a duty.
Step 14. You can find compost or fertilizer at garden centers or hardware stores in 20kg bags for less than 3 euros per bag
Step 15. Follow the directions on the package to spread the compost on the soil
If no instructions are given, a general rule of thumb is one bag for every square meter of land.
Step 16. If the subfloor has mulch, remove all the mulch before applying the compost, and then replace it
Step 17. Apply compost or fertilizer only once a year
In the following years it is better to do it in the spring, and it can be applied in a lighter form, at the rate of 1 bag every 2 square meters.
Advice
- You don't have to obsess about finding the right pH or optimal amount of nutrients right now. The goal now is to quickly save your plants, so as not to have to spend thousands of euros next year to replace them. You can tackle these aspects next season if you want.
- The steps in this article, if followed correctly, solve 90% of your vegetation problems. If you don't notice any improvement after four weeks, contact an experienced gardener or professional. Plants could be affected by a disease, or planted in incorrect light or soil conditions. The specialist can help you in these more difficult cases.
- If you live in a desert or arid area, irrigation and vegetation needs will be very different. Consult an experienced gardener or professional.
- Many people fear overwatering or drowning plants. If these procedures are followed exactly, it will not happen.
- If you can't find any of the materials you need, don't be afraid to ask the shopkeeper for help.
- In the future, consider planting drought tolerant trees.
