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Category Archives: Lawn Care Services

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Learning to Read Your Grass in Rochester and Winona, MN

Posted on September 30, 2015 - 1:22 pm by

If you’re a lawn owner in Rochester or Winona, MN, you’ve probably had your share of questions regarding what is and isn’t normal for your grass. Harsh winters followed by hot, blazing summers leads to a lot of fluctuation in color, brittleness, and quantity of the grass in your yard. Our Minnesota weather means it can be difficult to know if you should react to abnormalities on your own, or if you should get a professional lawn care service such as Maier Tree and Lawn involved.

What counts as a worry-spot and what can be overlooked?

As you may expect, dark green grass that is consistently thick and lush throughout the expanse of a yard is a safe indicator of good lawn health. Be aware though that different types of grass do have different base colors. Green is good, but just because your neighbor has a slightly darker green doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong with your lawn care; it might just be from a different seed! This is also true of the “softness” of the grass and how well it withstands varying temperatures. Healthy grass can come in many forms!

As for yellowing grass, it may or may not be a problem. Residents of Rochester and Winona know that yellowing is to be expected with the seasonal transitions, but premature yellowing or distinct yellow spots can tell a different story. Some causes of yellow spots could include pet-potty-spots, a lack of adequate water, too few nutrients in the soil, or too much heat. Regular watering and the application of lawn fertilizer can help with many of these issues, so don’t get too worried if your blades are looking a little pale.

Brown spots are a classic indicator of poor lawn health, but even they can be dealt with if you have the right strategy. It’s also important to keep in mind that some types of healthy grasses do go through natural stages of dormancy where they “shut down” to gain protection from damaging weather conditions. Brown doesn’t necessarily mean dead, but it generally does indicate “keep an eye on me.” Brown, brittle grass can be the result of improper watering, dull or overly-close mower blades, or chemical damage. In more extreme cases, brown spots, or even perpetually yellow spots, may be caused by insects or disease. In these cases it’s a good rule of (green) thumb to get a professional involved.

Some problems can be addressed with a little more attention or sharpened mower blades, but others can be stubborn and mysterious. Take note of ongoing irregularities and check in with the lawn health specialists at Maier Tree and Lawn if you can’t figure out what your grass is trying to tell you. If you’re in Rochester or Winona, MN and need some help or have some lawn-related queries, feel free to contact us by phone or browse our website!

Does Soil Compaction Impact Lawn Care in Southeastern Minnesota?

Posted on August 23, 2015 - 11:04 am by

Let’s define soil compaction as when pressure applied to soil closes any air spaces between the individual soil particles. Should this matter for your lawn care? According to our experts at Maier Tree & Lawn, that depends on many factors in southeastern Minnesota.

How can you tell when your soil is compacted?

If you take a sharp object like a screwdriver and push it into the soil with ease, then your soil is not severely compacted. The more difficult it is to puncture the soil, the more compacted the soil is.

What causes soil compaction?

The degree to which soil gets compacted depends on the soil type, the pressure involved, the depth of the surface layer, the subsoil type and depth, the weather elements, etc. Anything that puts pressure on soil can compact it to varying degrees: raindrops, foot traffic, vehicles, carts, tillage implements, livestock, tractors, and other heavy equipment.

Some soils, such as those containing a lot of clay, are more prone to compaction than others. Soil is more prone to compaction when very wet. That is why it is always best to avoid storing large or heavy equipment on your lawn after a recent rain shower.

What are the effects of soil compaction?

Some compaction may be beneficial in some cases. For example, if you’ve ever planted a seed only to have it sprout into a seedling that dislodges whenever you water it, you may want to apply just enough pressure so the soil connects with the seedling’s roots to offer support.

Some soil compaction may decrease water loss by evaporation.

Too much compaction, however, will make it very difficult for the roots to penetrate the soil. Reduced levels of oxygen in compacted soils can kill roots, which is why tree roots can sometimes be seen on the surface of your lawn.

