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Category Archives: Lawn Care Services

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Make Buyers Love Your Home with a Great First Impression: Curb Appeal and Landscape Care

Posted on February 14, 2014 - 4:58 pm by

Tree and Landscape Care in Rochester by Maier Tree and Lawn

Maier Tree & Lawn in Rochester, Minnesota, can help a homeowner improve and maintain their lawn and the condition of ailing trees. Such professional landscape care can improve home values and set listing agents’ minds at ease.

For homeowners who have their homes listed on the real estate marketplace in the Rochester area, and for those thinking about listing, now is the time to consider curb appeal. In winter, so long as your house’s exterior is attractive and the cement is in decent repair, prospective home buyers are happy enough. As the snow melts, good landscaping and landscape care in Rochester, MN plays an important role in luring potential buyers by providing attractive curb appeal.

What exactly is curb appeal? According to the dictionary, curb appeal is “The visual attractiveness of a house as seen from the street.” The landscaping is an integral element of every home’s appearance. If not well maintained, home buyers will be subtracting from the house’s value as they consider the cost of bringing the landscape back to health. Regular landscape care can add value to a property just like crown molding does for the interior of a house; it brings a higher level of visual interest and gives the impression that the current homeowners are attentive to details. If there are no trees growing on the property or if the trees appear to be in poor health, buyers may begin subtracting points for that as well. Curb appeal has become so important that there is a show on HGTV dedicated entirely to it.

Some homeowners overlook the value good landscape care brings to a property, because the necessary projects and maintenance can be overwhelming. If a homeowner lacks knowledge and background in maintaining a lawn, the challenge is more than time. When one is overwhelmed it is difficult to know where to start.

The Certified Arborists at Maier Tree & Lawn can assist anyone interested in improving the health of the trees on their property, and our professional and certified staff will gladly determine what your yard needs to be healthy and beautiful.

For more information on lawn care in Rochester, MN and Winona, MN, call our office at 507-286-TREE to talk to one of our Certified Arborists.

Winter Tree Health In Rochester MN: Keeping Trees Healthy and Hazard Free

Posted on January 17, 2014 - 2:07 pm by

Rochester MN Tree Care by Maier Tree and Lawn

There’s no more denying it; winter is upon us in Rochester, MN. With snow covering the trees and ground and frigid temperature slicing through the air, most yard work has been put on hold until spring. Though trees are a sturdy organism that will hold up to the harsh weather of winter, it never hurts to help out the trees in your yard. While Maier Tree & Lawn can take care of your trees’ needs when the ground is thawed, there are also steps you can take during the winter months to keep your trees healthy and in-tact along the way. Make sure that during these cold months, winter tree health remains a top priority in your yard maintenance.

One of the most visible strains of winter on your trees is the heavy weight of snow and ice that bends and stresses the branches of trees. The simple act of knocking snow and ice off the lower branches will help preserve the visual beauty of the tree. It will also cause less of a mess in the spring months, with fewer twigs and branches for you to pick up. Preventative structural pruning is also a good thing to do in the winter to prevent snow and ice damage and keep your tree health in perfect condition.

While Rochester is somewhat urban, it is still home to deer, rabbits and voles. You’ll have to be on the lookout for these scavengers near your trees. Deer and rodents go after more than just fruit trees; the bark of any is a delicacy. The damage could be deadly. A sturdy fence can help ward off unwanted guests.

Winter is a prime time to prune the trees in your yard. With the expert advice of Maier Tree & Lawn, you can be sure that your trees grow to their full potential. Additionally, our team members take into account all surroundings while pruning trees, so you won’t have to worry about potential damage when we’re around.

It’s time to bunker down against the winter weather, both for the residents of Rochester and the trees. Maier Tree & Lawn offers services throughout the year for trees. Contact us today to learn more or set up an appointment.

