What makes The Mastin Company different than other companies for my property maintenance?

We understand and specialize in total property maintenance and hardscape construction. We have built a team of highly skilled professionals in all facets of property maintenance. Whether your needs are landscape design & installation, turf and bed maintenance, irrigation installation and service, or hardscape construction, The Mastin Company is the right choice for you. Our goal is to help our clients develop the vision for their property or special project. Our owner, Ron Mastin, is very skilled in asking clients the right questions in order to capture the important details for scope development, budgeting and timelines. Once Ron captures the scope of the project, the planning begins with the end in mind. So, in short, scope development, planning, and finishing strong are STRENGTHS of The Mastin Company. Please take a moment and check out our testimonial page.

Can I order services online?

Absolutely! Go to our online Service Request Form and tell us what you want or need. We look forward to hearing from you!

I have a lot of weeds in my lawn. Is there any hope turning my lawn around?

Yes. The most important thing is to identify if the weeds are broadleaf weeds or grassy weeds. Then you can start the process of restoring your lawn using proper time-specific herbicides. Results may vary from 1-2 months up to a full year, but it can be done. The most important thing to understand is there is no magic in weed control. You have to stay consistent and commit to an annual program. A couple of treatments is not going to give you the results you desire. The Mastin Company offers a six treatment plan along with aeration and over-seeding with proven results.

My lawn is turning brown. What should I do?

Many things can cause a lawn to turn brown. Some of the common factors are lack of nutrients, lack of or too much water, fungus or insect problems. It is best to have a trained professional look at your lawn to determine the cause.

Mowing with dull blades will shred the grass and cause the grass foliage to turn brown and potentially cause a fungus. Soil density plays a huge part in healthy lawns. Many times when temperature rises, the lawn will brown due to shallow soil. Sometimes you just cannot get enough water down with a garden hose.. In those cases, we suggest installing an irrigation system. Call The Mastin Company and we will give you a free consultation concerning your lawn and treatment.

My lawn gets a lot of shade. Is there any way to have a thicker lawn?

Fully shaded lawns are very hard to thicken. However, there are some grass types that tend to do better in this environment. Creeping Red Fescue, Fine Fescue and some Bluegrass varieties are best to choose when over-seeding or renovating your lawn. Giving your lawn a good soil base, proper nutrients and an annual over-seeding in the fall will help to establish a thicker lawn. Thinning out the shade canopy in your trees will help more than anything.

How do you perform the cleaning and sealing of an aggregate surface?

We offer several different options depending on your needs. First and most important is how to correctly clean the aggregate surface. The Mastin Company uses a surface washer that runs at approx 4000 psi with a four gallon pump. We rinse the remaining dirt and algae off with a commercial grade pressure washer. Sealing a driveway is the same concept as painting wood. You do not want to paint a dirty surface.

Pure Acrylic Sealers:
These are the most common sealers used on exposed aggregate in our area. They offer good protection, color enhancement, and a high gloss finish. As a general rule, acrylics need to be maintained every 24-36 months.

Penetrating Sealers:
These sealers offer the newest technology and protection for your concrete. Penetrating sealers work 100% below the surface of the concrete to seal and protect. They are almost always the best choice for regular broom finished concrete, but work just as well on exposed aggregate. Penetrating sealers do not change the look, color or traction of the concrete like acrylics do. Depending on the sealer you choose, life will range from 3-7 years.

Is there a right or wrong method of mowing a lawn?

Yes. If your lawn mower wheels pass over the same area in the same direction each time you mow, ruts will form over time. Each time you mow, alternate the direction to reduce this problem. This method also prevents the lawn mower blade beating the grass blades in the same direction during each mowing. Remember, different grass types require different mowing heights as well. We typically average around 3 ¾" in cutting height for fescue lawns.

I take care of my yard myself, but my lawn still seems to struggle?

Lawn care has more components than you might think, at first glance. For starters, you need to begin with the right type of grass for your yard. Then you need to irrigate, weed, fertilize and mow properly. In the fall, leaves need to be picked up too. Lawns that are discolored, slow-growing, or have invading weeds or other pest problems may not be properly fertilized. Fertilizer is important for healthy plant growth and development. Because many of the required nutrients for healthy turf grass are found naturally in the soil, fertilization practices focus on the supply of three primary nutrients – nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Nitrogen is not the only nutrient that turf grass needs on a regular basis. Lawns may occasionally be deficient in iron, and fertilizers containing iron may be supplemented. As nitrogen is applied, both root and shoot growth increases. If too much nitrogen is applied too frequently, shoots will continue to grow, yet root growth will slow, leaving the turf vulnerable to problems.

