04/22/2024
Mowing – As needed and deemed necessary in relation to the weather and growing season. Automatic, periodic lawn cutting services for the season split up in a 6-month payment plan for easy budgeting and worry-free automatic services for the entire season so you can relax and enjoy your free time doing and worrying about other things than cutting your lawn.
Spring Clean Up - Patching all other tear ups, brushing and detaching the entire turf stand, and disposing of all debris picked up in doing so. Can be bundled together with other services or purchased a la carte.
Turf Care - Services can be a package, or a la carte. We can provide these services as bill upon completion, or a monthly payment plan split up over the 6-month summer into equal installments. You can add these services to a mowing plan or just have the turf care applications you wish completed.
(Master Pesticide Applicator On Staff With 15 Years Experience Applying And 25 Years Experience Caring For Lawns)
FERTILIZER
HERBICIDE
FUNGICIDE
PESTICIDE
LIME
AERATION
ARBORIST WORK
IPM (INTIGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT) PROCEDURES
VARIOUS LAWNCARE SERVICES
Crucial Elaborated Information For The True Lawn Lover
Fertilizer SPRING/SUMMER/FALL– (FOOD FOR YOUR LAWN) - When applied in the correct dosage and mixture (Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) are the three main components used in fertilizer with varied applications determined by changing the ratios) it is a vital component to promote healthy grass growth in conjunction with other variables, such the stage of the grass growing season and weather. The three blends being Spring, Summer, and Fall with a typical application evenly spread across the turf for each season. You can do one, two, or all three with the mid-Summer application able to be split into an early and late summer application, if desired, for a total of 4 applications. We also use special blends that are slow release and blended best for each season and our specific area of grass variety, so you don’t have to go guessing. All fertilizers are not the same.
Herbicide – (W**D CONTROL - TARGET AND KILL UNDESIRED W**DS IN YOUR LAWN) We stock a variety of herbicides to kill different types of pesky w**ds you may have; with the most common complaints arising from dandelions, clover, and wild strawberries. Talk with us about your concerns and we can recommend the best formula to apply for your situation, which may be a season consisting of one or two applications. Most of our herbicides can target a specific family of w**ds and you can knock out multiple variations while focusing, at the same time. However, keep in mind, good lawn health is a comprehensive strategy which includes proper management of soil composition, nutrients, and compaction, all of which play a crucial role in whether the w**ds or the grass thrives in the end. W**ds are more resilient than grass and the better you manage overall soil and turf health the longer it will stay w**d free. Meaning for yards with worse w**d issues, it won’t be enough to just tackle the w**ds, but you will want to heal your lawn’s health. This is where someone that is trying to kill w**ds will also want to consider fertilizer, lime, aeration and other processes done to better handle the problem.
But to most people’s surprise, something as simple as a W**d n’ Feed Treatment, which consists of a spring fertilizer application and a broad leaf w**d control application can do wonders for even the worst of lawns for a season. A lot of our budget conscious customers (and my personal recommendation) find that the W**d N’ Feed is the perfect mix between value and cost, especially if your lawn is overall healthy and you are looking to take it from just “okay” to turning your neighbor’s heads. However, it’s best to remember that if your lawn’s health is not great, you will want to do a more comprehensive, targeted approach.
Fungicide – (DISEASE CONTROL) Fungus is everywhere, and fungus contamination can happen very easily, when the right conditions are met. Odd, unpredictable weather, too much or little rain, diverse mowing heights, soil compaction, and many other factors all contribute to whether or not the issue is a minor or a seriously detrimental problem. Be on the lookout for irregularities in your lawn and give us a call. We can assess the issue and recommend a plan of action. Whether that is just a fungicide application or a variety of integrated pest management practices such as, aerating (to combat soil compaction), dethatching to remove dead grass/organic material layer (which holds in moisture and blocks root access to nutrients from water as it sheds off over the top or gets trapped in the layers of organic matter), we will have a solution that solves your problem.