Our Employees Are Why We Are the Best

Posted on August 15, 2013 - 11:15 am by

We’re not sure which we love more–our customers or their trees. If you ask Jay Maier, founder of Maier Tree & Lawn, he’ll say, “It’s kind of like asking me to pick my favorite child. It’s better to just not ask.” We provide Rochester, MN and the surrounding areas with tree and shrub trimming, pruning, and removal as well as plant health care and lawn services, including:

  • Lawn fertilizing
  • Weed control
  • Pest control (grubs, moles, gophers, etc.)
  • Lawn seeding
  • Aeration

Maier Tree & Lawn has become Rochester’s trusted company for tree services and lawn services. What’s our secret? Our employees. To start with, every one of our tree and lawn technicians is passionate about taking care of the health, beauty, and longevity of all varieties of trees, shrubs, turf, etc. Almost all of our experienced tree and shrub specialists are ISA Certified Arborists, and many hold degrees in Forestry, Horticulture, or Grounds Maintenance. They understand the science—and the art—behind tree maintenance and removal. We like to think of them as “Tree Nerds” or “Tree Geeks”. They’ve been trained to handle even the trickiest tree dilemmas.

The other component of our extraordinary staff is their commitment to providing our customers with remarkable service that is hard to find in this day and age. A high priority on customer service is modeled by Jay Maier and passed down to all of the field staff and office staff. We know that without customers, we wouldn’t have a job to come to every day—especially one that we love. We also know that without incredible employees we couldn’t keep growing as a company.

This isn’t just our opinion. Here’s what our customers have to say:

“I have had past experience with other companies and it was not good. Every contact I had with Maier has been positive. Thank you.” —Susan

“Courteous, knowledgeable, understanding my attachment to my tree, offering sound advice. Thank you!” —Dawn

“The personnel is what ‘made it’ for me – it is so nice to deal with ‘decent’ people.” —Patricia

“We needed a couple of broken branches from trees from the last storm and you were able to fit us in a busy time in a couple of days. Wonderful crew – always very pleased with the service!” —Ann

“How can you improve perfection?!” —Carole

“Excellent service and knowledge of trees & shrubs. Always looks nice when done. I recommended you to my friend…” —Julie

Trees, shrubs, and lawns are our business; our employees and customers are our life line.

When you need tree service, tree removal, tree cutting or pruning by a certified arborist, call Maier Tree & Lawn. If you need lawn care and maintenance, fertilization, weed control, or aeration, call us. We serve Rochester and the surrounding communities, including:

  • Byron
  • Kasson
  • Mantorville
  • Stewartville
  • Pine Island
  • Oronoco
  • Winona
  • And more!

When You Mow, Where Do the Clippings Go?

Posted on July 23, 2013 - 10:15 am by

The question debated by many lawn owners annually is “What type of mower is best for my lawn; side discharge, mulching, or bagger?” Here are a few thoughts for you to consider when deciding what is best for your yard:

Generally a side discharge mower will be the least expensive. It simply cuts the lawn and blows the clipping back out onto the lawn. The grass to be cut should be dry, and the 1/3 max height cut rule is a must. Cutting tall or damp/wet grass will result in the mower spewing clumps or heaped rows of clippings. Excessive debris takes longer to decompose, is susceptible to mold and mildew, and robs the underlying plants of sunlight and needed airflow. But the organic material is still left on site to benefit the soil.

A mulching mower doesn’t discharge the grass but instead, by design of the deck and blade assemblies, causes recirculation of the clippings so they are chopped into very tiny pieces before falling back into the lawn. The moisture and nutrients from these tiny clippings are released back into the soil and plants for immediate use. Excessively tall or wet grass should be avoided as it will “clog” the mulching process and leave clumps of harmful clipping debris. And like the side discharge mower, this type allows the soil to benefit from the organic debris.

A bagging mower is also an option. It vacuums the clippings into a bag as you mow, leaving little if any clippings behind. The main downside is that all the naturally produced organic matter is removed from the site, and often with much additional labor in emptying the bag. The upside is that the grass clipping can be used as mulch in and around flower beds and rows of vegetables, or dumped in a compost pile and mixed with other organic yard waste to create a nutrient rich compost material.

