Lawn Care Programs

GreenCare offers a Lawn Care Program that will provide fertilization in each application, and a treatment for weeds depending on the season. Normally, up to five applications can be scheduled throughout the year. Will your lawn require five applications? Not necessarily. This is where you and your GreenCare lawn professional can decide what will be best for your particular situation.

GreenCare offers these programs:

• GreenCare 5: Includes all 5 applications.
• GreenCare 4: Includes Early Spring, Late Spring, Early Fall, & Late Fall.
• GreenCare 3: Includes Early Spring, Late Spring, & Early Fall.
• Aeration: All three programs are offered with or without Aeration.

Applications:

• Early Spring: Lawn fertilizer with first application of pre-emergent crabgrass control.
• Late Spring: Lawn fertilizer with dandelion and broadleaf control.
• Mid-Summer: Lawn fertilizer with summer broadleaf control.
• Early Fall: Lawn fertilizer with dandelion and broadleaf weed control.
• Late Fall: Granular lawn fertilizer only.
• Aeration: Improves movement of air, water, and nutrients to the root zone and aids in the control of certain weeds for a healthier lawn.


• Single applications are available; please contact GreenCare for more information.

Fertilization

To grow a thick, green, carpet-like lawn, fertilizer must be applied in some manner. GreenCare will custom design a fertilization program to best fit your needs. Nitrogen, phosphate, and potash are the three main elements used in lawn care. Our company, due to environmental concerns, applies phosphate-free fertilizer.

A fertilization program by GreenCare will provide you with the following benefits:

• Commercial grade fertilizer formulated for your needs.
• Proper timing of applications.
• An evenly distributed product applied by a licensed and trained professional.

Weed Control

Weeds can be very unsightly, use precious moisture, and rob the lawn of its nutrients. The two most common types of weeds are grassy and broadleaf. Weeds are treated either with pre-emergence (applied before weed emergence) or post-emergence (after the weed emerges) herbicides. Broadleaf weeds that are most common in Minnesota lawns are: Dandelions, Plantain, Clover, Chickweed, Creeping Charlie, Spurge, and Oxalis. Grassy-type weeds that most often occur in Minnesota lawns are: Crabgrass, Quack Grass, Foxtail, Tall Fescue, and Yellow Nut Sedge.

All pesticide products that are used by GreenCare are registered with the EPA and have been through an extensive review process. Lawn care pesticides that are sold by retail stores and used by a lawn care professional usually only carry a caution label, meaning they are very safe products when used in a manner that is consistent with the label. GreenCare employees are highly trained in the safe use of pesticides and will not jeopardize the safety or health of themselves or others.

Aeration

GreenCare recommends aerating at least once per season. Aeration helps heavily-used and compacted lawns by improving the depth and extent of rooting, allowing better water uptake, enhanced fertilizer use and accelerated thatch breakdown. Common in home lawns, thatch can lead to serious maintenance and pest problems if left unmanaged. Because of this, lawns need frequent aeration to prevent thatch buildup.

Homeowner Tips:

As a homeowner, there are many things that you can do to aid GreenCare in providing you with a "weed-free" lawn. Below are some cultural methods that can be used.

• Mow as high as possible during the summer months. The seeds of some weeds require high light intensity to germinate. The shaded environment near the soil surface in a high-mown lawn helps deter weed seed germination. In addition, the higher mowing height produces a healthier grass plant. Crabgrass and other annual grassy weeds are much more common and aggressive in lawns that are mowed too short.
• Mow often enough so that no more than one-third of the grass blade is removed during a single mowing. Letting the grass grow tall and then cutting it back to a low height reduces turf density, allowing grassy weeds to compete with the desirable grass.
• Irrigate properly. GreenCare recommends one inch of water per week. Light, frequent irrigation encourages weed seed germination, so try and avoid this practice.
• Proper fertilization will help to keep your lawn strong and healthy to avoid weed infestations. A GreenCare lawn program will take the "guess work" out of it to ensure that this is being done correctly.
• Aerate your lawn at least once per season to reduce compaction and to control thatch. Aeration is yet another service provided by GreenCare; contact us to today for a free lawn analysis and estimate.

For more on proper lawn care techniques, please visit our FAQ page.