Shrub Maintenance Program

Maier Forest and Tree is committed to providing science-based, yet affordable solutions for your shrubs. Our shrub program is designed to provide regular maintenance throughout the growing season at a fixed monthly cost. Since most landscapes have a variety of shrubs, each with season-specific needs, we will be visiting each site every month during the growing season (7 visits total) to address those needs at just the right time. From April to November, you can have the confidence that our professionals will be keeping your shrubs healthy and beautiful.

---

Proper pruning can greatly extend the life of shrubs in your landscape. We specialize in maintaining shrubs to the proper size and growth habit to fit their planting space and your preferences. Identifying shrub species and knowing their individual maintenance requirements are key to our shrub maintenance program. Our experts are also well trained in pest identification and management so problems can be identified early and managed before they become a serious problem.

Renewal Pruning
Selectively thinning shrubs each year will keep them vigorous and maintain them at the proper size to fit a space. This also promotes good flowering and fruiting characteristics to add season-long beauty to your yard. Renewal pruning is followed up with timely visits to shape shrubs during the growing season.

Rejuvenation
Several species of shrubs respond very well to being cut back to the ground each year. This may also be used with very overgrown shrubs in some situations. Our experts understand which shrubs respond well to rejuvenation and can explain these options.

Formal Shrubs
Many homeowners like the manicured look of formally pruned shrubs. Maintaining shrubs in this condition for the long-term requires a thorough understanding of each shrub species and their tolerances to this pruning technique.

Tree forms
Many species of shrubs can be trained up to develop very attractive small trees. We understand which species respond well to this type of pruning. This is often the best option when working with old overgrown shrubs.

Plant Health Care
Shrubs offer homeowners a great deal of variety for their landscapes. They also welcome an equally diverse variety of pests and diseases that can damage their health or aesthetic qualities. Our experts know shrub identification and are familiar with what signs to watch out for with each to prevent pests from becoming problematic. Through proper fertilization, our primary goal is to keep them healthy enough to fight off pests on their own. But when needed, our trained staff knows when to step in and treat the pest.

Service Schedule

April
During our first visit each year we will clean up the beds by removing any woody volunteer/weed species like buckthorn, chokecherry and other unwanted trees. We will do renewal and rejuvenation pruning on deciduous shrubs and remove obvious deadwood in evergreens. We will cut back old tops of grasses and other perennials, reduce evergreen species that are too large and make sure everything is ready to grow.

May
As your landscape starts to green up, we begin to look at pest monitoring and management recommendations. We will keep new woody weeds in check. We will shape early blooming species like forsythia.

June
Now that all species are pushing new growth, we will prune to maintain shape and overall size. We will continue to monitor pests and make management recommendations. Any June-blooming species like lilacs and spireas will be pruned after flowering.

July
As the growing season continues, we continue to watch and address the visual aspects of the shrubs in terms of shape and size. We will continue to monitor pests and make management recommendations. Any July-blooming species will be shaped at the appropriate time.

August
In the heat and dryness of summer plants can get stressed. We will monitor plant health and make recommendations that will help you keep your landscape healthy and beautiful. We will implement sanitation pruning helpful in pest management and will prune out any other dieback. We will continue pruning to maintain shape and encourage growth throughout the entire crown.

September
As the growing season comes to an end there should not be a whole lot of pruning left to do. However, a visit at this time gives us one last growing-season look at the landscape. We will take notes on what can be done for dormant season treatments of insects or spring treatments of diseases.

October - March
This visit can be done any time in the dormant season We will renewal prune deciduous shrubs, rejuvenate cane-producing shrubs (lilacs, dogwoods , spireas, etc.) that need it, do any major reductions of deciduous shrubs and transplant or remove smaller deciduous shrubs that are over-crowded or no longer needed.

---

BILLING INFO
Monthly billing will occur from April through November. These will be mailed after each monthly visit (except there will be a billing in October and November even though there will only be one visit during that time). You can save 10% of the total by pre-paying the entire amount in March.

Note: Any ornamental trees less than 8' tall and within the shrub beds are included in the shrub maintenance program. Larger ornamental trees that need pruning or treatment may be itemized but are not included in the pricing or the service coverage of this program.