To make matters easy, there are mowers designed to perform all three of these functions! Regardless of your choice, set the mower cut height for the optimal seasonal cutting height, and follow the 1/3 max cut rule to ensure you do not harm the grass plant. Sure, mowing can be a boring chore, but a beautiful, well manicured lawn is well worth the expense! For more information please visit us at Maier Tree & Lawn.

Is Your Mower Set to the Correct Cutting Height?

Posted on July 9, 2013 - 10:59 am by

Taller turf grass promotes deeper root growth which tends to allow for a healthier, more durable plant. A longer grass blade can store more moisture which helps the plant through periods of less rain or hotter temperatures. The benefits of keeping your grass taller include: watering and fertilizing less frequently, a greater absorption of nutrients by the plant, and an increase in photosynthesis due to larger blade surface area.  A thicker, longer turf makes it very tough for weed seeds to penetrate down to the soil and is better at reducing soil loss due to rain and/or wind erosion. Also, the turf is far more tolerant to traffic and wear-and-tear from pets and playing kids.

An appropriately set mower height reduces damage to grass plant crowns. This avoids damaging the grass which in turn prevents a thinning lawn. By using a ruler or tape measure you can check the height of your lawn after cutting to determine if your mower is set for the correct cutting height. The changing seasons also dictate correct mowing height. In the spring, set the mowing height at 2 to 2.5 inches, at 3 inches for summer, and back to 2.5 inches when fall arrives. Other considerations for summer mowing height include turf that grows quickly (set the mower height at 2 to 3 inches) and if you have shady or sandy soil (set the height at 3+ inches).

It is best to not cut more than 1/3 of the plant height when mowing. Cutting more than 1/3 of the grass plant forces it to expend its limited resources to quickly reestablish longer grass blades. This causes an imbalance in proper growth as the grass plant will sacrifice root growth to achieve needed blade growth. Carefully manage your mowing schedule to maintain a “mower-friendly” environment to protect and preserve your turf as best as possible. For more information please visit us at Maier Tree & Lawn.

Is Your Lawn Mower Blade Sharp or Dull?

Posted on June 24, 2013 - 4:27 pm by

Have you ever had your mower blade checked to ensure it is sharp enough to cut your grass correctly? Did you know that a dull mower blade can cause damage to grass which can lead to greater turf maintenance costs and requirements? Hopefully you’ve answered “Yes!” to the above questions, but if not (or even if you did…), please, read on!

Regardless of how sharp you keep your mower blade, every time you mow the turfgrass is put through a period of “shock” from the cutting. When a blade of grass is severed the remaining grass plant must go through a period of healing to seal the cut. A sharp blade cuts cleanly through the grass blade and leaves a nice, straight slice which minimizes the shock to the plant and the time required for healing. On the other hand, a dull blade will not cut so sharply. Even though the grass is “cut,” the blades are shredded, ripped, and torn which causes the grass plant to endure an extended period of healing and water loss. A grass plant that endures a nice, clean slice is far less likely to suffer prolonged damage or disease, while a blade that is badly torn can take days to recover, experience tremendous water loss, and may become infected or infested with microbes or unwanted insects.

If you’re handy with tools and know your way around a mower, sharpening your own blade isn’t that difficult. Many retail locations sell a blade sharpening grinding stone designed specifically for mower blades. You can also purchase a tool that will hold the blade in place when you are removing the bolt which secures the blade to the engine shaft.

Your owner’s manual should have instruction on proper maintenance, and even if you can’t find your manual, a quick check of the internet with make and model of your mower in hand will get you to a manufacturer’s website. If you don’t feel comfortable with sharpening your own blade that’s quite alright – the dealer where you purchased your mower may provide this type of service, and there are many professional companies in our area that will perform this work for you. Regardless of which works best for you, a sharp blade always works best for your lawn! By maintaining a sharp blade, your blades of grass will benefit tremendously!

