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.

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.

The leaves have started changing color and the temperatures are cooling and it’s time to think about shutting down your irrigation system and preparing it for the cold winter months ahead.

Dowco recommends having your system shut down by the first week of November so that your system is winterized before the overnight temperatures get below 32° and we get a hard freeze.

At Dowco, we often get lots of questions regarding winter watering tips. During a normal mid-November, you would still have plenty of time to plan and prepare but a cold spell appears to be settling in for the remainder of the month so, ACT FAST.

The weather forecast for the end of November 2014 looks bitterly cold with temperatures tracking as much as 20 degrees below normal! It appears we may get an early dose of old man winter.

We recently wrote on a topic How to Save Water with Your Irrigation System and people asked for more ideas! So we listened! Sometimes it's not the irrigation system that has a problem and there are simpler and more cost effective ways to solve a common issue. An efficient irrigation system is a huge key to success in St. Louis landscapes.

Here are 7 basic fixes that you can do with your landscaping to conserve water from your irrigation system and save money.