FAQ

Read Our Frequently Asked Landscaping Questions

On this page, you will find answers to many frequently asked questions and some helpful guidelines to follow for the care of your landscape. Shelly’s Landscape proudly serves the north shore of Chicago and surrounding areas.

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  • CARE OF NEW PLANTS

    New plantings should be watered once a week for the first four weeks. These plants should be watered by hand with a ROSS ROOT FEEDER. Large plants such as trees and ornamentals will require approx. ½ hour of water, while smaller shrubs may only require 5-10 minutes per plant.

  • CARE OF NEW SOD

    The most important thing you can do is water, water, water! Your new lawn should be kept saturated for the first two weeks. During this time, please refrain from all activity on the lawn areas. The ground will be very soft, and you will sink in the mud and leave big footprints. After ten days, check to see if the sod has taken root by tugging up on it. If it has taken hold, turn off the water, allow the turf to dry for a day or two, and then cut it at the highest mower setting using sharp blades. Always bag clippings at this time. 

  • CARE OF NEW SEED

    Newly seeded areas should be kept evenly moist but not flooded for the first two weeks to ensure proper germination. During this time, activity on the lawn should be minimal. After the seed has reached 3-4″, it can be cut.

  • CARE AND MAINTENANCE

    New Sod: Your new sod needs to be kept wet every day for the next two weeks. During this time, do not walk on the lawn! It will be mushy, and you will leave footprints. If you must walk on it, use a board to distribute your weight. After the sod has rooted (if you pull it up and it does not lift), allow the lawn to dry so it can be cut for the first time. The first cutting should be done with a sharp blade at the mower's highest setting at about half to three-quarters speed. Always bag clippings for the first 2-3 cuttings. Each week, you can lower the cutting height until cutting at 3" during the summer months. The lawn should be fertilized every 6-8 weeks, and you should water the lawn once per week. For more detailed watering instructions, please refer to our FAQ page.

    New plants: We watered all new plants upon installation. All new plants should be watered by hand with a hose-attached water wand. Larger plants should be watered with a ROSS Root-Feeder. This is a probe that goes into the rootball of the plant. You are responsible for watering plants once per week for the first 4-5 weeks. Please note:

    Some plants will wilt.

    Some plants will lose leaves.

    Some plants will show fall color.

    These are typical signs of adjustment. Do not assume plants need water if you see any of these signs. ALWAYS check the soil around the plants BEFORE watering! If the soil is wet, do not water it! This may require you to move the mulch and poke a finger in the ground.

    New seed: Please keep it evenly moist. This will ensure proper germination. If the seed is always allowed to dry out, germinating will take much longer. If kept evenly moist, you will begin to see germination in approximately two weeks. Keep activity on areas at a minimum, and do not cut until the seed is 3-4" tall. Do not apply weed control until the lawn has been cut at least three times.

    Please See the following PDF for more information.

  • ANNUAL FLOWER CARE

    Following are some basic, easy recommendations that, if followed, will enhance your annual flower display for the entire season.

    WATERING:

    Watering your flowers will be necessary as the season progresses. We recommend checking the condition of your flowers early or late in the day. Do not evaluate watering requirements in the heat of the day. Flowers planted in the ground may require water every few days, sometimes more frequently. Pot flowers, especially clay pots, may require water daily because they tend to dry out faster.

    FERTILIZING:

    We recommend fertilizing your annual flowers as frequently as once a week for the first four weeks and then once every other week. The easiest way to fertilize the flowers is with a jug-type sprayer attached directly to your garden hose. MIRACLE GRO is a beautiful product to use. Buying a large product box in pre-measured packets that empty right into the sprayer is usually possible. There is no mixing or measuring, and the box lasts the entire season. These supplies are readily available at hardware stores, home centers, and garden centers.

    Please See the following PDF for more information.

  • IRRIGATION SETUP

    Your lawn should be watered ONCE PER WEEK! The pop-up mist heads should be set to run for 30 minutes.

    The rotary heads should run for 1 hour. These are per section times. The system should turn on so that the last section is done watering by 8:00 am. This means you add the number of zones and the times for each zone and work backward from 8:00 am. To calculate the start time. The zones that run in your plant beds should be

    TURNED OFF. (Unless they are newer plants, then consult your plant installer). Your plants should only be watered if they appear wilted in the early morning or later in the evening. Most plants will wilt in the heat of the day to conserve energy.

    Please See the following PDF for more information.

  • HOW DO I INCORPORATE MY STYLE AND TASTE INTO MY LANDSCAPE DESIGN?

    Our landscape design team works closely with you to integrate your preferences into your new landscape. We aim to match your style to bring your vision to life.

  • CAN A LANDSCAPE DESIGNER HELP WITH PLANT SELECTION AND INSTALLATION?

    Plants are a vital element to a successful landscaping project. We will help you choose the most appropriate plants for your area and your desired overall look. We source all of our plant material from wholesale growers in northeastern Illinois, ensuring quality and performance for our region. All of our materials are purchased per contract. We will only install materials we purchase, and we provide a full one-year guarantee from the installation date.

  • CAN A LANDSCAPE DESIGNER HANDLE ALL ASPECTS OF MY OUTDOOR PROJECT, INCLUDING HARDSCAPING AND PLANTING?

    We are a full-service landscape company, providing our customers with design and installation for all features, including hardscaping and plants. We also design low-voltage lighting systems to enhance your landscape.

  • CAN A LANDSCAPE DESIGNER INCORPORATE SUSTAINABLE AND ECO-FRIENDLY FEATURES INTO MY DESIGN?

    Sustainable and eco-friendly features are in high demand for landscaping projects. Let our designer know you want to follow these principles, and we'll help you choose the ideal plants.

  • HOW LONG DOES IT TYPICALLY TAKE TO COMPLETE A LANDSCAPE DESIGN PROJECT?

    The initial consultation and design process can take 2-3 weeks on average and will provide the client with a complete design, plant palette, and written proposal. The project itself can take anywhere from one day up to several weeks, depending on the project's overall scope.

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