Our Mission Statement:"Dowco is the provider of top quality professional services for those who want the best"
Dowco, a member of theProfessional Landcare Network has been owned and operated from the St. Louis metropolitan area since 1978.
Refer your friends, family & neighbors and receive $20.00 off your next service for each referral who becomes a customer
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Dowco participates annually in industry-related educational and product information events including
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Is it a weed or not?
If your lawn suddenly sprouted a new look, it may just be producing seed heads. This is a natural process in the grass life cycle, which can last between 2 to 3 weeks.
» » » » » » » » » » » Ever Wonder if your Lawn is diseased?
Click below for a few tips on how to detect and prevent lawn disease. Detecting and Preventing Lawn Disease
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Edging the lawn along sidewalks and driveways gives the lawn a professionally
manicured look.
Dowco does it for you!
» » » » » » » » » » » The best weed control is a thick healthy lawn that crowds out weeds.
Dowco makes your lawn thick and healthy!
We are a "One Call Does it All" company dedicated to meeting all our costumers needs with excellent care and quality maintenance that can be expected from a full service residential and commercial lawncare and landscaping company.
Aeration is the removal of plugs of soil to allow moisture, air, and fertilizer in to the root zone. It also serves to solve the problems of compacted soil and thatch buildup. Our equipment removes plugs of topsoil and thatch. The plugs are left on the turf surface to decompose, helping to break down your thatch. Lawn aerated when tines can reach maximum penetration of 1.5-2" (Please note: the best time to seed is after fall aeration.)
Why should you aerate your lawn?
Reduces thatch
Allows moisture, air and fertilizer to the root zone
Enhances seed germination
Leaves
Autumn dropping of leaves is part of the normal life cycle of many plants. To prevent turf stress and plant disease, we recommend routinely removing or mulching leaves that have fallen. Leaves are blown into yard and mulched into minute particles, which break down and return nutrients to the soil.
This reduces the need for raking, bagging and disposing of leaves. Thick leaves must be disposed of in your woods, a compost pile or vacuumed by your municipality or by Dowco. We value your opinion, so in the fall return your leaf questionnaire telling us how you want to handle your leaves. Why should Dowco pick up your leaves?
Leaf removal gives your grass room to breathe
Prevents turf stress and disease
Enhances the landscape's appearance
Shovel Edging
Dowco will spade edge a 2-4" edge around beds and trees. This clearly defines your bed and turf line. Debris will be dumped on property if possible. If not, debris will be hauled.
Benefit:
Gives a clean, finished look to your beds!
Annual Flower Care
Dowco can tailor a care package to meet your specific needs.
Installation: Flower beds need 8 to 12 inches of good quality soil. Dowco can install new beds or reshape your existing beds. We recommend amending your soil with organic matter. Organic matter allows the soil to hold nutrients and water.
Mulch: Mulching keeps weeds down, keeps the soil warm, and keeps the soil from drying out.
Feeding: Plants need food to grow. Container plants have a limited amount of space and soil and require regular feeding.
Water: We recommend watering as soon as possible after installation. The amount of water needed will depend upon the plant variety and its location. Generally container plants will need to be watered more often than bedding plants.
Deadheading: Plants produce a bloom which will go to seed once it is finished. Deadheading is removing the faded flowers from the plant by pinching off the flower head. This will prevent the plant from setting seed too soon. The plant will spend its energy producing more flowers. Deadheading will encourage more flowers and create a longer blooming period. Let Dowco bring flowering plants to you! Call today to discuss your personalized planting schedule.
Mowing
Dowco will maintain your property weekly, beginning in March or April. Mowings are estimated per season. Grass will mowed at a height of 2 1/2 - 3 1/2". No more than a third of the grass plant is removed. Sidewalks and other obstacles will be trimmed as needed and paved areas will be blown off. We require 24 hours notice if you wish to cancel or skip a mowing.
Snow and Ice Removal
Dowco provides commercial snow and ice removal upon receiving 2-3" of snow, or when travel conditions are hazardous. Dowco will provide the best treatment for your property based upon current conditions, our private weather forecaster, and our own DTN weather satellite. Weather conditions in the St. Louis area change quickly and Dowco is ready to provide your snow and ice control.
Benefits:
Keep tenants happy
Minimize your slip and fall liability
You can get in to work
Bed Management Program
Weeds in your beds?
Dowco's Bed Management Program will minimize weeds that grow in your garden beds and tree circles. Our Technicians apply pre-emergents over the top of ornamentals and annuals to minimize the germination of weed seeds. Prior to treatment, we recommend the cleaning of all the beds and the pulling of existing weeds. Pre-emergents will not kill established plants or weeds; therefore we additionally terminate mature weeds with roundup. Our eight (8) application care schedule will reduce the grounds of volunteer weeds in parking lots, around trees, along curbs, and in sidewalk cracks.
Hands On Program: This additional program is offered in conjunction with our mowing service. Dowco technicians will hand pull weeds during our weekly mowing visit. This program targets weeds that may germinate between the bed management program visits.