Excessive soil compaction in southeastern Minnesota also inhibits a plant’s ability to get the nutrients and water it needs.

What can you do about soil compaction?

Avoid working on your soil when it’s too wet or too dry. The more often you work your soil, the greater chance it will compact. To correct excessive compaction you can aerate your lawn, and you can also use organic materials like compost, peat moss, or gypsum to loosen it up.

Don’t let soil compaction cause a problem for your lawn care. Call us today for a solution. We can save you time because we already have all the experts on hand at Maier Tree & Lawn ready to serve you in southeastern Minnesota.

Three Ways Lawn Care Will Instantly Improve Your Life in Rochester and Winona, MN

Posted on July 30, 2015 - 9:12 am by

When’s the last time you’ve completed all of your lawn work in the time you wanted to? The seeding, fertilizing, controlling of weeds, fungus, and insects—it’s a lot for a homeowner to do on their own. That’s why Maier Tree & Lawn in Rochester and Winona, Minnesota is there to help your lawn look its best, without you ever lifting a finger. When your lawn is healthy and looks great, your life will certainly improve in more ways than one.

 

You’ll Have More Time to Enjoy your Summer

Many homeowners set aside considerable time for lawn care. Maybe you dedicate your Sundays to weeding the garden or spraying the yard for bugs. With Maier Tree & Lawn, your weeds will wither while your grass grows dense, healthy, and green, and with our cover or spot care services, you have choices for your lawn. With all of the lawn care services that Maier Tree & Lawn provide, you won’t have to worry about your yard looking great, so you’ll have more time to enjoy your Rochester or Winona summer with family and friends.

 

You’ll Be the Envy of the Neighborhood

 After you’ve taken advantage of all of the lawn care services that Maier Tree & Lawn offer, such as seeding, aeration, and fertilization, you’ll be the talk of the neighborhood. Your lawn is one of the most visible parts of your home– people stroll past them on their evening walks and it’s visible as people drive to and from work–so if your lawn is yellow and dry, people notice. On the other hand, when your lawn is lush and green from Maier Tree & Lawn services, your neighbors are sure to notice, and your yard will be the envy of your Rochester or Winona neighborhood.

 

You Won’t Have to Wonder About your Lawn Health

 Sometimes your lawn might begin to dry out, change color, or grow crabgrass or weeds and you don’t know why. It’s frustrating to try so many remedies only to realize that you don’t know the true cause of the problems. Maier Tree & Lawn can perform comprehensive soil testing and lawn analysis, so there are no doubts when it comes to the care of your lawn. With a comprehensive analysis, you’ll receive professional recommendations that take the guesswork out of your lawn care, making for a more relaxing and less stressful summer.

 

With Maier Tree & Lawn, your life will improve with just one call. From weed control to comprehensive lawn analysis, all of your lawn care need will be taken care of, leaving you to enjoy your summer in Rochester or Winona, Minnesota.

Rochester, MN Lawns: Lush Lawn, Lazy Lawn?

Posted on June 18, 2015 - 1:36 pm by

Who doesn’t enjoy looking at a lush green lawn, especially if it’s yours? Here in the Rochester, Winona, and Southeast Minnesota area, we appreciate and value a nice, thick carpet of green. Maybe it’s because once spring and summer finally arrive, we’re all tired of looking at a six month blanket of snow! Whatever the reason, there’s something special about a nice thick, green, well-cared for lawn.

While driving around the area, if most people see a really great looking lawn, there are several thoughts that often come to mind:

  • To have a great looking lawn like that, they must be retired. How else could they spend the time to keep it looking like that?
  • That lawn must cost them a fortune to maintain.
  • I’ll bet they have an irrigation system.
  • Obviously they don’t have children or pets. If they did, their yard would be half dirt or brown patches.
  • They must have a green thumb.

