Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions & answers about our lawn and irrigation services


About Us

About Our Seeding Service

  • What Can I Expect From My Seeding Service?

    This service is designed to thicken sparse or thin areas by applying new seed into your lawn.  The right blend of grass seed has been selected for your lawn’s special conditions.  If your lawn has been aerated in conjunction with seeding, please leave these beneficial cores on your lawn; they will disperse back into the lawn after a few rainfalls.  Within 7 to 21 days, with proper conditions, new seedlings will emerge.  REMEMBER-these plants are very tender and must be treated with extra care.  Keep traffic off seeded areas to ensure healthy seedling growth.

  • How Do I Water My Seed?

    ESTABLISHMENT: You must irrigate enough to keep the seed bed constantly moist (usually 3 times: 6 am, 10 am, and 2 pm, light watering).  Sufficient moisture is vital to the survival of the seeds and seedlings.  Once the seed has taken in water, the physiological processes begin.  If the seed is allowed to dry out it will die.  If the new seedlings dry out they will wither and die.  Depending upon soil conditions, wind conditions, and amount of sunlight, this may require a light watering 2 to 4 times each day.  After 3 to 5 weeks of ideal conditions the frequency of watering can be cut back to 1 time per day, with 1/3” to 1/2” penetration, morning is best.  Overwatering, where stagnant puddles of water are allowed to form, prior to germination can cause the seed to rot.

  • How Do I Provide Continued Care?

    For continued growth, lawns perform best with an inch of water a week, delivered by 2-3 applications.  We recommend an early morning watering. To determine the length of time to leave your system turned on or to set your sprinklers in one place, set a can or a cup under the main pattern of the spray and time it from the start until it has collected 1/3 to 1/2 inch of water. 

    The ideal time to water is early morning, when the least amount of moisture will be lost to evaporation.  If this is not possible, the next best choice is to water during the day.  If it is absolutely impossible to water at either of these times, watering in the evening is better than no water at all.  However, note that evening irrigation can often encourage disease and fungi to develop. 

  • What Are The Best Mowing Practices?

    Once the seedlings have grown to height of 3 to 4 inches, they can be mowed for the first time.  Your mower should be in good condition, and the mower blade, newly sharpened .  Remember that we are dealing with a very young and tender plant with a new, root system.  A mower in poor condition can uproot the seedling, or damage the tender grass blade.  DO NOT mow when the soil is moist.  Your footprints and mower wheels will sink into the soil and you could damage or uproot the seedlings.  Once conditions are right for mowing, cut the grass at a height which you plan to keep it at.  Recommended mowing height is 2 1/2 to 3 inches

    Mowing frequency should be governed by the lawn’s growth.  Mow frequently enough as not to remove more than 1/3 of the grass blade at a time.  Cutting too short or cutting off too much of the grass plant at one time may shock the grass plant and retard its thickening for 6 to 8 weeks, and cause your lawn to look yellow or even brown.  Do not bag clippings, unless they will result in clumps and wind rows on your lawn.
  • Can I Fertilize With My Seed?

    Don’t starve your new seedlings, they need nourishment to grow and thicken.  Proper amounts of fertilizer are necessary for the healthy establishment of seedlings’ new root systems and upper plant growth.  Keep your lawn on a balanced fertilization program for continued healthy growth. Green Oasis offers a variety of lawn care services to fit your lawn’s needs.
  • Can I Apply Weed Control After Seeding?

    Pre-emergent crabgrass control cannot be used at this time.  It prevents the germination of grassy type weeds; however it also prevents the germination of desirable turfgrass seedlings.  It cannot distinguish the difference between these two types of seeds.  Broadleaf weed control should not be used until after the third mowing.  Before weeds can be controlled every effort must be made to establish the new seedlings to their full potential.
  • What Types Of Grass Seed Do You Use?

    We utilize many different varieties of Kentucky Bluegrass, Fescues, and Perennial Ryegrass.  These varieties are combined to give the best results for the specific conditions of the area seeded.  The seeds are certified at 85-90% germination.
  • What Will It Take To Get Optimal Results?