Bed Cultivation: Summer mulch turning brings the darker mulch from the bottom and rotates it to the top. Helps break mulch down into a very usable biodegradable product and allows water to be absorbed into the root system of your plants. Bed edges will be re-established.
Mulching
The advantages of bark mulch are: conservation of moisture, reduction of weed growth and enhancement of the landscape's appearance.
Mulch also aids in insulating the soil from winter temperature fluctuations. These alternating periods of freezing and thawing can cause some plantings to heave out of the ground. Spring and fall are the preferred times for mulching, but we can schedule mulching at any time that is convenient for you.
Mulch your beds because:
Mulch conserves moisture for your plants
Reduces weed growth
Enhances the landscape's appearance
Tree and Shrub Program
Dowco is proud to offer our tree and shrub care Program. Our technicians routinely monitor your trees & shrubs.
Maintaining proper cultural practices along with supplying the correct plant nutrients is the objective of our program. Pest intervention is used when necessary, in an environmentally conservative manner.
Round 1 - February/March
Deep root feedings for all deficient trees and shrubs. Balanced nitrogen fertilizers are injected into the ground, out to and beyond the root line. Spring fertilization contributes vigorous shoot and stem growth, giving us leaves that are more resistant to insect and disease attack.
Round 2 - February/March This application is critical for control of scale pests. Horticultural oil is applied while these insects are embedded in their self-secreted "scale" coverings. The oil serves to deny oxygen to these creatures. Scale is most common (in the St. Louis area) on Euonymus, Pine, Lilac, Holly, Magnolia, Hawthorne and flowering cherry.
Round 3 - April Treatments will target all soft bodied caterpillars, such as tent caterpillars and sawflies. Diseases which can defoliate and discolor leaves will be monitored at this time. Fungicide treatments are available at an additional cost.
Round 4 - May/June This is the ideal time for bagworm treatment. These pests are very difficult, if not impossible to control after July. Mite damage can be reduced and the crawler stage of scale can be successfully treated.
Round 5 - August
Spider mites will be treated. They can be especially damaging to Pines, Yews, Bald cypress and Norway Spruce. Although mite feeding seldom directly kills trees, it does stress them, leaving them susceptible to other conditions.
Round 6 - September/October
Most soil does not provide optimum nutrients. Fall fertilization assures us of adequate nutrient stores and beneficial root growth.
Erosion and Drainage
Improper water flow can cause problems such as:
Standing water, seepage into basements, and erosion from runoff. Dowco uses a variety of methods to address these problems. Our technicians are skilled in the use and installation of French drains, drain pipes and drainage boxes. Call Dowco for your customized water management diversion system.
Seasonal Color
Create interest. Command attention. Make a statement!
You can express yourself in many ways, but none are better than with flowers, and who can resist their beautiful lasting blooms? Annual plants allow you to vary your designs and colors. Since there are endless varieties available you will never run out of choices to keep your property looking beautiful.
Container Gardens
Growing flowers in containers is the perfect way to enhance your surroundings. Perhaps you want to welcome clients to your entrance or accentuate an employee patio area with colorful pots of annuals. Window boxes and hanging baskets cascading in blooms can be enjoyed from inside and outside. Portable containers allow you to show peak blooms in your most visible spots. Container plantings can accentuate an area for a special occasion.
We can update your landscape with potted annuals and give it a new look. Dowco has a wide variety of ways to create color and visual appeal. We can even create the beauty of a garden in the smallest of spaces by using a striking and different container.
Annuals in mass plantings
Large plantings of annuals offer the brightest blast of color. Instantly draw attention to your property with a splash of annuals. Focus interest on your favorite work of art, collectible or even commercial signs with annuals. Our mass plantings will provide color and visual appeal all season long. We will create an arrangement that enhances the design of your bed and choose sizes and colors that complement your landscape.
Trimming and Pruning
The size and shape of Trees and Shrubs can be maintained by proper trimming. Our skilled technicians trim and shape plants to your satisfaction. We clean up thoroughly and dispose of debris. (An additional dumping fee will be charged when we remove debris from your property.) Our trained professionals can provide a maintenance program tailored to your needs.
Benefits:
Enhances the appearance of your landscape
We can remove the debris for you
Irrigation
Dowco provides complete irrigation system maintenance & installation. Our certified technicians start up, inspect, and shut down your sprinkler system. St. Louis County requires that all backflow devices be tested annually. We will forward a copy of your backflow test to St. Louis County Water at no additional charge.
System modification
Should you change your landscaping Dowco also offers system modification design. We can recommend the best coverage for your new landscape. Emergency repairs
We have certified technicians on staff should an emergency arise. Broken heads, valves and lines are not a problem for us to repair.
Dowco managing your irrigation
Dowco will coordinate your irrigation schedules with the rest of your outdoor maintenance. We're one company that does it all! Dowco can repair broken heads, valves, and lines. Dowco offers system modification design.