The actual response to the above statements is, “Not necessarily.” In fact, by following a few guidelines, none of those statements have to be true to have a terrific looking lawn. The following tips can help you attain the lush, green lawn you desire:

  • Mow at higher height with a sharp blade, cutting off no more than one third the blades length. As discussed in a previous blog, how you mow makes a big difference in lawn health.
  • Mulch, don’t bag. This will not only save time, but the small grass clippings will return nitrogen to the soil.
  • Water less frequently for a longer time. Watering often for short periods of time, or watering by hand, is worse than not watering at all. Frequent light watering causes grass plants to have a shallow root system. This prevents the grass from being able to withstand hot, dry weather. Instead, water less often, perhaps only once a week or less, but for at least 30 minutes, to provide nearly 1 inch of water.
  • Time fertilization carefully. The most critical times for applying fertilizer is in early spring and in the fall. Fertilizing in the spring gives grass the boost it needs to promote growth and strong roots after grass has come out of its winter dormant state. Fall fertilizing feeds the roots even after grass has turned brown. If you are only able to fertilize twice, these are the times to do it.

You may not be able to have a lush lawn and be lazy, but it doesn’t require devoting every spare minute to caring for the grass. Summers in Southeast Minnesota are far too short to spend it slaving over your lawn. With some planning and basic lawn care practices, you can have the best of both worlds.

If you have any questions about the best practices to follow to care for your lawn, contact the lawn care professionals at Maier Tree and Lawn. Our specialists are trained in understanding how to care for your lawn.

For matters concerning your lawn, shrubberies, or trees, contact us at Maier Tree and Lawn at 507-286-8733 in Rochester, or 507-454-7000 in Winona.

How You Mow Can Make or Break Your Lawn in Southeast Minnesota

Posted on May 24, 2015 - 1:22 pm by

Did you know that mowing your lawn incorrectly can damage your lawn? Your lawn mowing habits can play a major role in whether your lawn is healthy or hurting. Here in the Rochester, Winona and Southeast Minnesota area, there are specific guidelines to follow when mowing to get the best lawn care.

Number one on the list of mistakes people make when mowing is having their mower set too low. Mowing height depends on the type of grass and time of the year. Here in Southeast Minnesota, the dominant grasses are fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass as well as a few other cool weather grasses. Cool weather grasses need to be cut at the taller settings on your lawn mower. Recommended height is 3-4 inches. Why so tall?

  • Longer grass blades lose less moisture and grow longer roots. That helps grass survive better during hot and dry weather.
  • Keeping grass longer allows grass to grow thicker and doesn’t give weeds the space they need to flourish.
  • When grass plants are in the 3-4 inch range they provide shade for sprouting grass and keep the soil cooler.
  • Scalping, or cutting grass excessively short, gives weeds everything they need to grow: bare dirt for seeds to sprout, room to spread and plenty of sun.
  • Cutting too short promotes greater moisture loss and a more shallow root system.

Of course, it isn’t good to let your lawn get too tall either. Grass that isn’t cut regularly can create a habitat for pests like insects, grubs, moles, voles and even mice. Grass that is allowed to get too tall is also more difficult to mow and can leave excessive amounts of clippings that can kill the grass underneath if not raked up and bagged.

This brings up a very important point: Do not cut more than one third the height of your lawn at a time. Just like pruning off too much of a tree or shrub causes undue stress to the plant, cutting off more than one third of your lawn’s height stresses the grass plants. When you mow, you are essentially pruning your grass plants.

You may not think much about the pattern you follow when mowing, but it is important to vary the path. Mow north and south one week, east and west the next. Some people like the look of a diagonal pattern. Even that should be alternated between upper left to lower right corner and upper right to lower left corner. When a lawn is mowed in exactly the same pattern week after week it can cause compaction of the soil, which inhibits grass growth or, in extreme cases, ruts. Besides, varying the pattern helps make a sometimes tedious task less boring.