We can find real improvement from creating an Action Plan that includes adjusting mowing height and frequency in conjunction with the fungicide application(s) and a variety of other successful strategies The most common types of fungus in our area such as RED THREAD1, SUMMER PATCH2, FAIRY RING3, POWDER MILDEW4, PYTHIUM BLIGHT5, BROWN PATCH6, DOLLAR SPOTS7, GREY SNOW MOLD8, RUST DISEASE9 should be watched for and if you notice anything looking wrong with your grass Call Us and we can come help solve the problem. If you are interested in further information, links to the diseases are available at the end of this document in the Resources chapter. You can look up these common troublesome diseases to get an idea of what you might be looking at and what to do before we arrive.
Pesticide – (INSECT CONTROL) Insects, similar to the aforementioned fungus, are heavily affected by the seasonal conditions and health of the lawn. But an additional factor to consider, is how the changing climate has caused adaptation and migration of pests. Because there are many factors in considering an Action Plan, it takes expertise to design and manage a pest problem. Strategies must be designed, per customer, and with best practice solutions, we can really combat most issues.
One major issue to look out for in our area, especially over the past few years, is GRUBS. If you notice your grass being picked at and torn up by birds, skunks, and other small animals, the issue is most likely grubs and not the animals themselves. We have had an outbreak of grubs in Northern Maine the past several years and these critters are detrimental to your turf. They feed on the roots of the grass and kill it from the roots up. Small mammals, and other insectivores, will come dig and pick at the already struggling grass. Your turf can become so weak that walking across, or even the wind, is enough to rip up pieces. If these pests are not targeted correctly, and quickly, they will turn a beautiful, vibrant lawn into a Mad Max wasteland. W**ds will replace your grass and your lawn may be permanently damaged. This is not a problem that can fix itself, because grubs attack the roots. If your lawn appears to be dying, for no reason, or you notice animals holding court on your land, you may want to test for grubs. To find out, rip up a small piece of your lawn near the affected area. Look in the dirt beneath the top layer of turf and if you see small white insect, usually curled up to look like a small “c” like worm, you have grubs. You should call us to come treat for them immediately. Applying quality insect control for grubs may not be where you want to spend your money, but when your lawn becomes virtually nonexistent, and you must completely rebuild your lawn, you will be wishing you spent the couple hundred dollars to treat the issue. The process to fix a dead lawn cost thousands of dollars to cultivate, reseed, apply the proper nutrients and dressing the area and care for it as it grows with watering and monitoring (which we also offer this service if your damage may have gotten too far before you could call). Also keep in mind that store bought chemicals for the public are less potent and many people have had a hard time applying the correct dose evenly, at the correct rate, and during the correct conditions. There are many variables that can affect your outcome, and although it is your choice to decide how to manage the problem this is where we excel, knowing how and when to apply for best results.
Lime – (ENHANCING SOIL QUALITY) A lime application improves the health and quality of your lawn, especially if there are acidic conditions. This composition, in which our company uses a special blend with other minerals, raises soil pH, enhancing the ability of your grass to utilize nutrients in the soil and fertilizer applications to enhance effectiveness. This results in lush green lawns, especially when used in combination with all the other practices mentioned in this above.
Aeration – (PULLING PLUGS OF TURF AND SOIL) We specifically use core aeration as our only aeration practice, where our machines poke cores, pulling up small round 2-inch pieces of turf and depositing them on the lawn behind the machine. Many people are ignorant to the reasons to aerate, usually believing it just makes their lawns look dirty, not understanding that it can drastically improve nutrient and water delivery, allowing those vital necessities to reach the roots with less run off and loss. Aeration also promotes grass growth. Grasses, especially in Maine, are mostly rhizomic, meaning they grow underground, horizontal stems that produce more grass shoots. A big percentage of Northern Maine Grass is Kentucky Bluegrass, which tends to wake up from its dormant state early in the spring. With an autumn aeration the springtime can be a real boon for this grass type. Aerating in the fall can allow the Kentucky Bluegrass, and other rhizomic grasses, to overtake w**ds that can flourish in compacted soil, choking them out, and allowing the grass to be fuller and healthier. The plugs also have organic matter, which decomposes and provides nutrition to the turf, just as grass clippings can do. Most people do not know that leaving those glass clippings, under normal conditions, acts as an organic form of fertilizer, which can make bagging clippings worse than leaving them in the first place. One thing to note is that compacted soils tend to have more w**ds, mosses, and clover, however, this may not be the only reason for these to be present and striving, as mentioned earlier. A good point to be aware of when trying to acquire a better looking, thicker, and healthier lawn is that aerating in the fall, when we apply lime, allows for easier dissemination of the lime.
Arborist Work – Our Licensed Master Pesticide Applicator is also a Licensed First-Class Arborist and has over 15 years of experience. Although cutting trees is not our focus, we do provide this as a service, along with stump griding, replanting, and trimming bushes and hedges. At this point, however, you may be questioning why we chose to include this in our list of TurfCare products, and that is because of how roots and shade are affected by trees. If your lawn is not strong it is nearly impossible for grass to grow under or near large trees. They tend to block out sunlight, gobble up too many nutrients, and compact the soil as the roots grow, occupying the space needed by the grass for proper turf growth. Thinning, cutting, and removing trees, stumps, and root balls will help fight this, and help strengthen your turf. However, tree removal can become quite costly. And unfortunately, without this critical step, you may really struggle to, and may possibly never see, any grass growth around large trees. There are some grass blends that seem to do better in the shade and with proper watering and nutrient applications you can make a difference in these areas. But with Our 25 years of experience caring for lawns, observing others attempt this many, many times, and even our own, fruitless, pyrrhic battles, unless you are willing to dump tons of money and time caring for these areas, there is no blend of grass out there that you can plant and will just grow under extreme shade. Someone may sell you on a magical shade blend, and that may grow that first year or two, but without constant care these areas are almost impossible to keep grassy and will have mosses, bare dirt and some resilient w**ds pop up.
Various IPM Procedures – During this brief, high level informative advertisement, we covered most of the basics, as well as a few of the main causes and solutions for many of the common Turf Issues. and We briefly mentioned above how to acquire a beautiful, lush lawn, utilizing a multitude of non-pesticide, herbicide, fungicide and chemical options and a variety of pet safe options. Of course, we are unable to touch upon all the issues that could affect your lawn, not to mention, your hard-earned property value, but we hope this ad illustrates the most common problems and illuminate how important it is to have it taken care of early and professionally. And yes, it is possible to research and implement some of these solutions, however you will quickly find that you will require special licensing to get the products that actually work. Buying off-the-shelf materials will leave you disappointed and having to spend more to get the results you desire. There are many little things to know and research on each pesticide and practice that will vary the results. If multiple issues are present, in many situations one issue may lead to another, and you will find yourself treating a symptom and not the disease and you may not receive the proper results. Sometimes asking for guidance and hiring a professional, such as us, to come in and deal with the situation may be more beneficial and cost effective than trying to manage it on your own. We can craft a solution that could see us doing some applications and instructing you on how to do a couple that you feel capable of and the desire to do yourself. Although we may not always have the answers right then, we know where to find them, how to build a strategy to meet your needs or point you to where that may lead. Give us a call if you find yourself in need of our company’s services in any of these matters and a myriad of others. Bernaiche Enterprise is all around Aroostook County as we capable of many services you may need from lawn care & snow removal to equipment sales, rentals, locksmith work, pothole patching, towing, hauling and much, much more. Call (207) 498-3189 or look up our website https://www.bernaicheenterprise.com or page Bernaiche enterprises.
Resources:
1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_thread_disease
2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnaporthe_poae
3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_ring
4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erysiphe_cichoracearum
5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythium
6 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_patch
7 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dollar_spot
8 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhula_blight
9 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rust_(fungus)
