Maier Tree & Lawn News

There are so many factors that influence the overall health of your Winona, MN, lawn, and pinning down exactly what sort of lawn care might serve you best can be difficult, especially if the problem exists beneath the surface. Unhealthy or undernourished turf may be suffering due to poor soil conditions, and when the soil isn’t doing well, your whole lawn suffers.

Maier Tree and Lawn’s lawn care professionals offer a wide range of soil management options, such as aeration, that are carefully tailored to your lawn’s specific needs. But first, you’ll need to be able to spot some symptoms of compacted soil.

Compacted soil basically means the soil is pressed together so tightly that water and other nutrients may not be able to penetrate it. This may seem minor on the surface, but as a consequence, those essential lawn care components may be unable to reach the root systems of your turf. Without the necessary food, it’s very possible for turf to wither and die due to soil compaction.

A few symptoms of compacted soil that you can test on your own are soil “toughness,” drainage quality, and turf texture. If you find it difficult to break ground on your lawn with a trowel or shovel, this could mean that the soil is too tightly compacted. Similarly, standing water after a rainstorm or routine watering could indicate that your lawn is unable to drain or absorb water efficiently enough to be beneficial.

Turf texture is a little bit more complex. The texture of your turf can be an indicator of poor lawn health and soil compaction. If your turf is excessively dry or overly spongy, it’s possible that the soil isn’t effectively providing the nutrients necessary in order for your lawn to thrive. This can be caused by more than a single independent factor, but soil compaction is a frequent contributor to these familiar lawn care concerns.

Lawn aeration is a simple and effective way to give your turf room to grow. By systematically perforating the soil in your lawn, aeration increases water, and oxygen penetration, decreases soil compaction and thatch, and encourages root growth.  Aeration means better drainage, more effective nutrient absorption, and an overall healthier lawn.

If your Winona, MN, lawn needs expert aeration or you have other lawn care concerns, our team can help. Contact the professionals at Maier Tree and Lawn today at (507) 454-7000 or through our website and make a positive change to your lawn.

The common conception of what types of plants fall into the “weed” category varies from region to region and from lawn to lawn, but even while the categories are inconsistent, the reaction is universal: Ultimately, weeds are undesirable plants that are interfering with your lawn care and need to be eradicated. For many Winona, MN, residents, these natural visitors can range from simply being irritating to becoming outright invasive and damaging to your lawn. Practicing effective weed control is a necessary part of any comprehensive lawn care routine, and Maier Tree and Lawn’s weed control experts can help. 

Weeds need a certain amount of nutrients in order to thrive as well as viable conditions in which to grow. This means that without weed control, weeds will draw nutrients away from desirable turf and grass, and then potentially spread and overtake a lawn. Some common Minnesota weeds like crabgrass are fast growing and stubborn, which can be tough to manage without the help of lawn care experts.

Weeds may also be a sign of an inadequate lawn care routine. Weeds are largely opportunistic: If there’s room to grow, then they will. Keeping a lawn weed-free means keeping your turf healthy, your fertilizer consistent, and your watering regular. As soon as the health of your turf begins to diminish from a lack of consistent care, weeds take the opportunity to put down roots.

Weeds may be an inevitable part of lawn care, but the long-term impact they have on your lawn varies, depending heavily on weed control and careful intervention. Proper weed control takes more than a one-time treatment; it requires continual lawn upkeep and lawn care. With professional aeration, fertilizing, and seeding, you can create an environment in which your turf will thrive and any weeds will fail.

If your Winona, MN, area lawn could use some expert weed control, contact Maier Tree and Lawn Today at (507) 454-7000 or visit our website for more information.

Part of being a homeowner with outdoor property in Rochester, MN, means managing the health and safety of the trees on your lot. Much of the time, this is a low-risk and high-reward experience, but sometimes the possibility of damage from trees arises. Damaged and diseased trees are dangerous for a multitude of reasons, and understanding what to do with them may take the expertise of a certified arborist. If you have a hazard tree on your property, Maier Tree and Lawn can definitely help.

What Is a Hazard Tree?

A hazard tree is any tree that may pose a health or safety threat to your property or those on it. This definition can mean a dead tree that is a fall risk, a diseased tree that may be contagious to the other trees around it, or a damaged tree that has broken branches from a storm that may be fall hazards. Hazard trees are named as such because they are dangerous and can lead to significant property damage, injury, and in severe cases, death. 

How Can You Identify Whether a Tree Is at Risk?

Since the term hazard tree encompasses more than one type of risk factor, there are a many characteristics that may be indicative of a health or safety problem. Some are visually obvious such as broken branches, tipping trunks, or external rot. But internal rot and insect problems may be harder to identify without evaluation by a certified arborist. Diagnosing a hazard tree is easier with the assistance of a certified arborist who is trained to identify common and uncommon issues among any tree species.

Can Homeowners Take any Steps to Prevent Hazard Trees?

Mitigating the dangers of hazard trees is best left to certified arborists, but keeping an eye on your trees, maintaining semi-regular professional checkups, and ensuring that any concerning areas are investigated as soon as they arise are simple ways of circumventing serious risks down the road. Because of the potential health and safety risks, however, self-managing any hazard tree is not recommended.