The final point many people don’t take into consideration is to make sure the mower blade is sharp! A sharp blade cleanly slices the ends off grass blades. A dull blade tends to rip and tear at the grass, resulting in excessive moisture loss and browned grass blade tips. A lawn mower blade should be sharpened two or three times per season, depending on frequency of use. It also helps to avoid mowing over sticks and rocks.

There is one exception to when lawns in our climate should be mowed at a higher mower setting. The last mowing of the season should be done with a lower setting of no more than two inches. Keeping grass shorter during the winter and months of snowpack will deter the occurrence of brown patches known as snow mold in the spring.

If you have any questions about mowing practices for your lawn, contact the lawn care professionals at Maier Tree and Lawn. Our specialists are trained in the best practices to achieve optimal health for your lawn. We are committed to keeping the communities we serve looking green and healthy and love talking about what we can all do to promote a healthy growing plant environment.

For matters concerning your lawn, shrubbery or trees, contact us at Maier Tree and Lawn at 507-286-8733 in Rochester, or 507-454-7000 in Winona.

In Rochester and Winona MN, Lawn Service is Better Late Than Never

Posted on May 3, 2015 - 1:51 pm by

Finally. Rochester, Winona and Southeastern Minnesota are experiencing a normal spring. Thankfully, no early May blizzards or late-season below zero cold. In fact, the growing season even started a little early. The rapidly growing lawns and arrival of pesky dandelions caught a lot of folks by surprise. However, just because you haven’t contacted Maier Tree and Lawn yet doesn’t mean it’s too late. We can do an assessment of your lawn now and design a plan that will benefit it all season long.

It’s important to keep in mind what a lawn service does for you. They feed your lawn what it needs to be green and healthy. They help your lawn establish a strong root system and eliminate predatory weeds that rob your lawn of nutrition and kill desirable grasses. That’s a process that goes on all season long. Your lawn may have “missed a meal” or didn’t get its first protective coating against the annual assault of weeds, but starving it and leaving it vulnerable to attack for the rest of the year makes no sense. It was a long winter and your lawn is hungry!

During the hot and dry times of summer, your lawn needs deep roots to reach moisture and nutrients. That’s what the balanced fertilizer mix a good lawn service provides does for your lawn. Yes, having a lush green looking lawn is what homeowners are after, but the real action takes place below the surface. It’s a deep, healthy root system that keeps a lawn looking great, even when weather conditions aren’t optimal.

This is prime time for broadleaf weeds to gain a foothold on your lawn. Cool nights and warm days, coupled with bountiful spring rains, are the perfect formula for weed growth. They love it. It’s also the best time to eliminate them. As they grow, weeds are drawing in moisture through their leaves and roots at a rapid rate. That also means they will draw in herbicides at a rapid rate. That’s what your lawn service is counting on. You could say a weed’s greed for nutrients is its undoing. As long as dandelions and other broadleaf weeds are growing, they can be stopped.

There is, of course, an optimal time to begin a lawn care program in the spring. Because spring came early, that perfect time may have passed. But it’s never too late to start.

If you contact Maier Tree and Lawn, one of our trained lawn care specialists will examine your lawn and work with you to put a plan together for the rest of the season that will meet the specific needs of your lawn. At Maier Tree and Lawn, we understand that no two lawns are alike. That’s why we work to ensure your lawn gets exactly what it needs and what it doesn’t need to be strong and healthy.

Because we care about our green and growing environment, Maier Tree and Lawn is committed to keeping our environment healthy one customer at a time. If you have questions about the health of your lawn, shrubs or trees, contact Maier Tree and Lawn at 507-286-8733 in Rochester, or 507-454-7000 in Winona.

It’s Never Too Early to Start Lawn Care Planning

Posted on February 17, 2015 - 11:07 am by

February may seem like an odd time to think about scheduling lawn care, but it’s a great time to put a plan together for a healthy and lush green lawn. At Maier Tree and Lawn, we understand that your lawn is an important part of the ecosystem and needs a plan to be at its best. What is it that makes your lawn such an important part of the local ecosystem?

