Dustin Wolff | Account Manager
Posted 9/23/2022
IPM is an abbreviation for Integrated Pest Management, which is defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as, “an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices.” Pests are broadly defined as insects, plants, diseases and even animals that hinder the health and productivity of a plant. Humans often want to manage one or more pests in a particular setting to maximize our perception of health for that setting.
Cover Photo, Stock Photo
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Dustin Wolff | Account Manager
Posted 5/4/2022
It may be tempting to ignore crabgrass, especially since it has “grass” in its name, but crabgrass is among the most troublesome lawn weeds. It can invade poor turf and, if allowed to develop through its complete lifecycle, a single plant is capable of producing thousands of seeds before dying off in the fall. Crabgrass management can be intensive, but it is an important practice in maintaining a healthy lawn.
Cover Photo, Jake Louwsma
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Catherine Nickelson | Arborist | Horticulturist
Posted 07/30/2021
Surface roots are the normal result of a shallow-rooted tree aging. The primary roots of many trees are within 8 inches of the soil surface. As these roots age they increase in circumference, just like a branch or trunk. The root does not reposition itself below the soil, so the thickening results in part of the root showing up in the turf.
Cover Photo, Catherine Nickelson
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Jeff Farrington | Account Manager
Posted 06/16/2021
For many people the idea of water conservation and lush turfgrass do not go together, but it is possible to be both responsible about water usage and maintain a healthy lawn. Minnesota is blessed with many lakes, rivers and streams, as a result, water use and conservation have been an afterthought. Although we don’t have the same water shortages in Minnesota as in other parts of the country, water conservation is an important practice to ensure that we continue to have a plentiful supply of water.
Cover Photo, Jeff Wilson
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Jake Louwsma CLP | Sales and Marketing Manager
Posted 05/04/2021
I see the irrigation system running at my home, but none of the water is reaching the plants in the foundation beds around my house. Is the irrigation system not adjusted correctly?
Cover Photo, Horticulture Services
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Jeff Farrington | Account Manager
Posted 4/14/2021
Turfgrass in Minnesota is dominated by cool season grasses including Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall Fescue, fine fescue, and some less common varieties. A significant benefit of turf is that it is relatively care-free, especially in situations where it can be kept healthy. However, in less-than-ideal situations, problems can occur. In this post, a few common problems and solutions are explored.
Cover Photo, Horticulture Services
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Brian Davis | Account Manager
Posted 4/13/2020
Minnesota winters present a number of challenges to our landscapes. Salt usage, deep snow piles, and the freeze/thaw cycle all contribute to one of these challenges called ‘winterkill’. Winterkill is used as a general term to describe grass (ie. turf grass, hereby referred to as “grass”) that has died over the winter, possibly due to the causes described above. Living in our climate, winterkill is an unfortunate and inevitable problem that we must tackle each spring to some degree. Over the years, Horticulture Services has tried a number of different methods for winterkill grass repairs, with the two main methods being sod and grass seeding.
Cover Photo, Horticulture Services
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Syd Stephan | Founder | Horticulturist
Posted 09/26/2017
Aeration is one of the most beneficial practices in maintaining a healthy turf. Aeration is a low impact, sustainable practice requiring no pesticides or chemicals. Aeration improves absorption of water reducing the need for irrigation. By improving the vigor of the turf, aeration also reduces the need for applied fertilizer and weed killers. A healthy turf is more resilient to traffic and is less susceptible to diseases.
Cover Photo, Horticulture Services
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Catherine Nickelson | Horticulturist | Arborist
Posted 05/09/2017
Turfgrasses are one of the most populous plants used in our landscape and they are forced to grow on some of the worst situations. High demands are placed on these energetic plants that make up the carpet of our lawns. These tough grasses are required to hold a rich green color spring through fall. They must stand up to foot and vehicle traffic like no other plant. We ask them to be soft on our children’s bare feet and durable against our pets’ claws. We require all of this be accomplished on top of nutrient poor, stripped, and compacted urban soils.
Cover Photo, Horticulture Services
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