Believe it or not, summer is over. It may be difficult to tell on most days, but the seasons do change in Central Florida. The needs of lawn and landscape change as we enter the time of year when you can get pumpkin spice just about anything, and the Halloween decorations start going up in the neighborhood. We hope this blog helps you get ready for the next few months.

Look out for the lawn
These are the months that you feed your lawn for the last time for the year. If you plan on doing the fertilizer yourself, be sure to pick one with little to no phosphorus. It's best to put one down with controlled-release nitrogen; this will get you the long-lasting results you want.

If you live in a county with a fertilizer ban, the restrictions are expired or should be soon, now that the rainy season is coming to an end. Most of them ended on September 30 at the latest. Each county has different rules, so check your county's website for details on the fertilizer ban for your neighborhood.

The battle against weeds and bugs that are out to wreck your lawn isn't over yet. Apply herbicides to control winter weeds. The best time to do that is at night when the temperatures are between 55-60. And keep an eye out for insect damage, army worms, chinch bugs, mole crickets, and sod webworms are still out there.

Double danger
When fighting pests and weeds, avoid any product sold as a 'weed and feed.' These products claim to be both a pesticide and herbicide, but they are a double dose of danger in reality. They are some of the most toxic chemicals legally sold. Besides damaging the environment, the granular form clings to clothes and shoes. The next thing you know, chemicals are in your kitchen and living room. And long-term, 'weed and feeds' are bad news for the overall health of your lawn.

Irrigation inspection
How's your irrigation system? Your sprinklers may not have been on mucduring our unusually wet summer. It's the perfect time to make sure all your zones are working and heads are pointing in the right direction. If they're not, your landscape may be in trouble.

If you would rather sip pumpkin spice lattes and spend your weekends watching football instead of working in the yard, you know who to call. From everyone at ELT Landscape, happy fall.