Home Landscape Audit
Landscape Maintenance
Watering
Suggestions
What time of day do you water?
Watering should be done after dew has fallen and before it begins to dry in the morning.
This helps prevent disease while minimizing evaporation
How long do you water?
Water should be applied until the soil is moist to a depth of 6-8 inches
How often do you water?
Watering should be done only when the plants need it, not on a set schedule.
Water infrequently but thoroughly.
Do you have an irrigation system?___
Is so, when did you last check sprinkler heads?
Sprinkler heads should be checked at least once per season. Check flow rate and direction of flow
Do you have a moisture sensor?____
A moisture sensor will prevent water waste
Fertilizing
When did you last soil test?
Soil testing should be done at least every 3 years
What was your soil pH?
If pH is too high or low, plants can’t use the fertilizer you apply
How large is your lawn area?
Calculate square footage - length x width equals _______ square feet
How much fertilizer do you use?
Fertilize according to soil test results.
What kind of fertilizer do you use?
Use slow release fertilizers for more even plant growth and less waste and pollution.
Why do you fertilize?
Many plants do not need regular fertilizing
When do you fertilize?
If fertilizer is necessary, fertilize when plants are actively growing
Your Notes
Home Landscape Audit
Landscape Maintenance
Pruning
Suggestions
Why do you prune?
Pruning may be needed to shape a young plant, to provide air circulation or to remove dead,
diseased or damaged tissue.
How often do you have to prune?
If regular pruning to reduce size is needed within 5 years of planting, consider replacing
the plant with one suitable in size.
How do you prune?
Shearing should be avoided. Thinning of branches gives a natural shape and does not
need to be done as often.
When do you prune?
Dead, diseased and damaged tissue should be removed as noticed. In general, avoid fall
pruning because it may reduce cold hardiness. Prune spring flowering shrubs right after
flowering, summer flowering shrubs before growth begins in spring.
Pesticides and Herbicides
Before using a pesticide or herbicide, do you ...
properly identify the problem?
consider whether the problem needs to be treated
or whether it is self-limiting?
Insects and diseases do not cause most problems on landscape plants. Poor drainage,
severe weather, mechanical damage, herbicide drift and overfertilizing commonly cause problems.
Your local Cooperative Extension Service can help you identify the pest and suggest methods
of control appropriate for the pest’s life stage.
consider whether changing cultural practices
will eliminate the problem?
consider whether non-chemical means such as removing
infected tissue or washing pests off with water is an option?
consider whether treatment might disrupt
beneficial insect populations?
Do all that you can to encourage beneficial insect populations.
Do you keep all chemicals in a locked cabinet? __________
Are all labels legible?________
Be sure to read and follow all label directions exactly.
Your Notes