Chicago Turf Care – Residential Lawn Maintenance Services

Weekly Mowing

This program provides the basic needs of your Chicago property and forms the heart of any maintenance plan. Services are performed on a weekly basis and include: Mowing and trimming of all lawn areas; removal of all grass clippings when seasonally appropriate and power blowing of all hard surfaces. There may be a few times a year in hot, dry weather when the grass will not need cutting. Our experience has been that cutting at these times will damage the grass therefore, it is best not to cut. The monthly charge remains the same as our pricing has accounted for this matter. There will be an extra charge when we have to pick up branches, etc. after a storm and for removing excess leaves during the grass cutting months of April – October.

Estate Program

This program provides a comprehensive weekly lawn maintenance program that in addition to our excellent weekly mowing service incorporates a professional assessment of the requirements of your property and provides the finest maintenance care accordingly. Weekly Weeding, Trimming, Edging and Cultivating service is included in this program as appropriate. Time is spent on the details which enhance your surroundings.

Turf Fertilization

This is a turf fertilization program customized for your lawn’s specific needs. We use only quality slow-release granular fertilizer with a main emphasis on proper root growth and the development of a healthy lawn. This, along with other practices, will make your lawn greener and less susceptible to damage by disease and insects. For an excellent program these applications are recommended (chemical composition can vary based on conditions, organic fertilization is also available):

(April / May)
Fert 1 – Spring with Crabgrass Control: 22-0-6. This provides initial feeding for a vigorous, healthy lawn. It also contains pre-emergent weed control to stop crabgrass germination.
(May/ June)
Fert 2 – Summer: 25-5-12. This service maintains the health of your lawn during the summer months.
(August / September)
Fert 3 – Fall: 25-5-12. This service maintains the health of your lawn as fall begins.
(October / November)
Fert 4 - Late Fall: 25-5-12. Assures a healthy root system, something the large “tank truck” companies often ignore.
(June / July)
Fert with Grub Control: 14-0-14. This is an alternative to our normal summer or fall fertilization which adds grub control to the service as either a preventative step or a remedy.

Turf Weed Control

Every lawn will eventually turn into a weed infested mess without the proper weed control. Therefore, both pre-emergent and post-emergent weed controls should be incorporated into your lawn care program. These herbicides, when applied properly and at the correct times of year, can control crabgrass, dandelions and other unsightly weeds. To greatly reduce or eliminate weeds from your lawn, the following two (2) step program is recommended:

(May / June)
Weed Control 1 – Spring Broadleaf: Timely application will control weeds such as dandelion in turf areas.
(July / August)
Weed Control 2 – Fall Broadleaf: This application can greatly reduce broadleaf weed problems for the following season and recommended for that exceptional weed-free lawn.

(May, August, September)
Core Aeration

The health of any lawn is dependent on its ability to take in water and air. Unfortunately, our native soils have a high clay content which when compacted restricts this exchange of air and water. Core aeration is the process by which finger-sized plugs are taken from the soil and left on top of the turf. This leaves many small holes in the ground that allow air, water and nutrients to reach roots more readily. It is also the most effective remedy for the prevention and cure of brown spot (fusarium, etc.) diseases. For an effective program, perform core aeration three (3) times each year – spring, summer and fall. It is the responsibility of the client to mark all wiring related to decorative landscape lighting and dog fences. Milieu Design is not responsible for any damage to non-utility wiring that is not marked by the client.

Grub Control

Grubs feed on the roots of turf as they mature. The damage can quickly become extensive, often requiring costly renovation. Our preventative measures keep these pests in check and guarantees no costly bills due to the repair of grub damage. An excellent preventative program performs two (2) grub control applications, one in May and a second in August (timing may vary).