As of September 23rd, it is officially Autumn! With the seasons changing, there are a few outdoor to-do items that should be completed within the next month.
Decorate your outdoor space by planting fall annuals.
Common plants that will dress up your front door, patio, or balcony are Strawflower, Mums, & Pansies.
Don't stop there! Check out this link for more information on Fall Container Gardening Ideas. We listed 29 plant options that thrive in St. Louis and are easy to incorporate into your outdoor space as well as container options.
Plant and nurture new trees, shrubs and bulbs.
Water in new or relocated plantings regularly. This includes any trees and shrubs that have been planted in the last year as well as grass seed. Don’t rely on the irrigation system or Mother Nature. Observe you new plants or transplants daily for signs of wilting.
September - November is the best time to plant trees and shrubs. Transplant (relocate) deciduous trees after their leaves have dropped. Bulbs must be planted in the fall for them to develop over winter and pop up in the spring.
You can find more ideas on Fall Plantings for a Beautiful Spring Landscape here!
Prepare trees & shrubs for success.
Before the deciduous plants lose their leaves is a great time to see dead limbs and remove them with ease. It's much harder to do when the leaves drop, so the timing is critical. Stake leaning or immature trees if needed. You won’t want to lose them to a winter storm.
Fertilizing your prized trees and shrubs provides many benefits such as increased resistance to disease, increased ability to ward off insects, and improved flowering or growth. In October/November, Dowco’s technicians administer a liquid fertilizer directly into the roots so that it can be easily absorbed and put to work immediately to increase root health. 
Winterize your irrigation system.
Dowco recommends having your system shut down by November so that your system is winterized before the overnight temperatures get below 32° and we get a hard freeze.
It's a tricky balance so be mindful of watering new seeds and annuals, but also the need to shut down before the first hard freeze. Freeze damage to your system can cause pipes to burst and heads & valves to break. Repairs to the system can be expensive depending on how many areas of the system were damaged and if the backflow device is damaged.
Help your gardening beds get ready for the cold weather.
Apply an extra layer of mulch around plants that are sensitive to cold weather or young. This will keep them insulated throughout the winter. Re-establish the shovel edge around the beds. The turf side should be a 90° angle and a more rounded 45° bed angle.
Keep the leaves & weeds cleaned out of the beds and prepare to cut back the ornamental grasses. Typically we cut back the large ornamental grasses in the fall and leave the smaller ones to add texture to the landscape during the bleak, winter months.
Continue to maintain your lawn.
Grass should still be cut while it's growing. Keep your lawn clear of leaves by blowing them into the woods or having them vacuumed.
Apply a high nitrogen fertilizer to enhance root growth. This will build a strong defense system for your lawn as it heads into the cold winter season.
It's not too late to aerate and overseed your lawn if you haven't already done so. Dowco guarantees seed germination when planted by October 10th. If you do apply grass seed, do not use any weed control or rake your leaves until the seedlings are well established. 
Keep in Mind...
As you are dabbling in your yard, remember to review and evaluate what worked in your landscaping this year. Jot down some notes about the performance of your spring annuals including their location and size. Take lots of photos so when spring comes you have something to reflect on!
We'd love the opportunity to show you what we're all about and help you check a few of these items off your list. If you're ready to learn more about how your property can benefit from Dowco, click here to request a quote or give us a call at (636) 532-9192.
Written by:
Kelly Dowell
Business Developer
Dowco Enterprises Inc.
Fun Fact: the average first frost in St. Louis happens between 10/15 - 10/20.
Dowco is the premier provider of lawn care and landscape maintenance services. We are committed to improving the quality of your life so that you can spend time doing the things you want to do! Our full service menu includes weekly maintenance of your property, plant health visits, and modern site enhancements.
