James City County/Williamsburg
Master Gardeners

Landscape Love
Possible Questions for Home Visits

PLANT WATERING

• Does homeowner know the proper amount of water required per week in the planting beds?
• Does homeowner have a water or rain gauge in the planting beds?
• Does the gauge measure water accumulation in the plant beads to include water from lawn sprinkler systems?
• Is the lawn sprinkler system also used to water the landscape beds?
• Are there separate zones to control each?
• Does the homeowner know how much water in inches, the sprinkler system puts out in a 15-minute period?
• Is the homeowner using a drip irrigation system for watering plants?
• Are the homeowner plants grouped according to their water needs?
• Is the runoff and house downspouts directed to avoid soil erosion and to avoid plant saturation?
• Does the homeowner collect rainwater as a means to water the plants?
• Does the homeowner know about the three tiers cost schedule of water from the James City Service Authority (JCSA)?

CHEMICALS

• Does the homeowner know about the proper use of fertilizers for trees and shrubs?
• Does the homeowner know how to calculate the proper amount of fertilizer to use in the planting beds?
• Does the homeowner know the actual square foot area of the planting beds?
• Does the homeowner know about proper handling of insecticides and other chemicals and their proper disposal?

MULCH/GROUND COVER

• Is there a 2-4" level of mulch surrounding the trees and shrubs?
• Is the mulch pulled back from the trunks about 2"?
• Can the homeowner create a natural self-mulching area under trees where leaves can remain after they fall?
• Does the homeowner want to start a compost pile?
• What does the homeowner do with grass clippings?
• Does the homeowner provide wildlife shelters for birds such as birdhouses?

MAINTENANCE

• Does the homeowner do a regular "walk around" to help identify problems before they get serious?
• Does the homeowner have a long-term landscape plan?
• Does the homeowner have any plants considered "invasive"?
• Are the plants grouped according to their light source needs?
• Are the homeowner's air conditioning compressors surrounded with plants to help improve the efficiency of these units?
• Are the trees and shrubs pruned properly?