Maier Tree & Lawn News

Autumn is an awkward time for lawn care in Rochester, MN because, historically, it’s a fleeting season. Depending upon the weather trends, autumn may feel as though it only lasts two weeks before winter begins to descend on the state. However, the grass care experts at Maier Tree and Lawn would like to remind homeowners that a lot of good can be done for your grass during autumn, and missing out on this window may leave your lawn a little worse for wear come spring.

Proper lawn care is equally important throughout every season

First and foremost, it’s important to keep up your normal lawn care routines. The U of M Extension has a lawn care calendar that explains the seasonal plant growth cycle and when best to perform specific types of lawn care tasks. Unless it’s snowing in earnest and you can’t see your grass, continuing to mow, water, and even fertilize your lawn is essential before a freeze. Fall is difficult to predict in terms of temperature and precipitation, so if you forgo care entirely, you may end up with grass struggling to thrive before the snow comes.

Rake and remove leaves from your lawn to help keep it healthy

Along with basic care, it’s also important to deal with leaf disposal before it’s too late. Raking is great, but be sure to dispose of the piles before snow covers them. Mowing over leaves is an excellent option as well, if you have a mower that can handle the volume. But no matter how you dispose of the leaves, be sure that you’re not leaving large piles on the surface of your grass. Over the course of the winter, this can lead to fungus growth, snow mold, and all sorts of grass care trouble.

Fall is also an excellent time to seed your lawn

One lawn care tip that is great to remember for autumn is that seeding your lawn is very effective at this time of year. The actual mechanics of dormant seeding or seeding in general vary depending upon why you decide to seed, but the grass care professionals at Maier Tree and Lawn can help you determine what process and timing is right for your lawn. Fall seeding is a great way to stimulate new growth after winter and can make a major difference in the health and aesthetic of your lawn for the coming year.

Grass care doesn’t have to take over your life in the fall, but spending a little extra time figuring out how to prime your property for a healthy future is always a great move. If you’re interested in lawn care or seasonal grass care, contact Maier Tree and Lawn today at (507) 286–8733 or visit our website here. Rochester, MN residents can make an appointment or request a consultation year-round.

The idea of getting your property, and especially your trees, “winter ready” may seem redundant if you’re a Winona, MN resident. After all, aren’t native trees and plants built exactly for Minnesota’s climate? The answer to that question is more complicated than a simple yes or no. While it’s true to a degree that native plant life is better suited to harsh winters, severe winter weather still poses a risk to your greenery that could result in lasting tree damage. At Maier Tree and Lawn, we recommend against leaving tree health to chance. Instead, consider evaluating your trees for potential weaknesses before winter really sets in.

Sudden shifts in weather can have serious consequences for your trees

Many native Minnesota trees can withstand an impressive amount of cold weather, but all it takes is a single wind or ice storm to strip away natural defenses and leave trees vulnerable. For instance, sudden and severe shifts in temperature may happen so quickly that trees aren’t able to adapt. This may be due to drought-like conditions before the freeze, or because of unusual weather trends such as winter heat spikes and subsequent drops. These situations can result in tissue and surface damage that may lead to a decline in tree health.

Heavy ice and snow can push a tree past its breaking point

Winter tree damage can also come in the form of physical breakage. The weight of heavy, wet snow can do a number on even the sturdiest Minnesota trees. No matter how well suited to cold weather a species may be, enough weight in just the wrong place could topple a tree or break thick branches and trunks. Plus, it’s not uncommon for tree damage to worsen gradually once a break has occurred. In this manner, a healthy, mature tree can be left with lasting damage.

Our professionals can help prevent tree damage and potential tree loss

With these risks in mind, prepping your trees for winter in the Midwest and preventing damage can come in a variety of forms. It all depends upon the health, species, and status of your trees. Tree wrapping, pre-winter pruning, pest or disease control, or changes to your weekly care routine may all be solutions to a future problem. Maier Tree and Lawn’s tree damage professionals can help you decide which route to take to ensure that your trees stay healthy year-round.