Lawns do a lot more for us than make our homes and landscaping look good. Like trees, grass releases life-giving oxygen into the atmosphere. Lawns also help fight soil erosion and filter pollutants from water runoff. So you see, a great looking lawn is more than just a “pretty face.” It helps protect the environment.

For your lawn to do its job, it needs to be healthy. To help keep it vigorous and thriving there are a number of lawn care practices you can follow:

  • Fertilizing and Weed Control – When it comes to fertilizing and controlling weeds, lawns are not “one size fits all.” A lawn care professional will perform an analysis of your soil to determine what it needs. This helps protect the environment by not applying fertilizers you don’t need for your lawn. The same is true for weed control. The best practice is to use as little herbicide as necessary to control undesired weeds.
  • Aeration – Lawn aeration is a process that perforates the ground and removes small plugs of soil. This practice provides several benefits. Aeration allows water, air and nutrients to better penetrate to grass roots. It helps roots grow deeper and also reduces soil compacting.
  • Fungus Control– Fungus can come in a number of varieties. The most common symptoms are brown patches or rings that can result in dead grass. Causes can be as varied as drought, mowing too low, too much or wrong fertilizer, excessive watering, or the wrong grass type for the location. A lawn care professional can examine your lawn and suggest the best actions to take for cure and prevention.
  • What You Can Do – The two most important things you can do for your lawn are mow at the proper height and water properly. Many homeowners make the mistake of mowing too short. The proper mowing height is 3 to 3 ½ inches. This gives a lush look to your lawn, helps retain moisture, and shades low growing weeds to discourage their growth. When it comes to watering, a good rule of thumb is to give all areas 30 to 60 minutes of watering per week. This will allow the water to soak into the soil and promote healthy root growth. Frequent watering for only a few minutes can actually be detrimental to your lawn. Water doesn’t have a chance to adequately soak into the ground, which can cause shallow roots. Your grass needs a good deep root system to survive during periods of little or no rain.

At Maier Tree and Lawn we like to say we care about all things green and growing. That includes your lawn. Healthy trees, shrubs, and lawns play an important role in keeping our ecosystem and environment healthy. Our goal is to partner with our clients by designing a plan that is right for them.

When you have questions about your lawn, contact Maier Tree and Lawn at 507-286-8733 in Rochester or 507-454-7000 in Winona. It’s a great time to start thinking spring. Call us to put together a plan and schedule for your lawn.

Summer Lawn Care Projects in Rochester, MN

Posted on August 7, 2014 - 1:20 pm by

Maier Tree & Lawn Provides Tree Pruning Services in Rochester and Winona, MN

We are approaching the warmest time of the year in the Midwest, and that means the grass and weeds have been growing for several months now. Which likely also means you have weeds that are “growing like weeds” and starving your grass of sunlight and required nutrients. Given the warm temperatures, you may want to stay inside to relax and let Maier Tree & Lawn of Rochester, MN handle your lawn care needs.

Most people know that the best way to maintain a healthy lawn is to fertilize their turf and give it the nutrients the grass needs to thrive. However, fertilizing can entail many different applications and products. Keeping weeds at bay requires the correct type and timely application of weed killer. This holds true in controlling crabgrass and insects. When and how to apply these treatments may be quite confusing, but the experts at Maier Tree & Lawn know exactly what to do.

Maier Tree & Lawn will come to your property and do an extensive lawn analysis. They can formulate a year-round plan to keep your lawn healthy and beautiful. They also specialize in tree pruning. So, while you are making sure your lawn is healthy, you may want to have a certified arborist checkout your trees as well.

Summer is the time to enjoy the weather and beauty the Midwest has to offer. If your lawn needs attention, or you have some tree pruning needs in Rochester, MN, please give Maier Tree & Lawn a call today. We will come out and complete your summer lawn care projects while you enjoy the sun, or, if you prefer, the air conditioning!