Seeding and/or Renovation
When turf deteriorates to the point where normal maintenance does not improve its health, it’s time to renovate. Your problem may be a combination of the above. Our technician will analyze your turf and recommend the best procedure for you to follow.
Timing
Late summer thru early fall is the time to renovate your lawn.
Cool weather will eliminate your Crabgrass, Nutsedge and Spurge. The new seed will germinate in these areas.
Spring seeding does not produce satisfactory results.
Pre-emergents should be applied around March 1 to prevent the germination of crabgrass and other grassy weeds. Unfortunately they will keep the grasses you want from growing too. Spring seeding of your lawn requires that you forego this barrier; consequently your young seedlings must compete with resilient crabgrass and other weeds. Typically the weeds win this battle.
If spring finds your lawn in a deteriorated state, we recommend our Turf Fertilization and Weed Control Program. Throughout the summer we will strengthen the existing grasses and slowly eliminate the weeds. Seeding will be done in the fall when we can guarantee success.
FACT- GRASS SEED MUST BE IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH TOPSOIL FOR GERMINATION!
With this in mind, our technician will recommend one or more of the following procedures:
Broadcast Seeding
Broadcast seeding is for bare dirt situations. Even so, it is beneficial to rake up and prepare the ground. This gives the seed a place to “hide” and a better chance to germinate.
Slice or slit seeding
Some call it verti-slicing. Thatch greater than ½” will prevent the seed to soil contact we need. Therefore, a machine is used to slice grooves in the thatch and implant the seed into the soil. Sections of your lawn may require a combination of aerating and slice seeding.
Before we aerate or slice seed, you must flag your irrigation heads, valve boxes, and invisible dog fences to prevent damage.
"What type of seed should I use?"
For St. Louis, the grass of choice is Fescue. Fine and tall fescues have made an impact as growers have bred plants that are lower growing, finer bladed, greener and less clumpy. However, hybrid fescues are STILL coarser than bluegrasses. These plants have a superior tolerance of disease and drought. They germinate in 7-10 days .
Blue grass is attractive, fine bladed grass with rich color and the ability to fill and thicken by way of it’s rhizome system. Blue grass promises a marvelous lawn. The 21-28 day germination cycle along with low disease and drought resistance are its two drawbacks.
Many subdivisions were sodded with 100% bluegrass sod. We recommend introducing fescues to increase disease and drought resistance. This incorporates the attributes of these two grasses into a turf you can be proud of.
Turf Management
Fertilization supplements the nutrients in your soil. It makes your lawn healthier, greener and capable of withstanding adverse conditions. We apply balanced fertilizers, enriched with the proper amounts of slow release nitrogen, phosphorus and potash. All fertilizers are formulated for the soil conditions in the St. Louis area.
Effective weed control depends on several factors:
Timing
Stage of Growth
Correct Identification
Many weeds are difficult to control and require several treatments. For this reason weeds will be treated on every application. New weeds that sprout after an application will be controlled on your next treatment. Weed controls will eliminate the plant slowly in approximately two weeks.
Prevention of germination is the best control for crabgrass. The pre-emergents applied during Round 1 & 2 form a barrier to seed germination. Keep in mind that this barrier also inhibits grass seed germination. Therefore; we recommend seeding your turf in the fall. Let Dowco control your lawn's quality!
Healthier lawn
Greener grass
Minimal weeds
Dowco will coordinate your fertilization and mowing services. We're the company that does it all!
Round 1 (Mid March-April)
The first application is critical for effective crabgrass control. Light fertilization at this time is important for an early spring green-up. Broadleaf weed control will target weeds that germinated last fall and winter.
Round 2 (May-Mid June)
This is your second pre-emergent application. Dandelions are blooming everywhere, except for your lawn. Your turf has been treated with EPA approved broadleaf weed control. Fertilizer is also applied with this treatment.
Round 3 & 4 (Combined Mid June-Aug.)
Products will be used to minimize broadleaf weeds. Lawn is treated for grubs. (Surface feeding insects such as cinch bugs and sod webworms are controlled with a separate application.) Slow release fertilizer is applied to sustain your turf though the high stress of summer’s heat. Your turf is susceptible to disease and grassy weeds at this time. Please alert the office of any questionable areas in your lawn.
Round 5 (Mid Aug.-Oct.)
Balanced slow release fertilizer is applied to help restore your turf from the stress of summer. Broadleaf weeds are suppressed, making this the ideal time to overseed your lawn. Lawns are inspected to determine the need for seeding and/or aerating.
Round 6 (Oct.-Mid Nov.)
Winterizing your turf will ensure green grass late into the year. It will also aid in the spring green-up. Broadleaf weeds are again treated. During this application the need for lime is determined by a pH test.
Round 7 (Nov.-Dec.)
In order to have all of the nutrients we apply available to the plants, the pH should be 6.5 - 7.0. Turf performance begins to decrease dramatically once the pH dips below 6.0. Lime or sulfur will be used to bring your soil to optimum turf growing conditions. Most lawns in our area respond favorably to this application, so we include it in our program.
