Plant Care & Warranty

Thank you for choosing Begonia Brothers for your landscape needs. We will be installing plants at your home and would like to take a moment to review the warranty and proper care for your plant. Please keep this document handy for future referenc

Please remember that plants are living entities and need care as such. Success with your new plant is tied directly to the amount of care it is given. Once Begonia Brothers installs your landscape, you will have the responsibility to for caring for your plants.

Should you start noticing plant decline such as wilting, leaf drop, discoloration, insect infestation etc. Take pictures of the damage and notify us via Email immediately so that we have a record. It is important that we have written

documentation from you. This allows us to quickly determine possible causes of plant stress and recommend solutions. Begonia Brothers holds the right to void the warranty if the client has not produced evidence of plant decline or if the client has failed to inform Begonia Brothers at the first sign of plant decline. Again, you must notify Begonia Brothers as soon as you notice any signs of plant decline. Begonia Brothers cannot replace any plant under warranty if we are notified after the plant is completely dead. Roughly 95% of plant decline in newly installed plants are due to improper watering which is not covered under warranty. It is the homeowner’s responsibility to keep the plants watered properly. Please refer to our watering guide in this document.

Shrubs and perennials installed by Begonia Brothers have a one-year limited warranty. They will be warranted from transplant shock and will be disease and insect free at the time of installation. The customer is exclusively responsible for maintaining reasonable growing conditions to encourage optimal plant health, including automated irrigation, insect and disease control, and shelter from unreasonable damage by pets or pedestrians and changing weather conditions.

Occasionally, plants will not survive the process of transplanting. If you believe that your new plantings are declining following installation, it is the client’s responsibility to contact Begonia Brothers immediately with information regarding the plants condition. A member of the Begonia Brothers team will need to inspect the plant to determine the cause of decline. In the event the cause of decline is determined to be a direct result from installation, Begonia Brothers will replace the plant free of charge with the same species, or a reasonable substitute better suited for the on-site conditions.

Under no circumstances will Begonia Brothers provide a replacement for an already replaced warranty product. There will be no cash refund or account credit given for the materials or labor of the job. If the client chooses to have a different type of plant installed as a replacement, the client will be responsible to cover any difference in cost.

The Begonia Brothers plant warranty does not cover the replacement of any plant that has undergone the following:

• Severe weather conditions, including but not limited to snow, ice storms, hail, severe freezes, floods, wind, drought or extreme heat.
• Improper watering practices, including: overwatering, underwatering, and watering exclusively performed by irrigation systems. Please note that irrigation systems alone do not provide a sufficient amount of water to ensure the survival of newly installed plants. This is why the plant(s) will not be warranted should the newly installed plants only be watered using an irrigation system.
• Insect infestation or disease. (if you notice an insect infestation or disease on your plant, inform Begonia Brothers immediately.
• Plants that die as a result of improper cultural practices such as over or under watering, improper fertilizing, or damage from chemical applications.
• Plants that are transplanted after installation.
• Breakage from weather, animals, pedestrians, vehicles or lawn equipment
• Fire or vandalism

Warranties will be voided for accounts not paid in full within the agreed payment terms.

WATERING:
Newly installed plants need to be watered every day for the first three days. After that, they should be watered deeply every 3 days or every 2 days in well-drained soil (please see the instructions below under "Check all plants regularly". Deeply is defined as saturating the root ball of the plant. Larger plants with larger root balls will need more than smaller ones which is why most irrigation systems do not provide proper water to newly installed plants as there are often different sized plants in the same irrigation zone.

The roots must be allowed to dry out. Plants breath though their roots as well as their leaves and if the roots remain surrounded by water for more than 3 days, they will drown. Greater than 95% of the plant decline we observe following installation of new plants is due to drowning. The vast majority of the soil in our area is heavy clay which does not let water pass though it easily. The best way to determine how your plants are doing and if you are watering sufficiently is to dig a hole next to the root ball and examine the roots on the third day. They should be dry but not dusty.

Check all plants regularly. Check newly planted trees and shrubs every few days for the first two weeks. Annuals and perennials daily, thereafter, every week to 10 days. Simply dig around the root zone with your fingers to a depth of 2-3” for small plant and 6-8” for larger ones and trees. Water generously when the soil feels dry to the touch.

Slow, deep watering is critical. This type of watering is accomplished by placing the hose at the base of a plant, at a rate just slow enough that water does not run off in streams, it should soak into the soil. Water 5-10 minutes for small plants – longer for larger plants while moving the hose in a few locations around the plant.

When the soil feels moist do not water. Soil must be allowed to dry out between watering. If a plant is maintained in constantly moist soil; the plant’s health will deteriorate over time. A plant weakened by over watering may die of oxygen deprivation or become susceptible to pest and disease. For this reason, lawn irrigation systems if not designed correctly can be hazardous to ornamental plantings.

Monitor water requirements frequently is more important than watering frequently.

Monitor your plants’ water requirements for at least the first two to three years. Plants close to buildings where heat may reflect and plants under roof eaves require closer monitoring. During the hot summer months and early fall, disregard natural rainfall. Often, rain received during these periods produces mostly runoff and contributes little, if any, to increasing ground moisture.

Maintain a 2 ½ inch mulch layer to help conserve ground moisture, prevent weeds and retain moisture. Remember, excess amounts of mulch will result in poor air circulation and reduce plant vigor.

SOD AND GRASS SEED
Sod: New sod must be watered within 30 mins of installation. It should be kept wet for the first 2 weeks. Pull the sod up and examine the soil underneath. It should be wet to a minimum depth of 3-4 inch. More is fine but not necessary. The sod should feel spongy when you put your weight on it. After the sod has rooted, do not pull it up. You can also push a screw driver into the sod and if it goes in easily to a depth of 4 inches-if so then you are watering deeply. If it is hard to push a screwdriver into the soil underneath then you need more water. DO NOT LET THE SOD DRY OUT. If it turns a grayish blue, it is too dry and in trouble. You may have to water it 3 or 4 times a day for the first 2 weeks. Week 3 - watering can be cut back to twice/day and possible skip a day provided the sod is not drying out. Week 4 - 1 to 2 times a day every other day. After week 4 the sod will likely need water every 2nd or 3rd day. Remember to water deeply.

If the weather is very warm or we are having a drought, running your irrigation system a few times a day to cool your grass is a

great idea- it is not a substitution for a deep watering.

Grass seed: Grass seed must not be allowed to dry out until it germinates. Water the soil daily, just to the depth of the seed, at least twice a day, but more if it needs it. Do not flood the area as

you may wash the seed out. After the seed has germinated, allow the soil to dry out slightly. During the early post-germination stage, it is critical to not water multiple times a day. Most grass dies when it is young because of root rot and disease from over watering.

When the grass is a couple inches tall cut back on water to once every two to three days, depending on the temperature. Soil should be wet but not dripping wet to a depth of 2 inches. Once the grass reaches the cutting height for your grass type, begin watering deeply, but less often, so the soil is wet to a depth of four inches. After watering, don't water again until the grass begins to show signs of stress. This will promote a deeper root structure as the plant will look for water.