Grow Beyond Blog

How Do I Keep Newly Planted Trees Alive? 

Caroline R. from New Kent asked, “I just planted a new tree this summer, what is the best way to keep it alive?” 

Hundreds of thousands of trees are planted along city and community streets and on other public property throughout the United States each year. Unfortunately, many of these trees, perhaps 50 percent or more, do not survive beyond one or two years. Why? 

Almost everyone can agree, you know its spring once you see the cherry tree blooms. 

What are different types of Cherry trees?  

There are a couple of types of flowering Cherry trees, but the most common type is the Yoshino. The Prunus serrulata or Yoshino Flowering Cherry Tree is widely used as an ornamental tree; valued for its abundance of soft, pink flowers in spring. The tree is a native of Japan and was introduced in the states around 1902. This tree loves full sunlight and grows rapidly when planted in a spot that offers favorable conditions. 

Why should I fertilize my trees and shrubs?  

Tree and shrub fertilization can stimulate growth and maintain vigor. Most soils not disturbed by construction have plenty of nutrients to help with plant growth. The factors causing most tree and shrub problems are not nutritional but heavy clay soils, poor drainage, and incorrect planting. Since most urban environments have been disturbed by construction, and the natural cycling of nutrients is disrupted by leaf removal, there is a need to add nutrients back to the soil for tree and shrub use.  

Aeration and Seeding are essential to keep a healthy lawn of Tall Fescue. Ideally, you would have a weed-free lawn before you aerate and seed, but sometimes weeds still get through. 

A great lawn begins with great seed and choosing the right seed is important to your lawn’s success. For customers who wish to tackle aeration and seeding on their own, Virginia Green is selling our own proprietary seed blend. Our quality seed comes directly from our suppliers in Oregon which is 100% weed free and contains no other crop seeds. Our proprietary blend is comprised of two different fescue varieties – 97% of Tall Fescue and 3% of Kentucky Bluegrass. 

What you need to know in Virginia

It’s that time of year again when fescue lawns need to be aerated and seeded to recover from the heat and humidity of summer. Annual aeration and seeding is a reward for your lawn each year. Here are a few tips that can help prepare your lawn. 

A beautiful Tall Fescue lawn has several important maintenance requirements. At the top of the list is aerating and seeding. This consists of double-core aeration of the lawn to allow nutrients, water, and oxygen to penetrate deep into the soil. Then seeding the lawn twice with a premium, turf type Tall Fescue blend. Yet the work does not end there. 

Do I water my lawn after aerating and seeding? 

Yes! Watering consistently following aeration and seeding is the difference between success and failure. Here are some tips for proper watering: 

How Do I Seed My Lawn? 

Once fall comes around, you should prepare to seed your lawn to promote the healthy growth of your property’s grass. The following are the steps to seed your lawn properly and effectively during the fall season: 

Why should I seed my lawn? 

Even if you do your best to take care of your lawn during the summer, high temperatures can cause damage to your grass. This is especially true if you experience any droughts, or if your lawn consists of Fescue grass, which tends to struggle with Virginia’s weather conditions. You may end up with patches of thin grass or bare areas as a result of heat damage. This is why you’ll want to repair any damaged spots in your lawn once summer ends.