How Well Did Your Trees Weather the Winter Storm?

Posted on June 10, 2013 - 5:02 pm by

May 2nd and 3rd of 2013 will probably exist forever in the weather records as the snowiest May “winter storm” to strike our area. Like an extreme application of shotcrete, the wet and heavy snow stuck to everything and only got heavier and wetter as the snow finally changed to rain. Power poles and lines, buildings, outdoor furniture; nothing was safe from the extreme weight of the driving snow. Thousands of trees in Rochester were damaged, and many types of plants, from decorative bushes and lilacs to mighty oaks and towering pines, felt the effect of this storm.

When there are broken or cracked limbs and branches, the damage needs to be removed to prevent additional injury to the tree or bush or potential damage to nearby structures or people. Some trees and plants were stressed, bent and twisted in ways you might think damaged them, but many species are quite hardy and will recover on their own. If you’re in doubt, let us check it out – our trained and certified arborists can assess your trees, shrubs and bushes and give you recommendations that best fit the needs of the plant.

The amounts of heavy, wet snow from this May’s storm are an unusual phenomenon, but the severe spring and summer storms yet to come with high winds, hail, and torrential downpours aren’t. As the season progresses, look for branches that are hanging or browning. That is a sure indication of a limb or branch that is damaged and no longer alive. This type of dead wood will eventually come down; how and when is uncertain. It is far safer for your tree, property and structures if the dead wood is professionally removed before a summer storm tears it from the tree and possibly causes additional damage. Our professional, experienced staff uses their expert skills and safe equipment to cut and remove damaged or dead limbs with minimal impact to the tree or the surrounding environment.

We Also Specialize In Lawn Care

We’re less than two weeks from the start of meteorological summer. If we’re lucky, there will be no more snow this season. But, you never know. After all, it is Minnesota. Our lawns could all use a little help this year! Check out our lawn care services and service packages to help make your lawn green and lush. Maier Tree and Lawn, The Green Care Company, will assist you with the trained and experienced professionals and superior products to make your yard the lush and thriving environment you desire!  Sign up online or give us a call and we’ll gladly help you decide which services or package will best suit your lawn’s needs and your budget.

Is Your Yard Ready for Spring?

Posted on April 12, 2013 - 5:08 pm by

It’s that time of year again – springtime is upon us, and in Rochester, MN, it’s almost a full month early! If you haven’t already done so, it’s time to pull the lawn mower out of the shed, unearth the gardening tools from the dark depths of the garage, and uncover the grill.

As you’re enjoying the warmth of the sun, the heady fragrance of blooms and the char-broiled scent of grilled food, take a look around you and take stock of your yard.  How did your trees and decorative bushes fare over the winter?  Do the bushes look a bit misshapen or on the verge of taking over more than their allotted space?  Do the trees hang low and have dangerous limbs?

While puttering in the yard can be a soothing and rewarding task, the big stuff can be time consuming, physically demanding, and sometime just plain dangerous for the untrained or unskilled homeowner.  And it should not be taken lightly!  There are precautions to take when firing up a chainsaw, or standing on a ladder (but never do both).

If the do-it-yourself stuff is getting out of hand, or diminishing the pleasure you get from gardening, give Maier Tree & Lawn a call!  We specialize in maintaining the overall health and beauty of your trees and lawn, and will gladly give you a free estimate on how to enhance your great outdoors!

Help Your Lawn Survive the Salt Assault

Posted on March 18, 2013 - 4:52 pm by

What a winter it has been! We’ve seen almost every type of winter weather possible, from sub zero nights to above freezing days, and storms that threw the entire gamut of possible winter precipitation at us – snow, hail, sleet, rain, freezing rain, and that could all fall in just a 10 minute period! Along with the previous winter, we’ve seen more icing situations than usual, and where there’s ice, there’s salt. Salt is the economical choice for melting and clearing ice from roadways and sidewalks. There are different types of ice melting products available, but most contain sodium chloride (NaCl), which is simple salt. When the plow truck goes by it is treating the road with a combination of sand and rock salt. If you buy a bag of deicer to toss on your driveway and sidewalks it may be regular rock salt or a product that combines sodium chloride with calcium chloride or magnesium chloride. Salt is a necessary evil when battling icy winter conditions, but an unwelcomed evil when we get into the grass growing season.

