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Health & Fitness

October Outdoor To-Do List

Fall is officially here! Here is a list of 15 things to remember this month:

  • Plant fall annuals. Common plants that perform well in our area are Strawflower, Mums and Pansies.
  • Plant trees and shrubs and spring flowering bulbs. More ideas here.
  • Water in new trees and shrubs and seed. Don’t rely on the irrigation system or Mother Nature. Observe you new plants or transplants daily.
  • Aerate and overseed early in the month to allow the seedlings time to germinate before winter. They will continue to reach maturity in the spring.
  • Fertilize with high nitrogen fertilizer to enhance root growth which will build a strong defense as your lawn heads into the cold winter season.
  • Prune dead wood from trees & shrubs. Now is a great time because you can clearly identify unproductive limbs.
  • Re-establish shovel edge around the beds. The turf side should be a 90 degree angle and 45 degree bed angle.
  • Mulch plants that are sensitive to cold weather. This will keep them insulated throughout the winter.
  • Keep turf clear of leaves. More info here.
  • Shut down irrigation system. Be mindful of watering new seeds and annuals, but also need to shut down before the first hard freeze.
  • Keep mowing while grass is growing.
  • Transplant deciduous trees after leaves have dropped.
  • Put out fall decorations. Halloween and Thanksgiving will be here before you know it!
  • Stake leaning trees. You won’t want to lose them to a winter storm.
  • Review and evaluate what worked in your landscaping this year-mindful of the performance of annuals. Take photos so in the spring you have something to reflect on.

 

REMEMBER:  The average first frost in St. Louis is 10/15-10/20.

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