How can I achieve the same pressure and volume in all of my sprinkler heads & eliminate dry spots in the turf?

The Mastin Company designs an irrigation system to the water pressure and volume present at the main meter. You must know how much water pressure both (Static and Dynamic) and gallons per minute are available prior to designing an irrigation system. The Mastin Company designs irrigation systems to ensure your system will provide head to head coverage to avoid dry spots in the turf. The Mastin Company provides a spring startup and fall shut down of irrigation systems to ensure your system is maintained.

What will aeration do for my lawn?

As lawns age or sustain heavy use from play, sports activities, pets, and traffic, soil compaction will occur. Compaction greatly reduces the pore space within the soil that would normally hold air. Roots require oxygen to grow and absorb nutrients and water. Compaction has a negative impact on nutrient uptake and water infiltration, in addition to being a physical barrier to root growth. This results in poor top growth and lawn deterioration.
Core aeration can benefit your lawn by:
• Increasing the activity of soil microorganisms that decompose thatch.
• Increasing water, nutrient and oxygen movement into the soil.
• improving rooting development
• Enhancing infiltration of rainfall or irrigation.
• Helping prevent fertilizer and pesticide run-off in overly compacted areas.

When should I aerate & overseed?

The Mastin Company recommends that the best time to aerate in the Middle Tennessee climate is September through mid November. Aerating is best in the fall. Typically we are going from a dry soil base to a moist soil in the fall. We recommend over-seeding with a starter fertilizer immediately after aeration. Over-seeding in the spring will only produce approx 35% yield. The root system will not get deep enough to sustain itself through the summer, thus the reason, we suggest aerating and over-seeding in the fall.

What is thatch?

Thatch is the layer of living and dead stems, roots, stolons, and rhizomes between the green blades of grass and the soil surface. A thin layer of thatch (less than ½' thick) can be beneficial to the lawn because it helps to limit weed germination, reduce water evaporation, and protect from frost damage. However, thick thatch layers can prevent water, air, and nutrients from penetrating to the soil, causing reduced root growth and increased potential for drought stress. Thick thatch also favors fungal growth and can harbor insect pests.

Should I fertilize my roses?

All roses are greedy feeders and like a lot of fertilizer. It should be given first when the leaves start to break out and again after the first flush of flowers is over. Roses in sandy soil may need fertilizer more often because of their fast draining soil. A slow-release fertilizer can be used to feed roses throughout the season.

My rose has black spots on the leaves, what can I do?

Black spot is a plant disease caused by fungus spores that are spread through water drops. The drops land on the top of the leaves and look like circular black spots with irregular edges. The infected leaves will finally turn yellow and drop off. If the disease is severe all of the leaves will fall off and the plant will have to replenish a new set of leaves. The quality of the bloom will suffer and the plant will weaken. Black spot cannot be cured but it can be controlled. It is best controlled by spraying with dormant oil in the winter, then again in the spring or summer using systemic fungicides.

Can you re-stain my deck & fence?

Only if you know what type of stain you originally put on it? Otherwise, the stain will have to be stripped off and brightened before applying stain. We do not use a film forming stain. Most stains applied to decks are film form, which films around the wood. Once the wood starts swelling and contracting the stain will crack and start the peeling process. We have a proven process in restoring decks and fences that is guaranteed not to peel or flake. Here is our process:

Our proven deck cleaning, staining, and sealing process will restore your old weathered wood to beautiful like new condition. We approach your wood restoration project with a customized multiple step and multiple day prep and application process. Preparation and cleaning is the most important step in any fence restoration or deck restoration project. Unfortunately, this is the step where many contractors elect to cut corners. Initially, the results may look comparable, but after a short time, it will become evident as mold begins to return or the stain begins to fail. Even the best deck or fence stain is only as good as the surface it is applied to.

The penetrating oil stains we use are professional grade products that penetrate deep into the wood and leave no film on the surface to peel, flake or wear away. Penetrating oils produce a deep rich color and show the natural grain and texture of the wood. They offer excellent UV, water and mildew protection. These stains offer a long life and very easy maintenance. These stains require a simple maintenance coat every 24-36 months

Does a separate irrigation meter pay for itself?

Yes, it most definitely does. If your water provider is Gallatin, Hendersonville or Whitehouse, you probably know how expensive the sewer portion of your water bill is. The separate meter allows you to irrigate your turf without paying the sewer portion. Irrigating your turf from June through September, it would only take three years to pay off the separate meter.