If your Rochester, MN, property has a hazard tree that needs to be evaluated, treated, or removed, contact Maier Tree and Lawn’s certified arborists today. Homeowners can call us at (507) 286–8733 or visit our website today.

Your lawn is part of a complex urban ecosystem. The particulars of each individual system varies, but it may be made up of any number of interconnected processes and organisms, including your trees, turf, soil, and everything in between. Through symbiotic support, each level of the system interconnects and sustains the others. In particular, the soil in your lawn functions to redirect and absorb runoff, sustain plant life, and to harbor animals, insects, and microorganisms essential to a healthy lawn and healthy shrubs and trees. Maier Tree and Lawn takes a unique approach to lawn care services that considers the entire urban ecosystem, and for Rochester, MN, residents, this can mean excellent lawn health that lasts a lifetime.

Remember that every part of your lawn’s ecosystem is vital when administering effective lawn care services. Too often in lawn maintenance, factors like turf roots are addressed without also considering the roots of shrubs and trees as well. Without attending to all aspects of your turf, you may be neglecting areas that need attention or missing opportunities for better comprehensive lawn health. An ecosystem that promotes great lawn health does so by treating all components as equal contributors to a healthy whole.

Our first consideration when it comes to tree, turf, and lawn health is soil building. Maier Tree and Lawn’s lawn care services utilize green techniques to build the soil beneath your lawn and improve the growing conditions for your grass, trees, and shrubs. Our recommendations and lawn care services are proven to improve the soil that all vegetative roots need to thrive. Through proper nutrition, the right seed, green practices, and education, we can help create the right conditions for optimum growth of your lawn.

Promoting the healthy and beautiful growth of your Rochester, MN, turf, lawn, trees, and shrubs is our ultimate goal at Maier Tree and Lawn. If you’re interested in improving lawn health or are looking into other lawn care services, contact us today at (507) 286-8733.

It can be easy to feel complacent about your trees just after the snow begins to melt in Winona, MN. As residents ease their way into pleasant spring weather, it’s hard to picture that tree insects are really going to cause trouble so soon after the ice fades.

The fact of the matter is, however, that some tree insects are impressively efficient at gaining ground on your trees before you’ve even realized that spring has come. Maier Tree and Lawn offers comprehensive tree insect control so you can take a breather and appreciate all that the spring thaw has to offer.

Worms, mites, beetles, and all sorts of insects can make their way to your trees all too quickly in the early weeks of spring, and it can be hard to spot their handiwork when your trees are busy just trying to leaf out again. Most of Minnesota native pests are even able to survive winter temperatures. These tree insects may be laying eggs, hatching, or even beginning to munch away at the vulnerable parts of your trees.

Some signs that a spring tree insect has made its way into your tree includes browning leaves, unusual spots, unsightly webs and nests, and more. Depending upon the type of tree you have you may find yourself encountering eggs, chewed foliage, or even visible bugs. And, if you can spot tree insects on the surface, there’s a good chance there’s damage beneath as well.

Expert tree insect control includes several steps of pest management that can ensure a long, happy life for your trees. Trained arborists will evaluate the threat, the type of damage that has already been caused, and determine a carefully catered course of action for your individual needs. This may include pesticide application or other types of tree insect deterrent. Our certified arborists can help your trees recover and thrive regardless of the time of year.

Tree insect control can ensure that these pests, and others, leave your trees to their own business. If your Winona, MN, area trees are showing signs of being pestered by tree insects, call Maier Tree and Lawn today at (507) 454-7000, or contact us on our website for more information. 

Along with the changing of seasons comes some seasonal shifts in the tree care process in Rochester, MN. Regardless of the temperature outside or the green leaves sprouting in your neighborhood, keeping your trees safe from storm damage is just as important in the spring as it is in the winter.

Tumultuous spring weather and winds can lead to storm damaged trees. Knowing what to do and calling Maier Tree and Lawn’s tree care professionals in the aftermath may be the difference between trees that thrive and those that don’t survive.

Storm damage to trees comes in many forms. Some types of damage can be obvious, like uncharacteristic leaning or large, broken branches, while more subtle storm damage can be harder to spot with the naked eye. For instance, damage or wounds to the trunk may not seem especially dangerous, but if left unattended, may become entry points for pests, insects, or simply an avenue for further damage to occur.

Even if you can see the storm damage in question, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be a quick and easy fix. Tree care requires a careful touch and a thoughtful eye. Without proper care even minor looking damage can be exacerbated. Storm damage may require a wide variety of treatments such as cabling, pruning, staking, wound repair, and more. Even if the damage seems unimpressive or easily fixable, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s safe to tackle on your own.

When it comes to storm damage, significant or otherwise, consulting a tree care professional can protect your trees from further harm. In fact, post-storm tree care can save your trees from damage and keep you out of harm’s way as well. Storm damaged trees can be unpredictable, and trying to tackle the damage on your own can be hazardous in ways you may not expect. Tree care experts can provide the support, safety, and skills you need in order to guide your trees to a full recovery.