    The process we utilized to seed your lawn is proven and has been done correctly.  The success of this seeding job is entirely up to you!  Water, water, water-keep the seedbed constantly moist, not saturated, all day long for 6 weeks.  Weeds will germinate along with the turfgrass—this is normal.  Weeding can be done over time with weed controls or hand pulling.  This is a process that takes many steps.  In the end, with proper maintenance, you will be able to enjoy a thick healthy turf germinated and tailored to the growing conditions of your property.  Overseeding is a tool to be utilized as needed for areas that are thin, diseased, or stressed.  New seed varieties are being engineered for drought and disease resistance, color quality, and many other desirable traits.  Keep building your turf with top quality seed and seeding practices, as it is needed—in patches, areas, or entire lawns.
  • How Long Before I Can Expect Results?

    A healthy lush turf from seed is not accomplished in a few weeks or months.  It normally takes at least one full year to fully establish, and another good growing season to thicken to full potential.

About Our Lawn Services

  • Is my service guaranteed?

    Yes, all of our services are guaranteed. 

  • How do I know when my yard will be serviced?

    You will receive an email notifying you the day before service as well as a text option on your cell phone.

  • How long until kids and pets can be on the grass?

    Typically, it takes 2-3 hours for our applications to dry depending on weather conditions.

  • How long between each application?

    Applications are typically every 4-6 weeks.

  • Is there anything I need to do before my first service?

    Please make sure to keep any locked gates unlocked and all pets inside as well as pick up any kids' toys from the yard.

  • Do I need to be home for my first service?

    You do not need to be present during the service, just ensure our technicians have access to the yard or any other parts of the property needed to complete the service.

  • How do I pay my bill?

    • You can prepay for services and save up to 7%
    • Pay online through our customer portal
    • Autopay after services with your billing method saved to your account
    • Pay as you go with each service
    • Send your payment through the mail
    • Stop into any of our offices, Eau Claire and River Falls and pay in person
  • How long will my service continue?

    Our service continues year to year unless you contact us to cancel your service or request a non-continuous service.

  • Are the products you use safe?

    Our products exceed the EPA criteria for health, safety, and environmental standards. Product safety is our top priority with every service we offer. We use a combination of dry granular and liquid materials applied by licensed applicators on the yard depending on the time of year and what is best for your lawn.

  • What happens if I have multiple services on my program?

    It is very important to put products on at the correct time for the best result possible. If a lawn program is purchased and pest control, shrub, and tree, or any insect control is also purchased, weather and season pending, the services could be done on the same day. If you are set up with autopay, the services will be billed on the same day.

  • How do I know my lawn has been serviced?

    The technician will leave a placard flag in your yard.

  • When should I expect to see results?

    You should see improvements after each application, but it does take a complete season to see a weed-free lawn.

  • Should I do any watering before or after applications?

    Our products are made for water so watering beforehand is okay, but we would recommend not watering 2-3 hours after the application so the product has a chance to dry. If you have a large amount or a very invasive weed, it is recommended to leave the application for 24 hours before you water, so the product has enough time to soak into the targeted areas.

  • When should I mow, before or after applications?

    You do not have to mow beforehand but we want the weed control to contact as long as possible so it’s ideal to wait at least 24 hours after an application to mow. Do not mow too short as the fertilizer can burn grass that has been cut too short. We recommend you cut less than ⅓ of the grass blade in one mow.

  • What if I don’t see any of the weeds dying after an application?

    It typically takes 7-10 days for the weed control to do its job. Weather is a factor as well; good sunlight and temperature are very important for the weed control to work.

  • How do I know if my lawn is heat stressed?

    You can identify heat stress in your lawn pretty easily. Typically heat stress will start in blotches; often times following sidewalks, driveways and other moisture drawing surfaces. Certain types of grass are also more susceptible to dormancy. Eventually, the entire lawn will start turning brown and entering a dormant state- much different than the small patches of dead lawn you might find if you have grubs or dog spots. You can also look back at weather reports. Grass typically needs around 1.5 to 2 inches of water per week, so if rain hasn't been in the forecast and your irrigation system isn't up and running there's a very good chance your lawn is under watered.
  • Will rain affect my application?

    Our products are designed for water. The fertilizer will stay on the yard regardless of watering or rain. The weed control, on the other hand, may be affected. If you get heavy rain after a weed control application, keep an eye on your weeds and if you don’t see them dying off after 7-10 days, give us a call and with our Green Oasis Promise Guarantee, we will come out and reapply for no charge.

  • How can I fix heat stress?

     

    Start with heavy, consistent watering. Aim for around that 1.5 to 2 inches of water per week. It's important to water first thing in the morning before it gets hot or else a lot of the water will end up evaporating in the heat, while watering too late in the evening can put your lawn at risk for different diseases. Be mindful of sloped areas or areas with more sun as they will require more water.