If you’re interested in fall tree health support or would like information on addressing winter tree damage, Maier Tree and Lawn can help. Contact our tree care professionals today at (507) 454-7000 or visit our website here for more information on our services. Don’t wait for winter before making a tree plan tailored to your Winona, MN property.

Emerald ash borers (EABs) continue to wreak havoc across Minnesota from early spring through fall. Though their active season only tends to last from May until October, the damage they can do in that time frame is significant. Part of being a responsible tree owner in Winona, MN, is keeping an eye out for the invasive tree pests that inhabit our state and contacting tree pest experts when you think your trees may be at risk. At Maier Tree and Lawn, we recommend taking active steps to limit the spread of borers and provide timely and comprehensive support for impacted ash trees and properties that have had contact with any damaging tree pests.

Emerald Ash Bores

The tree pests we get in Minnesota range from fairly harmless to impressively destructive with emerald ash borers falling far along the destructive side. Emerald ash borers are an invasive species that are in active quarantine; the bugs can kill ash trees rapidly and after attacking one tree, they will quickly move on to the next. Limiting the spread of these bugs requires a collective effort on the part of tree-owning Minnesotans—especially if you have ash trees on your property.

How to Identify Bugs

Some steps you can take to prevent the spread of borers include learning how to identify the bugs, ensuring that you are not moving infested wood around the state, and alerting professionals in your area if you spot emerald ash borers in the wild.

Using a Visual Guide

The bugs are unique in their appearance and can be identified on sight if you know what to look for. Using visual guides like this can help narrow your search if you have suspicions or concerns. Even if you don’t see any borers on the surface of your trees, you can still watch for other signs such as surface damage and declining ash tree health as potential warning signs that borers may be present.

If you suspect that your ash trees or trees in your neighborhood have been impacted by emerald ash borers, be sure to contact a tree care professional before the damage can spread further. The tree pest professionals with Maier Tree and Lawn can help identify emerald ash borer damage and develop a pest removal plan that will make every effort to save and preserve your trees.

If you’ve experienced tree pest damage or have concerns about tree pests on your Winona, MN, property, contact Maier Tree and Lawn today at (507) 454-7000 or visit our website here for more information. Catching tree pests early is essential in saving trees, so be sure to watch for signs and symptoms and reach out as soon as a concern arises.

Leaves aren’t like mood rings that will tell you how your Rochester, MN, plants are feeling at any given moment, but they can be an effective guide in spotting plants’ problem areas or health concerns. If you’re passionate about plant care and are trying to get into some good habits, checking out the leaves of your plants semi-regularly can help catch concerns before they sprout into something more severe. At Maier Tree and Lawn, our plant health experts are available to consult with any plant problem areas you may find, whether you’re sure there’s something wrong or just need a little guidance.

Leaves for evaluating plant health

Because they are often an abundant part of flowering plants, leaves can be helpful in evaluating plant health at a glance. It’s wise to check them regularly because you can establish a baseline for what’s “normal” for the various species on your property. Leaves come in all shapes and sizes and what’s healthy for some may be a sign to worry in others. But there are a few signs that are fairly universal in the language of plant care.

Leaves wilting, changing color, or dropping

If you notice that any of your plants are experiencing significant wilting, discoloration, or leaf loss, take these as warning signs that there may be a plant health concern at play. The problem can be anything from inadequate nutrients to a plant disease, but regardless of the source, these symptoms are worth keeping in check. Even discoloration localized to a single part of the leaf could be a hint of some sort of plant care problem. And sudden changes of any type are worth noting.

