Water diligently for the first months of your new planting. Spring and fall weather can mean one to three times per week, while hot, windy summer conditions may warrant a daily watering. Excessively windy areas can be successfully planted, but water must be monitored carefully by manually checking the level of moisture in the soil (does it feel dry to the touch?).

Winter watering is necessary in seasons without snow or other appreciable moisture. Once monthly is necessary for newly planted trees and shrubs, especially evergreens.

Water deeply and slowly by using soaker hoses for beds and hose without attachment on single specimens set at a slow trickle. Water should be left on for 30 to 45 mintues per watering to insure water is sinking into the soil at the root ball, and that it is reaching as deep a level as possible. Hand holding a hose to water is never sufficient for watering in-ground plantings.

Containers must be hand monitored as plant sizes, quantities, container type and planter placement can all effect the needs of those plantings. As a rule, containers need less quantity and more frequent waterings. Check by hand!

Check moisture by hand by sticking your hands into the dirt. If it feels dry and powdery, you aren't watering enough. If it's chunky and muddy, let it dry to a crumbly or barely moist texture before watering again no matter how many days it's been since you've watered or it's rained!

Watch for sings of distress on plant foliage. Wilting usually means lack of moisture while browning indicates wind damage or advanced stages of drying out. Both symptoms indicate trouble and warrant a call to a nursery or extension agent. Yellowing usually indicates excessive water, and can result in the rapid death of perennials, grasses, bulbs, cherry and dogwood trees and others especially sensitive to moisture. Standing water, even when limited to rainy times, warrants special plantings with plants recommended for that purpose.

Lack of water and overwatering are the most common reasons for plant failure. Call a nursery or county extension service when you see signs of trouble so you can prevent the loss of the plant!

Plant sun plants in sun, shade plants in shade. Western and southern exposures are typically very hot, and inappropriate even for certain sun plants. Northern exposure is usually shady, and eastern is ideal for many sun and shade plants. Trees and other nearby structures can change lighting dramatically. Do the research on the area before planting, and don't try to force a plant into an inappropriate exposure!

Dig holes only as deep as the depth of the root ball or soil in the plant container. Digging deeper than this level can cause settling, and later rot of the crown or trunk of the plant. Planting above this level will cause drying and burning of exposed roots.

Amend the soil carefully when necessary, taking care to add no more than 50% peat, compost or other soil amendments to prevent hard pan barrier damage to plant root systems. Unless clay or rock is excessive, in the case of large shrubs and trees soil amendment is not recommended.

Mulch well. Not only will the weed competition be kept to a minimum, but water retention will be much greater, and the temperature of the soil and roots will be kept lower. If weed mat is used, take care to be sure water is reaching the roots below it's surface.

Don't over fertilize. All the plants sold at VVN are fed with slow release fertilizer which will last the first season. The following spring, check back with us for recommendations on products for feeding your plants. Always follow label instructions on any product you use.

Research before applying chemicals! Always check labels and ask sales people about products you are purchasing and their possible effect on plantings that might receive drift. Avoid using insecticides and herbicides whenever possible - check with VVN staff for safe, effective organic products. There are new things available that really work!

Find out about the insects you see before you act. Sometimes beneficial bugs are protecting you - let them do your work for you.

Try disgusting mixtures of peppers and so forth to discourage your pets and wildlife from damaging your plantings. Call VVN if you need creative suggestions.

Contact us at the first sign of trouble so we can identify the problem before it is too late! Failure to contact us before the plant(s) has died will render the guarantee null and void. When customers contact us after a plant has been dead for weeks or months, we have no way of determining why that plant died! (It's also a pretty good indication of lack of attention on the part of the purchaser, which is not really a fair thing to make us responsible for.)

Our sincerest desire is for you to enjoy success. Happy customers are the key to our success, and the advice we give is based on lots of personal experience and study! Failure to follow our instructions will render our guarantee null and void. Our guarantee is offered for one year with a one time credit on original purchase price of trees and shrubs. Vinland Valley Nursery cash register receipt (no credit card receipts, please), and this purchase ticket must be presented with the deceased or damaged plant. Installed trees and shrubs will be replaced with an additional planting fee of 50% of the replacement's retail value. Delivered items will be charged an additional delivery fee. Vinland Valley Nursery does not guarantee perennials, herbs, tropicals, annuals, dogwood trees and crapemyrtle.