     

    Next you will want to keep up with weed control and fertilization. Grass may not do well in heat, but weeds do! If your grass is in a dormant state, weeds will not have to compete for nutrients and will fill in your lawn. Fertilizer also helps bolster the lawn so that it's better able to survive harsh conditions, like heat. A granular option will only feed the lawn as it gets watered so that there's no risk of burning or wasting the application if the grass is dormant.

     

    You will also want to keep up with your aerations- this process is recommended yearly for a reason! It reduces soil compaction and deepens the root systems so that your grass can absorb water and nutrients better. This process is typically done in the spring or fall for a full season of benefits.

     

    Another preventative measure is to leave your grass longer. It's tempting to cut it short for a nice, clean look but longer grass actually survives the heat better. If you raise your mowing height by an inch or two it will greatly benefit your grass.

    These tips work best in combination with one another to help your lawn with heat stress. If you are noticing other issues, like thin or bare patches, you will want to check out other programs that target those problems.

About Our Irrigation Services

  • Can I choose what time my service will be performed?

    We allow all customers to specify an “AM” or “PM” appointment. We do our best to be there within that time frame, but due to unseen circumstances, we cannot always make it at a specific time.

  • Do I need to be home while an irrigation service is being performed?

    You will not need to be home as long as we have access to your system (including the controller).

    During Spring start-ups we will need the water turned on if possible and with lake systems, we may need access to the electrical panel. If the power is off, we will stop by and take care of it even if you’re not able to be there!


    Fall blow-outs for your system will be similar, but instead of turning on the water, you need to make sure the water is off. The only situation this will not apply to is during more in-depth system repairs. We may need you home to help locate areas of concern, approve certain repairs, system questions, etc.

  • Can I choose a date for my startup, blowout, or repair?

    We aim to be as flexible as possible with our customers. In order to make our services cost effective for everyone, we schedule services based on location. We can sometimes reschedule but make no guarantees for a specific date. Due to re-routing expenses and time involved; we may charge a reschedule fee for appointments that need to be changed.

  • My scheduled service date doesn’t work for me, what do I do?

    Contact us! We try to work with all our customers to find a date that works best for them. However, if you chose to cancel your scheduled service date, we reserve the right to charge a rescheduling fee. In addition, we cannot guarantee when we will be able to make it back to perform the service. Feel free to reach out to us at info@greenoasis.co or call/text 715-832-0800.

  • How will I be notified of my scheduled service?

    Once a date is scheduled, we will send you an email/text to notify you of your scheduled date. Any further communication including time changes, date changes, or day of notifications we will use text, email, and phone calls.

  • What should I do if my system isn’t working properly?

    Contact us! We specialize in irrigation repair and have a knowledgeable team of technicians with years of experience. We will be able to pin-point the issue and determine the necessary repairs.

    If you know ahead of time your system isn’t functioning (for example before your spring start up service) please give us a heads up so we can allocate additional time to make the necessary repairs. Please Note: Repairs done during a routine maintenance service will have an additional labor + parts charge.

  • I want to talk with the technician before they do any service. How should I go about that?

    During our normal maintenance services, our techs try to complete jobs as quickly and efficiently as possible. If you would like to go over something with them just give us a heads up and they will be happy to connect with you while there.

  • How do I receive my bill if I haven’t prepaid?

    If you choose not to prepay, all bills will be sent through email once the job is complete. You will also receive a statement at the end of each month via email or a physical letter, indicating what you owe.

  • Is it worth having a full irrigation maintenance program (spring start up, mid-season check, fall blow out) or can I choose which services I want?

    We always allow flexibility for our customers to choose which services fit best with their needs. However, we always recommend a full maintenance program because it allows us to regularly check the system and make sure everything is running smoothly.

    Spring Start-up comes before growing season even starts. This allows us to make sure your water is on and everything is functioning before the system is really needed.

    Mid Season Check allows us to check proper coverage, that the system running properly, and the controller is programmed according to industry recommended standards.

    Fall Blowout is one of the most important services as it is vital in preventing damage to your system and home. This service allows us to push the water out of your pipes so that they don’t freeze during the cold winter months.

    In addition, we can do minor repairs such as adjusting or replacing heads that may break down or get damaged later in the season.

  • What should I do if my street or road is under construction?

    If you are aware that your road will be under construction, please give us a notice ahead of time. This way we will be able to prepare your irrigation system for any potential damage and make sure things are still running smoothly.