Holes, Fuzz, or Bugs

Another excellent hint that something is awry with your plants’ health is copious nibbles from the leaf flesh, mold spores, or strange fuzz, and, perhaps obviously, pests crawling on the plants. Some of this may seem like a natural byproduct of existing in nature, but ideally your plants should not suffer an excess of pest-like visitors or mold. These particular signs are high-level plant care concerns and should be addressed as quickly as possible to preserve the health of your plants.

If you’re noticing any of the preceding plant health concerns on your property, the plant and lawn care professionals with Maier Tree and Lawn can help. Insecticides, fertilizers, soil evaluations, and more could be in the cards to treat your flagging plants. Our experts can help determine what your plants need and how to make a plan that will help them thrive. If you have plant health concerns in Rochester, MN, call (507) 286–8733 today or visit our website here for more information.

Minnesota lawns go through a lot throughout the year, and while we may not have the sustained dry heat of Arizona at our door, the highs and lows of Winona, MN, summer temperatures can still do a number on your grass. Maier Tree and Lawn recommends keeping a close eye on your lawn following a major heat wave and ensuring that your grass is getting enough water and nutrients to really beat the heat. Lawn care is important at any time of the year.

Drought

As summer transitions into fall, the fear of excess heat may seem like less of a worry, but heat spikes and drought can still be a factor to consider as we move into a new season. And without adequate care, lingering heat damage on your lawn can lead to unsightly and unhealthy brown spots. In fact, the signs of heat damage are important to identify and manage in any season.

Heat Damage

Heat damage or stress can be identified early on by watching for signs of dehydration. If your grass seems to be missing its springiness, is brittle and breakable, or is sporting brown tips, you may be looking at some of the signs of a water shortage. It might feel like an easy solution to crank up your watering when temperatures spike, but doing so thoughtlessly can leave your lawn drowning and overwhelmed.

Heat Stress

Drought and heat stress can also lead to soil compaction, which may just make that water pool on the surface—and that can lead to a whole new whole of fungal issues where heat is concerned. Depending on the state of your soil, aeration or other mitigation techniques may be required before any watering really does its job. If you suspect that your lawn is suffering from heat stress and your normal lawn care techniques don’t seem to be doing the job, your best solution is to rely on an expert.

Lawn Care

It’s difficult to overstate the impact that a hot, dry summer can have on previously healthy turf. The lawn care professionals at Maier Tree and Lawn can help you assess the current state of your lawn and introduce effective heat mitigation tips and techniques. And better yet, our lawn care support is carefully catered to your specific property.

If your Winona, MN, property is struggling with heat damage and stress, Maier Tree and Lawn can offer comprehensive lawn care support. Call us today at (507) 454-7000 or visit our website here for additional information.

Over the course of their long lives, trees can experience everything from pest infestations to storm damage and beyond. And growing in Minnesota means that they’ll also be exposed to harsh elements and just about every extreme that nature can produce. For Rochester, MN, tree owners, the challenging growing conditions may mean having to decide whether or not your tree can be saved after a weather event or infestation. Following tree damage, Maier Tree and Lawn’s tree care professionals can help you evaluate and treat trees on your property. With the right application of care and expert knowledge, even damaged trees can recover.

Physical Damage

For physical tree damage, such as broken branches or trunks from storms or other direct trauma, treatment is generally hands-on. Tree care professionals may prune the damaged areas and introduce external supports such as cabling or braces to weak or vulnerable sections of the tree. Even if a tree was hit hard in a storm, it’s important to request an assessment prior to taking major action such as removal. In many cases, physical damage can be addressed with the right combination of structural support and precise care.

Fungal, Disease, or Pest-Related Damage

Trees that are recovering from a pest infestation, illness, or fungus may need a special touch in order to begin their road to recovery. Fungicides, insecticides, and soil treatments can all contribute to tree recovery in cases of external infection. In some situations, such as contagious tree diseases, special steps may need to be taken in order to prevent the spread of the tree damage.

