• ​Sod Removal, Mulch, Planting+Seed​

My most common method of installing new gardens. 

This method has worked very well! Its a solid A+ 

Process- 

Consultation to go over location. This can be anywhere from around your house. Around a tree or rock or other landscape feature and always involves removing lawn. 

Lawn Removal Lawn is removed by using flat shovels and scraping it up. It can also be done using an expensive sod cutter. Sometimes good plants are within the area to be cut and will be saved for replanting. 

Scraped up lawn can be disposed of onsite or taken away (see disposal to learn more:

 

After sod removal we will mulch.

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Mulching 

Mulching involves bringing in woodchips/mulch from local supplier. This material is a range of natural brown colors. Mulch to be 1-3 inches thick (average 1-2). 

MULCH MUST BE 1 inch or less around trees and shrubs. This reduces rot to bark. 

AFTER PLANTING MAKE SURE MULCH IS SWEPT AWAY FROM THE BASES OF ALL  WHEN WORKING ON A SLOPE GO BACK AND BE SURE NO MULCH HAS RUN DOWN SLOPE AND COVERED PLANTS. THIS REDUCES ROT. 

Mulch reduces initial seedling germination. Increases establishment of natives by reducing competition from unwanted plants. 

Reduces runoff by covering open soil. 

Increases moisture retention by insulating soil from wind and sun. 

Will decay within a few years acting as the perfect medium for more natives to spread. By the time this happens the natives planted have had a few years to inoculate the mulch with a native seedbank. Increases meadow plants, reducing weeding and increasing diversity. See established meadows to learn more: 

 

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Then planting of a mix of native plant species depending on site conditions. See flowers page for more info: 

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Design: 

Placing out plants based on site conditions and height.

Flat: shorter towards the edges and taller towards the middle.

Slope: short towards the top and taller towards the bottom

Pond: short plants 

Near houses: short plants 

Near walkways: short plants 

Space Filler: (depends on site conditions) 

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Planting:

For perennials, shrubs, bareroot, etc 

Hole to be dug depth of plant. Bareroot should be right at soil grade NEVER completely buried. 

Tease/rough up roots (only if rootbound), roots should be lightly teased out of pot shape in loose/low rooted plants, for heavier rooted plants roots to be roughed up good. Look for girdling roots at the bases of woody plants. 

Generally:

1 full shovel length for 1g plants takes below 30 seconds-3 minutes to plant -depends on soil

Roughing the soil up for pint sized plants below 30 seconds to plant up to 1 minute, depends on soil

Size of pot or root ball for shrubs or trees.  5-20+ minutes -depends on size and soil conditions -shrubs will get a berm/well to retain water. Plant should be no more than 1 inch above grade. If a large rock or root is in  the way, move the plant until it is not. If unable to, regrade soil in the surrounding area or grab outside soil and grade the soil up to the plant. Build well into this mound. 

DO NOT PLANT TOO DEEP, if plant seems below grade after taking out of pot remove and add some soil until its at grade with surrounding lawn/surface. Why? Root bark= tolerant of wet but weak to drying out. Stem/trunk bark= tolerant of dry conditions but will rot if kept too wet. 

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Soil should be pressed around plants until no more can be added. BUT DO NOT OVERCOMPACT. Soil shouldn't be easily dug into with 1 finger. Its sorta hard to explain as this depends on soil type but gernally through experience you will find how it should be done. 

 Wells: 

A raised ring of soil around a shrub or tree. Ring should extend to the drip line of the plant if possible. The drip line is the edge of the foliage all the way around the plant. Raised soil ring to be a wider than it is tall 2-4 inch tall circular wall around the plant utilizing the extra soil from the hole after planting. 

Watering: 

For perennials water for 1-2 minutes each once every 3-5 days after a good rain during the summer. Or set a sprinkler for 1 hour to the whole area. 

For shrubs and trees :Fill the wells twice every 4-5 days after a good rain during the summer.  (rain over 4 hours or 0.25 inches) 

During the cooler months: Fall-Spring watering typically isn't needed due to cool temperatures, dormancy and consistent rainfall. 

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