Water One More Time

Cool, brisk days and chilly nights are indicators that winter is fast approaching and irrigation systems need to be shut down.  But a dormant irrigation system doesn’t mean your watering is complete. 

As fall merges into winter, a deep watering on your new plants or existing evergreens will help alleviate any moisture stress they may experience during winter.

What needs to be flagged?

• Flag all irrigation heads and valve boxes.
• Flag the invisible dog fence approximately every 3 feet.
• Flag any other obstacles in the lawn (accent lights, sewers, etc)

BEFORE WE ARRIVE:

1. Obstacles such as irrigation heads, landscape lighting, gnomes and underground dog fences must be flagged.
2. Water your lawn thoroughly so it has a good moisture content and can be deeply aerated.

Our St. Louis Irrigation Inspection Service includes a skilled technican who will:

• Check all of the heads to make sure they are functioning properly 
• Activate each zone ensuring proper water coverage & reducing waste
• Set the times to be appropriate for the heat of the summer season 
• Identify any old parts, malfunctioning pieces or repairs needed 

In addition, our technicians are trained to offer smart water usage recommendations including water smart controllers, rain sensors and more! 

Your lawn, flowers, trees and shrubs are in a heat advisory. Please be alert to the following warning signs of drought and adjust your watering as needed.

• foot prints that stay
• wilted and rolled leaves
• discoloration
• soil feels dry to the touch

As soon as the summer heat wave is over you're going to start seeing signs and hearing St. Louis lawncare companies talking about fall lawn renovations.  How do you know what is best for your lawn?  Here are a couple tips on how to compare and choose a St. Louis lawn renovation company for your property. 

AERATION

One very important factor to consider when pricing out your lawn renovation is how many passes are being done during the aeration. At the minimum a double pass is recommended to get the most value out of your investment. A double pass means the aerator will do a checker-board pattern of the lawn, completing one entire pass of the lawn in one direction, and then a second pass perpendicular to the first past.

With the clay soils in St. Louis, anything less than two passes is almost inconsequential. For new construction or severely compacted lawns, Dowco typically recommends going over the property multiple times.

OVER-SEEDING

Comparing the amount and type of seed that the contractor is using is another way to compare your quotes. Ask for the lawn care contractor to tell you how many pounds of seed they plan to use. 

According to the label on seed bags, they recommend 3-7 pounds per thousand square feet depending on the current condition of the lawn.  An established lawn may only need 3 pounds, but bare dirt would require 7 pounds or more.

With less than a week to go, our maintenance teams are ready to lend a helping hand for party cleanup. We can prune, weed, and replant! Call us now to get on our schedule for a quick spruce before the neighbors and in-laws arrive!  

Take a look at our hottest summer upgrades!

Now is a great time to design and install affordable solutions to beautify your property - landscape upgrades you can enjoy for the rest of the summer and fall season! 

Landscape Edging 

Keep your flower beds well maintained - and your fresh new mulch in place - with landscape edging. We'll meet with you to select the best option for your yard, with options of materials like brick, stone, or aluminum. 

One of our client's favorites seems to be the Bella Borderstone Edging (shown in a project of ours above) because of it's affordability and diversity. The small shape gives us unlimited design flexibility to border patios, driveways, sidewalks or beds. It comes in 4 different colors: charcoal, buff, red, and chocolate. 

Bubbling Boulders 

The soft splash of a fountain brings life and motion to your backyard. It attracts more birds and wildlife than still water alone, and its soothing soundtrack transforms your space into a peaceful retreat. 

Getting your own backyard fountain installed by Dowco is simple. We'll meet with you and help you select your own custom color, shape and boulder size. 

Summer Walls, Patios, & Pavers

Whether you're looking to add an outdoor fire pit, replace a patio, or design a brand new walkway to the backyard, we have what you need to get the job done. 

Also, consider replacing your failing or old retaining wall this year. While total wall collapses are rare, tilting out or leaning is very common in poorly built structures. Sometimes it can be remedied by rebuilding or correcting the cause of the failure. Othertimes, we recommend starting fresh with new material. 

FAQ: If it rains do I still need to water my plants? 

It depends. Sometimes the rainfall is enough to water your plants, but the best way to know is to feel the soil. However, during hot summer months and early fall, natural rainfall is not enough. Often, rain received during these periods produces mostly runoff and contributes very little to your plant's water requirements.

To determine if your plants need water, we recommend gently digging around the root zone with your fingers, 2-3” for small plants and 6-8” for larger plants and trees. If the soil feels dry to the touch, water is needed. If the soil feels moist, you don't need to water.

Fungicide applications start this week for all clients that have pre-approved this service. The conditions are now prime for disease so we suggest requesting a quote to prevent & treat brown spots this summer. 

Next week we'll start treating for nutsedge in lawns. The product works on contact with nutsedge that is visible (not blanket sprayed). >>Learn more

A Warm Welcome to Our Newest Team Member, Bob Paulson!

We're excited to onboard a new production manager this month! You'll see Bob out and about checking on the quality of our work, teaching and training our crews, and providing horticultural knowledge to our team and to you. Here's a bit about him: