General Service Categories: (scroll down for more information on each)
-
Lawn Care (including fertilization, weed control, insect control, aeration, etc.)
-
Top Dressing (conventional, special (i.e. Black Magic™)
-
Sodding (supply & Install only)
-
Seeding (all types including hydroseeding, slit seeding, conventional seeding, etc.)
Our Services
Our services include essentially all of those offered by the national franchised organizations such as Weed Man, Nutri-Lawn, Green Lawn, Dr. Green, etc., etc. but with a higher level of service but at pricing that is comparable or sometimes even lower. Of course, all of our services are free of chemical pesticides.
For 2012, we are introducing a new service to all of our customers AT NO CHARGE. Beginning with the first service of the season, we will send an Email just a day or so prior to each and every service to advise the homeowner that our technicians will be at their property. This means no more surprises when we show up. You can plan your day's activities without the need to be concerned that we will show up unannounced. Here is an example of a typical notice to advise that a fertilizer application is upcoming. Remember, this Email comes FREE with every service.
Ours Conventional Services include:
- Fertilization
- Weed Control
- Core Aeration
- Grub Control
- Insect Control
- Fungus Control
- Lime Application
- Poison Ivy Eradication
- Vegetation Eradication
Our Specialty Services include:
- Top Dressing:
- Black Magic™ Select (With Grass Seed)
- Black Magic™ Lite (No Grass Seed)
- Hydroseeding
- Slit Seeding
- Conventional Seeding
- Mycorrhizae Treatment
- Lawn Vac
- Sodding
- Dethatching
- Rolling
Most of these services are described below and their cost shows up in our Pricing page
At long last !! An environmentally sound weed control that works !!
Health Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Environment have finally approved Fiesta* for use on our lawns. Fiesta* is a chelated iron-based product that finally gives us good results on broad leaf weeds. Unlike the products used by many of our competitors, Fiesta* works. Two applications work better than one. Three is even better and four really cleans them up. That's why all of our standard packages include 4 weed control applications.
And in each application, our own "Grassroot Extension Builder" is included.
Lawn Analysis
"The best things in life are free". Well, that's not exactly true. But the free analysis your lawn gets from Tender Shoots is free, and it's the best and most complete analysis in the Huronia Lawn Care world. for each lawn on which we undertake a full annual program, we provide for your information as well as for our own records, a free analysis. Based on this analysis, we then recommend a standard program or custom-design one specifically to accommodate each property. Here is a example of an analysis
Itemized Quote
All of our quotes are fully itemized so that you can clearly see what we propose to dao and even approximately when. On the quote you can see the unit price of each service as well as the package price. The package prices are totalled and the HST added to give you the total quoted price. No Surprises ! Here is an example of a typical quote. Note that we also enclose the pricing for your particular property of our various optional packages and services.
Itemized Invoice
Just as our quote is fully itemized, so
is our invoice. Here is a sample of an invoice. Note that the invoice shows the
date on which each service, if it has been completed, was performed.
In our own records, we also keep track of the time at which it was
done, as well as the operator who did the work. And of
course, this information is available to you for the asking.
Simply give us a call.
Lawn Care It's a team effort
Your
lawn care provider could apply a million dollars' worth of the best
products money can buy to your lawn
but if you don't do your part, it will all go to waste.
Your part is very simple:
- Follow our directions for watering
- Follow our directions for mowing
- Immediately report any signs of possible problems
Watering
Water heavily. Leave the sprinkler on at each location for at least one hour and preferably even longer. Don't be afraid to leave it on for 2 or 3 hours even.
In the morning only. Be all done by about 10am so that the surface has a chance to totally dry before nightfall. The goal is to ensure that the root system gets its moisture. The grass itself does not need to be wet and should be allowed to dry totally. Moisture on the grass surface only encourages fungus growth and disease.
Once per week. Unless the soil is very sandy, once per week is enough and more often than that may encourage fungus or other problems. But watch your lawn closely and water as soon as it shows signs of drying up. Over time, your root system will grow deeper and your lawn will need less frequent watering.
Mowing
-
Adjust the mower so that it never cuts shorter than 3 inches (7 to 8 cms)
-
Mow often so that it is never necessary to cut more than about one inch (2 to 3 cms) at each cutting.
-
Make sure your mower blades are kept shart to avoid tearing.
-
Avoid mowing in stressful conditions. For example, NEVER mow in very hot temperatures and avoid mowing when the weather is very dry.
Monitoring
While mowing your lawn, note any changes no matter how apparently insignificant. keep a close watch on that spot for 2 or 3 days. If it appears to be worsening, even slightly, call us immediate. Many diseases and insect infestations can cause severe damage in just a few days. Chinch bugs and sod webworms are particularly harmful and white grubs for example, can literally destroy an otherwise perfectly healthy lawn in a matter of just 7 or 8 days! Call us. If we can't identify the problem from your description, we'll cheerfully have a look for ourselves at no charge to you. It's all part of the service.
Basic Lawn Care Services
Fertilizer
All living organisms (and turf is simply a gathering of millions of living organisms) need food to survive. Just as with people, the quality of the food taken makes a huge difference on the overall health of the plant. A rough analogy for comparison purposes is subsisting on burgers and fries rather than healthy, wholesome meals.
"Fertilizer is fertilizer is fertilizer . . . ." That is the common perception. And it's wrong!!
The quality of the fertilizer applied to the lawn can make a great difference in the outcome. Indeed, a low quality fertilizer can in fact increase your lawn's susceptibility to attack by some types of fungus, particularly Necrotic Ring Spot for which there is no cure.
The best fertilizers release their nutrients only as they are required by the turf grass
Before preparing the quote we have a look at your property and try to determine what services, in our opinion, your lawn would best benefit from. Here is a sample of the analysis a copy of which is left at your door for your information.
When we have determined the best method of proceeding with your lawn, we put together and leave with you an itemized quote. Note that the quote very often includes a promotional discount near the bottom which allows for a significant discount if paid by the given date
Included with the quote is an attachment listing the pricing of our various standard packages as well as that of many of our optional services for your property.
Finally, should you decide to accept our quote (perhaps with your changes), we schedule the services and issue an invoice as follows:
Lawn Recovery
Lawns are amazingly resilient. Many, apparently hopeless situations can be reversed quite quickly and effectively with proper fertilization, weed control, watering and cutting. But occasionally, more is needed. Here we discuss some of the ways a haggard lawn can be given new life.
The first part of your home that friends see when visiting is your lawn. An ugly lawn sets the stage and gives the impression of a "lazy", "sloppy", "uncaring" owner. A beautiful lawn is a BADGE OF HONOUR.
Lawns are amazingly resilient and can be saved. That's where our "Lawn Recovery" comes into play.
Seeding
|
Seeding is an economical alternative to sod. While sod provides an "instant" lawn, a seeded lawn needs time to grow and mature. Typically, a minimum of one year is needed. However, once fully mature, a seeded lawn is often superior to one that was sodded. Tender Shoots employs several different processes, depending on the specific application. Hydroseeding, Slit Seeding, Verticut Seeding and, of course Conventional Seeding, all have their distinct advantages and disadvantages. The most advanced seeding method (not appropriate on steep slopes) isTender Shoots ' Black Magic™. Although Sodding is somewhat more expensive, it may be the solution for you. |
 |
Hydroseeding
 |
In hydroseeding, the grass seed (other seeds such as wildflower may also be used if desired) is mixed with a high-phosphorous fertilizer, a special paper mulch and a tackifier. The whole is blended into a slurry and power-sprayed on to the soil. The advantage is that the slurry helps to hold the seed and to protect it from the elements. Hydroseeding is ideal where soil erosion may present a problem or on bare soil. It is not usually a practical method for residential lawns or for overseeding. |
Total Vegetation Eradication
It is usually best to start on a fresh base when seeding. Although broadleaf weeds can be controlled with "organic" herbicide applications, wild field grasses are much more difficult to eradicate since approved selective herbicides no longer exist that will be effective on grasses.
Vegetation eradication does NOT sterilize the soil so un-germinated seeds will sprout normally. For that reason, if it is desired to keep the area vegetation-free, periodic applications are required.
Except in very extreme circumstances, Tender Shoots does NOT apply any product that may sterilize the soil. It is our opinion that such practices are not environmentally sound and we strongly urge homeowners to consider all other options.