Speaking of the air we breathe - grass takes in carbon dioxide and produces oxygen through a process you learned about in grade school - photosynthesis. Trees and forested areas get a lot of press, and they are certainly important, but the humble grass plant is out there on the front lines too. A well-balanced lawn ecosystem has numerous benefits to you and your home.

Unfortunately, we don’t always treat our lawns as well as they treat us. Over fertilizing and indiscriminate herbicide applications, along with poor mowing and watering practices, can stress a healthy lawn. This approach is common as people push for the perfectly weed-free, greenest lawn on the block instead of working with the lawn’s natural ecosystem. The good news is you can have a great looking lawn without the negative impact some chemicals can have on the health of your grass, trees and shrubs.

Lawn care service packages in Rochester, MN, Winona, MN, and the surrounding area

Soil Testing & Lawn Analysis
Soil testing and complete lawn analysis are key in the design of your lawn care program. Used together, they provide a roadmap for caring for your lawn. At Maier Tree & Lawn, we offer comprehensive soil testing which includes testing for various site conditions, expert analysis, and professional recommendations.

Fertilization

Fertilizing is the cornerstone of any lawn service. A good portion of your lawn ecosystem exists in the soil in the form of beneficial microbes and fungi. There are three main types of nutrition you can use on your lawn: a refined elemental fertilizer, a refined elemental fertilizer with an organic base, or a top-dressing organic matter. Each of these options affects your grass plants and the lawn ecosystem in different ways. With our fertilization program, we ensure that your lawn will build the soil it needs to improve the growing conditions for the grass plant. Our fertilizer ensures that your plants get the nitrogen they need in two ways: either with water insoluble nitrogen, which releases slowly to be available when the plants need it, or with water soluble nitrogen, which is immediately released for plants to quickly take up. With this blended fertilizer solution, you will see immediate results that are sustained.

Organic-based fertilizer or standard fertilizer

Organic fertilizer is the treatment closest to nature. By using natural ingredients, organic fertilizer helps build the soil so that it can later feed plants more efficiently. An organic fertilizer is an excellent choice to ensure that your lawn’s ecosystem returns to a healthy, balanced state and works well whether the soil is sandy or the grass is sparse. Standard fertilizer works quickly to feed the plant for a fast green up of your lawn. Made mostly of molecules like urea, ammonium sulfate, and others, standard fertilizer is water soluble, and the nutrients therefore released with water.

All commercial fertilizers show an N-P-K ratio on the front. This stands for nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. You may also hear these referred to as macro-nutrients. Nitrogen levels are the major factor in all plant growth.

The simplest definition of a weed is that it’s a plant growing where it’s not wanted. The most common weed plants we see are dandelions, broadleaf plantain, clover, wild violets, creeping Charlie, common purslane, and chickweed.

Certain herbicides do have their place in a low input lawn. Often, when beginning a lawn care program, spot spraying or even cover spraying of weeds is necessary to give your grass a fighting chance.

The best way to keep weeds out of your lawn is by having dense, healthy turf. The application of this is called integrated pest management, or IPM. A good IPM program is crucial to the success of low input lawn care, and will include aeration, seeding, good mowing, watering, and fertilization practices, potentially some minimal herbicide use.

Broad leaf weed control (cover or spot spray) and Pre- and Post-emergent crabgrass control
With proper lawn care service, weeds can be greatly reduced in your yard. Weeds have a hard time surviving in the healthy, dense turf. Added over time, with proper aeration, seeding, and fertilization programs, weeds can be greatly reduced from your yard.

Pricing for Multi-Step Lawn Care Packages
Prices are based on the square footage, topography, and access of your lawn. You can set in motion Maier Tree & Lawn’s quality lawn care services by simply contacting us. We will accurately measure your lawn, do an analysis (with an optional soil test if requested) and give you an itemized proposal. Maier Tree & Lawn’s lawn care solutions are green, price-competitive and provide long lasting benefits.

Maier Tree & Lawn cares for your lawn, with all its unique quirks. Whether you’re located in Rochester, Winona, Stewartville, Byron, or anywhere in-between, we have the tools, knowledge, and expertise to cater a plan to your specific needs. Contact us today to set up an annual lawncare plan for the upcoming season to experience the quality and value of Lawn care services from Maier Tree & Lawn!