F.A.Q.; What our Homeowners Want to Know About Landscaping
By the Customer Response Team Representatives
It’s that time of year again! With Victoria Day Long Weekend around the corner, landscaping season will soon be underway. If you have purchased one of our homes in a community/phase that includes landscaping to be completed by Cedarglen Homes, here are some of the most frequently asked questions:
When are you going to start landscaping my home?
When all the driveways and the final grading are completed within an area, we then have a general idea of when the landscaping will take place. We then start to schedule each block in succession. Our contractor will be leaving a package at your front door when they begin prepping in your area, including FAQs and watering instructions.
Can we complete a deck and other landscaping on our own prior to the completion of Cedarglen’s landscaping?
Please do not install or build anything in your yard until we have completed our portion of the landscaping. We may need to use backyards in order to access other backyards and building anything in the way may cause unnecessary delays in landscaping completion. The final grade needs to be completed, surveyed and approved prior to us laying sod. If you build something prior to the completion of our landscaping it may be at the wrong height and need to be removed. To avoid unnecessary costs you may incur, please wait until we have completed our portion before beginning any work on your yard.
How do I take care of my yard once complete?
New Trees
- Nearly 90% of all the problems that occur with new trees are due to incorrect watering (either too much or too little water). Note: the soil should never be hard, dry, soppy, or muddy. The soil must always be moist.
- Once the tree has been planted, fill the tree well with water and let it drain slowly into the root-ball. If you do not have a tree well, it is recommended a garden hose be placed a few feet away from the trunk of the tree and let it slowly soak the root-ball for 15-20 minutes. Either method should be done 2-3 times a week.
- When the temperature is extremely warm, it is best to water early in the morning or later in the evening. If watering is done during the hottest times in the day, most of the water will evaporate and your lawn and garden will not benefit.
- Please take the proper precautions to protect your tree from the possible damage that could result from animals or rodents.
Sod
- Water the sodded area immediately. Note: 1L of water in the first hour does more than 6L of water three hours later. Do not walk on sod when still wet as this can cause uneven areas (sinkage and dimpling).
- Water the sod daily for the first four days and continue to water every second day for four days. On very hot days, water twice – once in the morning and once in the evening, for shorter periods. Once this has been completed, water as needed. Three times a week is recommended, do not over water. Watering the sod in the morning will keep it moist throughout the day.
- Sod should be fertilized with a turf starter formulation containing high amounts of phosphate (eg: 10-30-10). “Weed and Feed” or similar products are not recommended for new sod, as the herbicide in these products can stunt the growth of roots in new sod.
- New lawn can be mowed after three weeks to ensure that it has properly taken root. No more than 1/3 of the height at one time should be removed. Keep the lawn maintained at approximately 1½ inches. During extremely warm temperatures, it is best to keep your lawn slightly longer as longer grass is more tolerant to heat and will not dry out as quickly.
Settlement
- As per the Alberta New Home Warranty (ANHW) guidelines any settlement that happens during the first year the builder will drop off the material necessary to repair and placement is the responsibility of the homeowner. Please let us know if you experience settlement and we will make sure you get the material necessary to maintain the proper grades to prevent unwanted damage to your home.
- Settlement with fence posts is a normal occurrence and not a warrantable item.
- Please make sure your downspouts are down whenever it rains to prevent settlement.
Please note, as per ANHW, lawn (sod), trees, shrubs and plants are not warrantable items, as these are homeowner maintenance items and are the responsibility of the homeowner.
If you require clarification or have questions or concerns, please email the Response Team at responseteam@cedarglenhomes.com or give us a call at 403.255.2000, and we will be happy to help.
Have a great weekend,
Cedarglen Homes