In the hotter months, consider programming your irrigation controller for 45 to 50 minutes in the morning and a similar duration in the evening, or possibly longer.

As the weather cools down, you should adjust the frequency from daily watering to every five or seven days, depending on your judgment. Different properties absorb water slightly differently. To determine the moisture level, gently move aside some gravel from a few plants and trees, then examine the soil. According to our landscaping contractors, the soil should be damp to a depth of approximately 2 inches — not overly wet, nor completely dry. This condition will vary throughout the year.

The first step is meeting with one of our professional designers to come up with a game plan. Our first appointments typically do not take very long. We'll show up and introduce ourselves, learn more about how you plan to utilize your outdoor living space, and brainstorm some ideas together. We'll take a lot of pictures as well as notes. If you can have a copy of your plot plan when we meet, that would be very helpful for scaling purposes. We do most of our designs in 3D, so you can see what we will build before we build it! If you do not already have a copy of your plot plan, it can usually be obtained from the home sales office or superintendent. 

As for the next steps, once we've completed the 3D mock-up, we will schedule a time to review it together and go over the itemized cost breakdown. We can always make modifications as needed to adjust to homeowners' spending plans. To get started, reach out to our landscaping contractors today!

Once a design is settled on, you'll put half down to get on the construction calendar, and the balance is due when the project is finished. Once your project is scheduled, our installation teams are experienced and efficient, resulting in quick landscape installation and build times. Note that pergolas are usually installed after project completion. Landscaping materials typically arrive the day before construction so our landscaping contractors can start bright and early.

So you have a new home with a dirt lot, now what? Where do you begin? First, we think about how you may want to utilize the space. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you have kids? 
• Do you have pets? 
• Do you tend to like things more straight, or do you like soft radiuses when it comes to, for instance, the shape of your lawn or patio? 
• Do you want a more modern minimalistic clean look or a more warm, cozy, and full landscape?
• Do you prefer a more desert landscape or something lusher?
• Do you enjoy working in the yard, or is it just a necessary evil that you would like to keep at a minimum?

Once you have a better idea of what you want from your property, reach out to our landscaping contractors to get started on your project!

Is a veggie garden in the plans? Many people love the idea of growing their produce but don’t realize how much work it takes to prepare the soil correctly, water it appropriately, and plan the initial placement of the garden regarding sun exposure.

Some veggie gardens are at ground level, usually lined with pavers. Some people prefer raised beds, which are typically simple but elevated. Raised beds allow for better drainage and insect control.

Sometimes, people will create raised planting beds made of concrete blocks with a travertine cap to sit on, perhaps wrapped in stone to match the home. The options are endless, and our landscaping contractors can help you make your dream vegetable garden a reality.

Do you utilize the space the most in the morning, mid-day, or evening? Many Mesquite Landscaping customers rarely get to enjoy their backyard during the day and only see it in the evening.

In these cases, landscaping contractors consider doing landscape lighting or a fire feature of some sort – a fire pit, fireplace, and or an outdoor sitting area. Initially, we want to come up with a game plan, so let's throw all of the ideas out there, see what they look like, and determine what they cost. Then we can prioritize them.

Because you have a new home, we have a blank slate. Your landscape more than likely will be here for many years to come. Let's make it something that you can enjoy and an investment that adds value to your home! According to Zippa, landscaping can increase the resale value of your home by as much as 14%. Landscaping does not always increase a home's value, but it generally improves the curb appeal to a prospective new homeowner.

When it comes to plants and trees, Mesquite Landscaping's designers know their stuff! We will work with you to figure out what your likes and needs are and be able to suggest vegetation that thrives here in Arizona. We will want to consider sun exposure based on each home and plant appropriate plants and trees for the location.

One of the most common reasons for unsuccessful vegetation is usually placement and poor watering practices: too much or too little water. Some plants love the sun; some plants cannot take the full sun or reflective heat off of walls. Some vegetation is frost tender and requires covering during freeze warning nights. Some plants may need to be covered during the summer. Our landscaping contractors will help you find the perfect plants and trees for your specific circumstances.

