Category Archives: Tree Care

Trees are mistakenly known for not needing an awful lot of help to grow properly. People assume they aren’t delicate like pansies, and they don’t have the complicated characteristics of something like a Venus Fly Trap. But for Rochester, MN tree care enthusiasts, leaving your trees to grow on their own might feel more like a cop-out than a relief. In fact tree need your help.  And if you’re interested in improving the growth and health of your trees, you should contact your local tree care experts at Maier Tree and Lawn, ask about pruning and fertilizer options, and maybe even see how you can get your hands dirty!

Minnesota tree lovers are lucky that a good portion of our Midwestern soil is rich in nutrients, but even the most nutrient rich soil can be a little lacking in an area or two. Some soil areas tend to be lacking in iron, and this can lead to yellowing leaves in affected trees. This is where tree fertilization comes in. In fact, adding a vitamin-rich boost can help with trees suffering from a variety of ailments, just as it does in humans.

If your tree is looking a little yellow or wilted, this could be a sign that it has some form of nutrient deficiency. Start by consulting a tree care expert to make sure there isn’t another underlying issue such as disease. Once the deficiency is determined, do a little research and determined which fertilizer is right for your tree.  You’ll find that only one fertilizer, Davey’s Arbor Green Pro, is suitable in all situations.

If you’re interested in tree fertilization and would like to know how to get started, contact the tree care experts at Maier Tree and Lawn by calling 507-286-8733, or by visiting our website here for more information. Spring is finally around the corner in Rochester, MN, so it’s time to start collecting all the tools you need to keep your trees happy and healthy in the coming year!

For most casual tree owners in Rochester, Minnesota, tree care becomes quite a challenge as soon as the real winter begins! Even for truly dedicated tree enthusiasts, winter tree care may still feel like a losing battle. Your landscape’s condition is probably iffy, and a long time spent in those low temps isn’t exactly a picnic. This isn’t to say that nothing can be done for your trees once the world goes white in December (or earlier), but climbing on a ladder when it’s 3 below zero to do some pruning probably wouldn’t be recommended for most. Because of this, winter tree care is best left to the expert tree services provided by Maier Tree and Lawn. But first, you have to know that you have a problem.

As with many forms of tree care, your eyes are some of your best tools for determining obvious health problems with your trees in the winter. Signs such as unexpectedly heavy browning around the crown or needles of your tree could be a symptom of salt damage, while discoloration on the trunk or branches after a temperature fluctuation could be a sign of sunscald. If any of these symptoms make themselves apparent, it’s most beneficial to act quickly and contact an expert for advice.

Even if you’re an independent tree lover who prefers to do all of your own trimming, planting, and pruning, it’s hard to deny that things get a little more complicated in the cold. Along with icy conditions and heavy snowfall, trees also have to deal with salt runoff and sun scalding. Since your trees don’t have their usual leafy barriers, all sorts of damage can be done to them, even when the weather is far from extreme. The winter tree services provided by Maier Tree and Lawn won’t only identify some of these winter problems, but they can help you prevent additional damage as well.

If your Rochester, MN, trees have experienced winter tree damage or need specialized winter tree care, the experts at Maier Tree and Lawn are prepared to offer our professional tree services to you. Please feel free to contact us at (507) 286-8733, or by visiting our website here for more information.

A popular misconception about tree care is that all effective changes take place in and above the trunk. Trimming, pruning, and learning how to identify healthy bark and leaves are all indeed very important skills in the life of an amateur-arborist, but there’s even more to be said about care that happens below ground. Effective, long term tree care means closely examining the benefits and detriments to a wide variety of care methods, and for some Winona, MN, tree owners, that means considering the use of root pruning.  The tree care experts at Maier Tree and Lawn have come up with some tips for when and when not to root prune:

Root pruning is not a method that should be used by novices in the tree care world. In several ways, root pruning is a double-edged sword. If done properly, it can foster a health and long-lived tree. However, if done improperly or haphazardly, root pruning can cause irreparable damage to the health of your tree.

Damaging the roots beyond repair is a sure way to kill your tree. There’s a fine line between strategically altering the structure of the roots below the surface, and butchering your tree’s primary method of nutrient absorption. For tree care enthusiasts new to the process, it’s best to step back and allow a professional team to show you the ropes, unless you’re not afraid of questionable results.

If you’re still invested in the idea of doing some root pruning on your tree, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Root pruning is a lesser known but still important aspect of tree care. If you’re a Winona, MN, resident interested in practicing safe root pruning or you have questions about the practice, contact the tree care experts at Maier Tree and Lawn. They can be reached by phone at (507) 454-7000 or by visiting their website here.

Living in a mid-western city like Rochester, MN, means you’ll be dealing with both brutal winters and steaming summers. These extreme seasons can make any tree care novice a little nervous to get involved with growing trees in general. To many, the risks may seem high and the rewards minimal. However, with a little advice from a professional tree care group such as Maier Tree & Lawn, even the freshest faces in the tree-biz can start their projects before winter sets in. If you’re interested in growing fruit trees, there’s no better reward than the literal fruits of your labor.

Caring for fruit trees isn’t drastically different from any other type of tree care. The care plan will be a little different depending on the type of fruit tree, but there are a few tree care tips that are fairly universal when you’re getting started.

First, plant strategically. For many trees, 8 hours of sun a day is a great starting point. Don’t plant where there are obvious obstructions to light such as other trees or buildings. You’ll want your tree to be protected, but not smothered. Give it enough room to stretch out and breathe.

Once your tree is established, don’t forget to schedule professional pruning with your local tree care company. Keeping your tree pruned and balanced will not only keep your lawn looking neat, it will also promote effective and efficient growth patterns. This is particularly important with fruit trees as they will be producing… well, produce! An evenly trimmed fruit tree is much easier to manage when it’s time for picking.

Don’t forget that certain fruit trees will only flourish in specific climates, so shop smart and find those special few that will survive the Minnesota weather. Apples and pears are some long-time favorites, but if you’re looking for more variety, check out this list of different types of fruit trees for more information.

Finally, always remember that with fruit trees, patience is a virtue. If you take tree care seriously and spend enough time on upkeep, your fruit tree will certainly bloom, but probably not in the first couple of years. It will take time to grow, mature, blossom, and finally to produce. Be patient and vigilant. In time, the fruit will be yours to pick.

If you’re interested in caring for your new fruit tree in your Rochester, MN, landscape, or need assistance with general tree care, contact Maier Tree and Lawn today at (507) 286-8733, or visit our website here for more information.