Tree Care a Complex Process

Regardless of the cause of the damage, tree care can be a complex process. Depending on the type of damage in question, it may require multiple treatments and follow-ups to ensure that the trajectory of recovery is sustainable and consistent. But in many cases, these steps are worth it. It’s important to ensure that the treatment being carried out is done by a tree care professional as improper care methods can lead to additional damage that may slow the recovery process. Improper tree care may include steps such as aggressive or imprecise pruning, harsh chemical application, or faulty cabling. Relying on a tree care professional can limit the chances of additional damage as well as help expedite the tree’s recovery process.

If your tree needs treatment following damage, the professionals at Maier Tree and Lawn can help. Rochester, MN, residents can reach out today at (507) 286–8733 or visit our website here for more information on tree care and professional tree treatments.

Weeds growing on your Winona, MN, lawn are practically an inevitability, but how you deal with them can determine whether they’re a rare annoyance or a chronic blight. For Winona lawn owners, it’s easy to aim for short-term solutions that make your lawn look weed-free without thinking too deeply about the consequences. But sometimes short-term solutions can be harsh and have a lasting negative impact on your lawn’s ecosystem. At Maier Tree and Lawn, our lawn care experts can help you develop a lawn care routine that keeps your weed control stable for the long run.

Weed Control

A few weeds cropping up occasionally aren’t the end of the world as a lawn’s ecosystem is sturdier than many people realize. It’s when weeds are left unattended and allowed to flourish that lawn health becomes a larger factor in weed control. Weeds are often categorized as such because of their extensive seeding and ability to overtake lawns. They may overshadow “weaker” plants and crowd out healthy grass growth as well as steal nutrients from struggling plants.

How Weeds Spread

A single dandelion can contain over 200 seeds, and with a gust of wind, you can find yourself with a sudden influx of weed growth that takes away from your carefully planted garden or landscape. It might feel natural to spray every weed you see, but there is a balance to managing weeds, which is important to keep in mind as you consider your weed-mitigating options. It’s easy to go overboard and cause lawn damage when it comes to weed control, and a gentle hand can work wonders where a firm touch may harm.

Weed Removal

While plucking weeds individually can work in small-scale cases, this can be a pain both literally and figuratively. Rather than spending a weekend hunched over in your yard, finding a solution that will last can help your lawn and your spine. At Maier Tree and Lawn, we promote a full lawn care regimen. Aeration, seeding, fertilization, and gentle weed control can all help prevent weeds from taking root on your property. At the end of the day, a lush and healthy lawn does not foster excessive weed growth

If you’re looking for personally catered weed control for your Winona, MN, property, Maier Tree and Lawn can help you develop a lawn care program that suits your specific needs. For weed control, lawn care, and everything in between, we’re available 24/7 for consultations and lawn support. Call us today at (507) 454-7000 or visit our website here for more information.

Caring for the trees on your Rochester, MN, property is a long-term affair, and unlike perennials and grasses, if effective, tree care can be a bit more subtle. Too much TLC can be detrimental to your trees, while a hands-off approach can be inadequate. But while trees can be sturdier than many smaller species of plants, they still need a little extra support now and again, especially in the early and late stages of their life. This may come in the form of pruning, tree cabling, or some carefully applied tree fertilization. Regardless of what your trees need, for lifelong tree care services, Maier Tree and Lawn can help.

Tree Fertilization

Fertilizing your trees can seem less essential than fertilizing fast-growing plants and flowers, especially if the results of tree fertilization aren’t immediately visible. But trees need nutrients too, and with the right combination of fertilizer, you can help new trees flourish and even support all the trees on your property. Tree fertilization is especially important for new growth that may be trying to sprout in nutrient-deficient soil. Without the right mix of nutrition, growth may be slow and the endurance of your tree’s systems can be compromised.