If your Rochester, MN, area trees have been impacted by storm damage, the tree care professionals at Maier Tree and Lawn can help. Call us today at (507) 286–8733 or visit our website for more information on our storm damage recovery services.

During the great freezing season of February, frigid temperatures are a given in Rochester, MN. Even if you’ve done everything right and received all the help you can before winter set in, it can still be disconcerting to see your beloved trees encased in ice and snow for the foreseeable future. The presence of these winter byproducts may not always be a death sentence, but they can still wear down even the toughest trees the longer winter weather continues. Maier Tree and Lawn’s tree health team recommends watching for signs of tree damage in the winter months, so your trees can emerge from the cold intact and ready to bloom again in the spring.

Snow and ice aren’t always an inherent danger when it comes to trees. If the trees on your property are native to Minnesota, they’re likely suited to surviving the cold temperatures. Trees that die at the touch of cold wouldn’t survive the winter with or without freezing storms, so if your trees are local, you’re already off to a good start.

But even local trees can be impacted by winter weather. In fact, native or not, the shape of your trees can have a significant impact on how vulnerable they are to winter tree damage. If you’re noticing that certain branches are beginning to bow under the weight, a tree health consultation may be wise.

Once ice has begun to accumulate on your trees, trying to manage this without the assistance of a tree health specialist could be dangerous. The risk of slipping and cold weather aside, you may also be dealing with some unexpectedly heavy branches and tree debris. But leaving weather-damaged branches until spring isn’t ideal either. Strong winter winds can jostle already-loose branches and lead to further damage to your tree or property. Instead of standing outside with a hairdryer after every snowstorm, contact tree damage specialists to facilitate safe branch removals.

Despite the fact that Minnesota trees are sturdier than you might expect, they aren’t completely invincible. If your Rochester, MN, trees have been impacted by winter weather tree damage contact the tree health professionals with Maier Tree and Lawn at (507) 286-8733 or by visiting our website here.

It’s all too easy to assume that the whole world takes a break during the frigid winter months in Rochester, MN. But, even if the world outside feels completely still, plenty of work remains to be done in the great outdoors. Maier Tree and Lawn offers extensive forestry services for urban and rural areas to guarantee well-kept and beautiful natural spaces year round.

A lot of vital environmental care takes place behind the scenes of daily life, and that’s especially true for forestry services. Forests are in many ways self-maintaining, but in urban settings, some care must be taken to ensure the trees are healthy and forest areas are safe. This includes large-scale tree services such as pruning, risk assessment, and occasionally, tree removal. These tasks are all extremely important for urban forest situations that may have frequent visitors. Without expert forestry services, forests can become hazardous for locals or even dangerous to wildlife.

Despite being somewhat wild, forests still benefit from regular care and upkeep, and this is especially true during the winter. When trees are dormant it’s easy to evaluate, trim, and treat trees on a very large scale. This allows landowners and city managers to benefit from significant early preparation before the snow melts. This can include taking inventory, evaluating hazardous trees, or treating diseases. In fact, professional forestry services do a lot of work to ensure that tree diseases don’t spread to other parts of the state and country.

Regardless of whether your needs are urban or rural, the benefits of effective forestry services are twofold; they bolster aesthetics and tree health simultaneously. For cities, expert forestry services can maintain a popular and natural local attraction, and for landowners, they can ensure safe hunting grounds or conservation areas. Tree services can help you cater your forest areas to whatever you want them to be without compromising their natural integrity.

If your Rochester, MN, area land is in need of winter tree services or forestry services, contact Maier Tree and Lawn’s certified arborists today at (507) 286–8733 or by visiting our website for additional information.

Winter can be a tough time for tree owners. Not only are your trees at the mercy of the elements for months on end, but so are you when you submit yourself to those same conditions to assess the damage to your trees. The weather can be frustrating if you hoping to emerge from winter in Winona, MN, with your trees intact. So, if you’re concerned about the health of one of your trees, you can ease these worries by getting winter tree care advice from a professional. Maier Tree & Lawn’s tree consulting services are available year-round, and yes, that includes during the deep Minnesota winters.

Keeping an eye on the health of your trees when they’re leafless or largely dormant is a tough task in itself. In every other season, checking on your trees may be as simple as walking outside and taking a good hard look at them. Discoloration, odd webbing, or missing bark are easy signs that some assistance may be necessary. A long winter brings new challenges in basic tree care assessments. Thanks to a heavy blanket of snow and ice, the physical signs may be literally or figuratively buried beneath the surface.

Trees can be impressively self-sustaining in the winter, but physical damage such as breakage and sun damage can still be a major problem for their long-term health. The real challenge for some tree care enthusiasts is knowing when to step in and how best to mitigate these injuries. Sometimes you may be able to spot winter tree care issues with your naked eye, but other times, the signs may be more subtle. Quickly fluctuating weather that causes repeated freezes and thaws can be damaging without being obvious.

Rather than ignore your trees until the thaw comes, schedule a tree care checkup for some professional tree care advice to ensure that you’re doing all that you can to help your trees hang on until spring. Winona, MN, residents can contact Maier Tree & Lawn today at (507) 454-7000 or visit our website here.