Basic concepts of garden maintenance

This article explores some of the basic concepts that should guide the garden supervisor in the practical decisions to be made, to ensure the sustainability, enjoyment and longevity of the green space once the works are complete.

Contact between living elements and pathogens is inevitable, since the garden sits within a natural environment, with the exposure to these factors that this entails. It falls to whoever cares for the garden to make sure the plants have an immune system vigorous enough to cope with attack by pathogens. Stress factors, such as a shortage of water and nutrition, increase plants’ vulnerability to diseases and pests and contribute to the progression of serious plant health problems. When the signs of disease are not noticed in time, it may already be too late to apply plant protection treatments, and the final consequence may be the death of the plant. To keep the garden in the best possible health, it must be fully nourished and its living elements must be inspected visually on a constant basis.

It is estimated that 70% of the main plant diseases are caused by fungi. Unlike pests, where the causal agent can be identified by eye, diseases caused by fungi, viruses or bacteria are identified visually through the symptoms seen on the plants after infection. Some of the symptoms of plant disease are:

– Holes in the leaves and the appearance of necrotic spots, which lead to the dead tissue falling away;

– The plant looks dehydrated, even when the soil is wet;

– Pustules – small rust spots forming;

– Progressive dieback from the tips of the branches to the base;

– Excessive bleeding of sap.

The maintenance plan that Diaplant draws up for its gardens lists the species that need plant protection products applied periodically. If you identify symptoms of disease in plants, you need to contact Diaplant so that an analysis can be carried out to identify the agent causing the disease, as well as the appropriate treatment for it.

Weeding should be carried out periodically, preferably by pulling the weeds up by hand. The spread of weed species is harmful to the garden’s plants. As well as spoiling the look of the garden, weeds compete for essential resources such as water, nutrients and sunlight, and the fast, dense growth of these species limits the development of the garden’s plants. Some weeds act as vectors for the spread of pests and diseases, so removing them periodically helps to keep the garden in good health.

The use of herbicides is recommended only for large areas, where pulling weeds by hand becomes unworkable. The use of herbicides in the garden should be avoided as far as possible, because of the harmful consequences for local biodiversity – contamination of soils and groundwater and the risk of killing the garden’s plants.

Staking is essential to hold trees in the ground until the root system has established and supports the plant fully. Poor staking, or removing the stakes before the necessary time, can cause the plant to move, and broken roots can even lead to the death of specimens. For this reason, a minimum period of 3 years should be allowed before the stakes are removed.

On species sensitive to sunscald, the trunk is covered with a biodegradable mesh. This system prevents damage from sun stress on the trunk until the plant has settled into the ground and tolerates direct sun on its trunk. The mesh should be fitted before the hottest months and removed in winter, to avoid the risk of infection from excess moisture on the trunk. The mesh should be fitted for the first 3 summers after the tree is planted.

The trees sold by Diaplant were given annual formative pruning while they were being formed, ensuring that, once planted in a garden, they grow harmoniously and without safety risks for the people using the garden. For this reason, drastic pruning is not advised – cuts over 8 cm in diameter pose a plant health risk and weaken the branch structure, and may create a safety risk in the future.

That being so, only light cleaning and maintenance pruning should be carried out, consisting of the removal of unwanted parts of the plant such as:

– Dead and/or diseased branches;

– Branches broken by wind and storms;

– Branches that cross one another and compromise the structure of the plant.

Where trees compromise visibility or passage, or encroach on the space of neighbouring structures, more drastic formative pruning should be carried out by a professional arborist.

It is important to stress that different layers of vegetation have different water needs. The watering of lawn and turf is independent of the watering of small shrubs, which in turn is independent of the watering of large trees and shrubs.

Until the plant material in the garden is fully established, irrigation is indispensable. The irrigation schedules programmed by our irrigation technician must be followed, and it is the garden supervisor’s responsibility to change the schedules according to the time of year, as set out in the maintenance plan.

Over the years, the plants will develop root structures that allow them to draw the water they need and so become independent, so the frequency of watering will fall until watering no longer needs to be provided. As a general rule, 5 years after planting, the process of reducing and removing irrigation can begin, but we advise you to consult us so that we can inspect the condition of the garden and establish whether it is mature enough to sustain itself.

How often the lawn is mown varies through the year and is described below in the maintenance plan. The ideal height of the grass after mowing is between 5 and 7 cm. Avoid cutting more than a third of the length of the grass at a time, so as not to spoil the look of the space and to minimise the stress caused to the lawn.

Feeding the lawn is important to keep its vibrant green colour and promote healthy growth. The appropriate fertiliser should be applied at the intervals set out in the maintenance plan.

Lawn maintenance should include periodic weed control, since weeds compete for resources and spoil the look of the space. You can use selective herbicides, which are able to target specific groups of plants to be controlled, such as broad-leaved weeds or unwanted grasses. Alternatively, you can remove the weeds by hand, which is the most environmentally friendly option and the one Diaplant recommends.

Scarifying the lawn is an essential procedure to ensure that oxygen, water and nutrients reach the grass roots. Using a manual or mechanical scarifier, small holes are made in the soil, while the dead grass is lifted and removed. As well as increasing the oxygenation of the deeper layers of the soil, this procedure improves water infiltration (reducing the risk of waterlogging), reduces soil compaction (which allows the roots to go deeper), improves nutrient uptake (increasing the effectiveness of feeding), and promotes microbial activity, which helps to break down organic matter and boosts the nutrient cycle.

The health of the lawn depends on how clean it is kept. It should stay free of debris, such as leaves and branches, to avoid smothering the grass and blocking the sunlight. Should there be damaged or bare areas, new turf should be laid (alternatively, new grass should be sown).

Caring for a garden goes far beyond simple routine tasks – it is a commitment to managing an ecosystem. Proper maintenance ensures that every element of the garden – from the imposing trees to the most delicate lawn – thrives in harmony with its surroundings. Every detail counts in securing the health and longevity of the space.

Original article

This article was first published on the diaplant.pt blog.