The good news is that most grass varieties sown and grown in Minnesota are generally resilient against the effects of salt. So what is the bad news? Salt and other chlorides can accumulate in the soil over the years. Although these nasty substances can be leached from the soil by adequate rain and watering, we entered the winter in a drought condition with a serious moisture deficit. Currently, we are still in a drought and over 7 inches below the usual moisture we should have received since January 1st. As the snow along the streets and sidewalks melt, the salts and sands applied will settle onto and into the ground. How many times have you put down salt only to find yourself shoveling or snow blowing a few hours or days later? Depending on where you live, the plow truck may have thrown a fair amount of snow, sand and salt into your yard many, many times. If you use a snow blower, you’ve probably distributed salt products across your yard as well. The grass may be resilient, but the continuing dry weather and constant assault of these salt items doesn’t help your lawn or your urban ecosystem. However, there are solutions to this problem which can save your lawn and help preserve and enhance the ability of the grass to survive.

Maier Tree & Lawn can help you with this challenging problem. With our expert green care services we can test your soil, determine what your lawn requires to regain and retain a optimal level of support, and help your lawn by applying the required products and nutrients to help your lawn recover quickly and remain adequately nourished. Our green care services provide many stand alone options which are also available in our Multi-step Lawn Care Packages. Give us a call and we’ll be happy to discuss your concerns and help you set-up the best lawn care service to benefit your yard. Don’t wait until the last of winter’s white has melted away – contact Maier Tree & Lawn today so we can give your yard the boost it needs to become the lush and luxurious lawn you desire!

Marching Towards the Green of Spring!

Posted on February 28, 2013 - 4:10 pm by

Meteorological spring begins March 1st, and the “traditional” start of spring for 2013, the Vernal Equinox, is on March 20th. So, any way you look at it, March is the official herald of warmer weather to come, and with warmer weather comes less snow, more rain, and the greening of lawns!

Maier Tree & Lawn…yes, Tree and Lawn, has lawn care services and multi-step lawn care packages that provide everything your lawn needs to stay healthy and green. We provide expert lawn care services such as soil testing, complete lawn analysis, broadleaf weed control, pre-emergent crabgrass control, grub control, fungus control, and lawn aeration. We can apply either organic-based or synthetic fertilizer to keep your yard lush and green. If you have areas with bare spots, or places where grass just seems to struggle, we can over-seed those particular trouble spots or the entire yard and help you regain the robust and healthy turf you desire.

Our multi-step lawn care packages offer a five or six step program that provides a wide range of services carefully matched to the needs of your lawn and your pocket book! The multi-step packages include a complete lawn analysis with soil test, an accurate measurement of your lawn, and scheduled treatments utilizing organic-based fertilizer, pre-emergent crabgrass control, broadleaf control, and aeration of your lawn. Package prices are determined by the size of the lawn area to be treated, which ensures you pay only for the amount of product your lawn requires. We back all of this with our Quality Pledge. Maier’s lawn recommendations will NEVER negatively impact your trees or shrubs. Your yard is an eco system unto its own, and we treat the system to provide the best nutrients and protection possible with consideration for all plants in that system.

So don’t hesitate – give us a call today or sign-up on-line for one of our multi-step lawn care packages. Regardless of which date in March you use for the beginning of Spring that time is upon us, and soon enough your lawn will emerge from beneath the snow and begin to recoup, rebuild and re-grow. Let Maier Tree & Lawn provide the expert green services of care, nutrition and support your lawn requires to flourish and be the outdoor living space you desire!

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