Slow-Release Fertilizer

Davey Tree’s proprietary fertilizer, Arbor Green PRO®, is a slow-release fertilizer. This means it can be it can be applied anytime the ground is not frozen and provide nutrients for a full year. Contact Maier Tree and Lawn to discuss tree care support catered directly to your trees and your Rochester property. Rochester, MN, residents can contact us today at (507) 286–8733 or visit our website here to find out more information about comprehensive tree care support year-round and tree fertilization tips.

Lawn care in Winona, MN, can involve a fair amount of trial and error thanks to our Minnesotan fluctuating weather patterns and occasional harsh conditions. When your plants are flagging, you may want to know what to look for in order to provide the right remedy for whatever is ailing them. At Maier Tree and Lawn, our plant care experts provide in-depth plant healthcare support and guidance to first-time homeowners as well as to seasoned land managers and gardeners. If your plants seem like they’re struggling, watch for some of these classic problems and reach out to us today!

Over- and Underwatering

Minnesota goes through seasons quickly, and sometimes that can leave your plants overly damp or excessively dry. This, combined with sprinkler systems or unexpected drought, can result in too much or too little water for your plants and lawn. Some signs to watch for if you’re concerned about the amount of watering your lawn is getting include: constantly damp soil, puddles on the surface of your lawn, browning leaves and turf, wilting grass, and yellowing.  Too much or too little water can both be major factors in your property’s health, so keep an eye out for similar changes in your plants’ conditions.

Plant Care

Much like people, plant care requires providing adequate nutrients to stimulate growth and maintain health. Your overall lawn care process may involve fertilizers and supplements for the soil to help this process along, but it’s helpful to know what to watch for in the event of a deficiency. The actual signs will vary based on what nutrients are missing, but slow growth; discolored leaves, grass blades, or foliage; wilting; or deformed plant structures can all be indicators of something going wrong.

Fungus or Disease

And sometimes when it comes to lawn care, you can find yourself contending with external complications such as fungi, diseases, and even pests. For these situations, watching for strange spotting or browning, fuzzy patches, mushrooms, discoloration patterns, and plant death can help catch problems before they spread.

If any of these issues seem familiar or you’re struggling with some aspect of your routine plant care, Maier Tree and Lawn can help. From formal diagnoses to spot treatments and comprehensive care, our plant care experts can assist you in preserving your lawn for years to come. Winona, MN, area residents can reach out at (507) 454-7000 or visit our website here for more information.

Stymying the spread of tree diseases is similar to containing contagious conditions in humans. Reducing contact, providing health checkups, and treating symptoms all contribute to treatment plans that can prevent and treat diseases such as oak wilt and bur oak blight from infecting more trees on your Rochester, MN, property or in your neighborhood. Maier Tree and Lawn’s tree care experts work hard to ensure that your trees can grow and flourish safely regardless of the current state of infectious tree diseases in Minnesota.

Oak Wilt and Bur Oak Blight

Oak wilt and bur oak blight are similar in that you may spot signs of browning, discoloration, damage, or early falling leaves on your oak leaves on their onset. Though some species of oak can be more resistant to these blights, for many Minnesota trees, contagious tree diseases can prove deadly if not stopped, treated, or removed by cutting down the tree. Oak wilt alone kills thousands of trees a year, and spring is one of its biggest spreading seasons.

Preventing Spread

Preventing the spread of both oak wilt and other similar conditions is essential as the more trees that become infected, the more difficult it is to contain the blight across the state and even across the country. In some cases, oak wilt and bur oak blight can be treated with special fungicides, but even with treatment, containment is still an essential aspect of tree disease management.

Signs of Oak Wilt

Signs of oak wilt and bur oak blight can be difficult to identify with an untrained eye. If you’re ever concerned that your oak trees may be at risk of infection, tree care experts can help you assess the health and safety of any and all trees on your property. If your trees have indeed been impacted by a tree disease, Maier Tree and Lawn is available to assist with treatment and mitigation as well. Rochester, MN, area residents can reach out to us today by calling (507) 286–8733 or visiting our website here for more information.