Mesquite Landscaping offers several different warranties:

• We offer a two-year warranty on new hardscape installations. 
• Artificial turf has a one-year warranty on workmanship and a 10 to 15-year warranty against turf defects (this is prorated through the manufacturer for the length of time the turf has been installed) depending on the turf chosen.
• We offer a one-year warranty on new irrigation systems
• We offer a three-month warranty on all vegetation – anything that is going to die because of something that was done incorrectly during installation will usually do so within the first few weeks.

The long-term success of landscape vegetation requires homeowner involvement in monitoring water and adjusting to the seasons. Our landscaping contractors will go through watering instructions and plant care for the first few weeks after installation.

We hope new homeowners will take a little time to learn about their new landscaping and how best to care for and water vegetation. There is no set rule on watering. Each property absorbs water a little differently. Some homes have very clay-like dirt, and it holds water. Other homes have loamy soil, and some have rocky ground requiring more frequent watering. Each homeowner has to figure out a watering schedule that works for their landscape: not too much, not too little!

When landscaping is new, watering more frequently is necessary. As the landscape matures, watering duration should be increased, and frequency should be decreased but not to the point that we cause stress on the vegetation. When adjusting to the seasons, note that there is hardly any evaporation during winter, and the soil stays moist longer. During our hot summers, things can dry out pretty quickly.

We do not; our specialty is landscape construction and installation on new homes. After our landscaping contractors finish working on your property, we do not offer any maintenance services. If yard work is not your thing, we highly recommend hiring a landscape maintenance service. There are many great ones to choose from. Try to find one that is already working in your neighborhood if possible. Quality and price are usually better if you see someone already working in your community.

Mesquite Landscaping will make our best effort to program your existing irrigation controller provided by your homebuilder with initial settings for the first week of watering your new landscaping. It would be best if you had complete control of your watering system to have a thriving landscape.

If your existing irrigation controller is too difficult for you to program, please let us know before your installation date. There are several irrigation controllers on the market currently, many of which are much easier to program than the ones home builders typically put on new homes. The function is usually the same or similar. However, ease of use varies greatly.

Newly installed sod must be watered at least three times a day after the initial installation to keep it from drying out while rooting. After the initial two weeks, reduce watering from three times a day down to twice a day. If oversaturation occurs within the first week of sod installation, reduce the watering time duration while leaving the controller programmed to come on three times a day.

After the initial 10 to 14 days of watering three times a day for approximately four to 10 minutes per cycle, you will need to reduce the watering time down to twice a day for another 10 days or so. After another week (three weeks after installation), reducing the water down to once a day in the early morning is best.

Your new lawn will be ready to mow approximately one month after installation. Ensure the ground is firm enough to walk on without creating dents in the turf before mowing. Also, please do not allow the grass to get excessively tall in between mowings, or it will block the spray pattern of the sprinkler heads, creating bare spots in the lawn.

The gravel areas adjacent to your new lawn will also become very saturated in the first few days after your landscape has been installed, and walking in the gravel will press the stone down into the soil, making it seem as though you do not have enough rock. Please try to minimize walking on your fresh landscaping as much as possible until you have reduced the water down enough that the ground is firm again.

Newly planted trees and plants need water every day for the first few weeks to establish themselves in their new home.

It is the homeowners' responsibility to learn about the new plants and trees installed on their properties. Adjust the watering needs accordingly with the seasons and with the maturity of the plant. Keep in mind that no plant wants water every day for the long term. Do not leave your irrigation controller programmed to water every day. Failure to adjust your irrigation controller will probably result in your landscape vegetation dying, which isn't covered under your warranty.

New lawns should be mowed and edged every week to achieve a full lawn after the initial 30-day establishment period.

If you ever have a question about how to care for your new landscape or need advice, please don’t hesitate to call our landscaping contractors. Thank you again for choosing Mesquite Landscaping.