Stress Prevention and Green Retention | Plant Healthcare in Rochester, MN

Posted on April 28, 2014 - 9:00 am by

Maier Tree & Lawn provides green retention and plant healthcare services in Rochester, MN and the surrounding communities

April is Stress Awareness Month. In the greater Med City region, which includes Rochester, Minnesota, and surrounding southeastern Minnesota communities, health is a big focus thanks to the area being home to a world renowned medical center. Part of a community’s health and wellness is defined by its surroundings. A well maintained space is a happy and healthy one and contributes to a sense of wellbeing. Maier Tree and Lawn provides plant healthcare, lawn care, and tree care services in Rochester, MN and surrounding areas.

Outdoor spaces that are well manicured and free of debris create a sense of calm and care within communities. According to the University of Washington’s Urban Forestry and Urban Greening Research, “More than 100 studies have shown that relaxation and stress reduction are significant benefits associated with spending time in green areas.

Keeping your lawn happy and healthy starts with understanding what inflict stress upon it, such as heat, dry weather, weeds, bugs, and foot traffic. Here are some easy to follow tips to help you lawn live and thrive as stress-free as possible:

  • Before summer’s heat is on, fertilize the lawn to help keep your lawn calm, lush and green.
  • Water your lawn in the morning instead of midday or evening.
  • Make sure your mower blade is sharp. Dull mower blades can shred and stress grass.
  • Keep foot traffic to a minimum on dry grass. When grass is dewy, it springs back. When grass is dry, it does not.
  • Once a lawn is stressed, do not overstress it in an attempt to revive it – aerating and excessive mowing will not bring a lawn back from dry and damaged to lush and green.

Need help keeping your lawn as stress-free as possible but don’t know how to start? Please give us a call! One of our certified technicians will gladly come to your home, determine what your lawn needs, and explain the professional tree care and lawn care services we provide! In the Rochester, MN area, call at 507-286-8733. In the Winona, MN area, you can reach us at 507-454-7000. Contact Maier Tree & Lawn today!

Loving Your Lawn: Lawn Care in Rochester, MN

Posted on April 21, 2014 - 9:00 am by

Maier Treen &  Lawn provides Rochester, MN Lawn Care, Tree Care, and More!

A walk through my neighborhood reveals different levels of lawn love. From the meticulously manicured emerald yard to the plot of tormented turf in need of a little TLC, lawns show and tell. Sometimes the story they tell is about difficult soil. Sometimes they show off the homeowner’s talent for lawn care and landscaping. If you prefer your lawn tell the latter story, but lack the time or knowledge required to make it happen, turn to Maier Tree and Lawn Service to attain the care your lawn deserves in Rochester and Winona, Minnesota.

What makes one lawn have a pristine look and the other lawn look like it’s lost that loving feeling? It’s a mix of things. If your lawn has looking a little less than appealing, nurture it by:

  • Having a soil test done. A soil test will determine if there are some adjustments that need to be made to the soil to help the grass grow right.
  • Mow the lawn regularly, without overcutting. Make sure the blade of your lawn mower is set to only cut 1/3 of the length of the grass. Cutting the grass too short can lead to a stressed-out lawn.
  • Let the clippings stay. As long as you mow properly, there is no need to rake up the grass clippings or to have them go into a bag. The lawn will use the nutrients from the clippings to become healthier.
  • Mow the lawn when it is dry.

Attractive lawns are more than enjoyable to look at and walk barefoot in. Lawns that show off the level of exceptional lawn care they have received tend to be well fertilized, and well fertilized lawns benefit the environment. When a lawn is fertilized properly, research has shown that it reduces the runoff of water and nutrients, according to the article, “Lawn Maintenance” by John Stier, Assistant Professor of Horticulture, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

If you have questions about maintaining your lawn or if you lack the time needed to maintain yours, contact Maier Tree and Lawn Service. For Rochester, Minnesota area residents, call (507) 216-5779. For Winona, Minnesota area residents call (507)454-7000.

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