Page 83 - KHovanian Homes - Pathway to Homeownership

Section 9 | Home Care & Maintenance than what is normally required by mature lawns and plants. Generally, this need only happen for the first month that you are in your home. After that, your watering schedule can be scaled back. Maintenance Guidelines • Plants and grass are alive when you move into your home. Take special care to help them mature. It is extremely important that new plants and trees be watered twice a week for the first month and once a week for the next three months. This should be done with an open end garden hose, one minute on shrubs and three to four minutes on trees. For best results, contact a lawn care specialist for proper maintenance guidelines. • We recommend that you consult with a landscape specialist before you do any planting of shrubs or trees. They can help you understand what plants will grow best in your climate. • If you add landscaping, keep fill dirt 6” below the top of the foundation. This could lead to water inside your home. • When selecting plants for areas directly around your home, make sure to allow for the size of the plant when fully grown. Also choose a plant that does not require heavy watering for normal growth. • Avoid planting shrubs, plants, or trees that have deep root systems near your home. In time, the root may extend under the foundation creating an unwanted channel for water to get under your foundation. • Always check with your local utility providers (gas, electric, cable, etc.) before you start any digging. Make sure that you know the location of your underground power lines, cable television lines, and plumbing lines. • Sod requires constant moisture until the second mowing occurs. If allowed to dry out, the sod will shrink and gaps will appear between the sections. Water each section of the lawn for 20 minutes twice each day, once in the morning and once in the late afternoon. When moving the sprinkler, check to see if you are leaving footprints. If so, the area has been over watered. Watering may be reduced after the second mowing. Be aware that sod, when initially installed, will occasionally go into “shock” and turn brown. The sod is not dead and should continue to be watered. (Please Note: Extremely hot weather or above average rainfall will affect these instructions.) • Mow the new grass when it attains a height of 3 to 4 inches. Do not mow if the ground is soggy. Set the mower at the highest height setting and be sure the mower blades are sharp. • Fertilizing and Weeding: For proper fertilizer and weeding guidelines please contact a lawn care specialist. • Do not spray immature grass with chemicals to kill weeds. The best approach is to use pre-emergent weed control beginning the following spring, when grass is stronger and more mature. All trees and shrubs are nursery grown, and a Landscape Contractor handles the initial planting. You are responsible for maintaining the new plantings with proper maintenance care and water. The first six to nine months are the most crucial for new plantings. The type of tree or shrub will dictate the specific care needed. LANDSCAPING - SPRINKLER SYSTEMS Underground sprinkler systems are a HIGH maintenance item. Check sprinkler heads frequently to make sure that they are watering the lawn and not a driveway. After two weeks of heavy watering, reset the timer to water your lawn every second day. This will vary depending on your community’s water conservation practices and your lawn’s moisture needs. The early morning hours are best. It is advisable to water for a period of 7 minutes per zone on systems with stationery pop-up sprayers, and 20 minutes per zone on systems with rotors. The underground lines are in no danger of freezing until the outside temperature reaches 10°F or below. However, it is imperative that you drain the above ground portion of your sprinkler system when the outside temperature is 32°F or below. Failure to do so could result in pipe freezing and breaking. Repair will Edition July 2019 | 65