Few of us realize how much impact the environment has on our landscape until this time of the year. We have three factors that are changing things right now.

First, there is a shortening of the photo period. Secondly, cooling of overnight and daytime temperatures and, lastly, unpredictable precipitation all impact the foliage changes.

These things combined with insects, armyworms, root rot, and fungal diseases can make this a difficult time to transition from summer to winter flowerbeds and vegetable gardens or to create new vegetation areas, like food plots.

However through great trial comes great triumph. When dealing with these factors the one thing you must control is your patience, and with our current situation some of us will need it.

Q: Are the army worms gone?

A: Those of you worried about army worms can now rest peacefully. After several cool mornings in the lower 40s, it safe to say the threat of them destroying your food plot is likely gone. However, with the dry spell we had some of you would probably trade in army worms for a few inches of rain. Before Tuesday’s rain, the extended 10-day forecast didn’t show any strong chances of rain coming our way. If you have already planted food plots, we do have two days next week with slight chances of rain that may provide a little relief for plots in desperate need of water.

If you have horses or livestock, you will slowly see a decline in the summer forages available for animals over the next few months. Now is the time to be thinking about supplemental hay, protein blocks or feed for the months ahead if you are not planning on planting rye grass or another winter forage.

Q. My flowers are dying out from the summer what should I replace them with?

A: The best way to decide what to plant is simply get an idea in your head of what you want and go to the garden center or nursery of your choice to see what is available. We are blessed with some great nurseries and garden centers here in the Miss-Lou, so shop around and you should be able to find just what you are looking for in a variety of colors.

Some cool-season annuals to plant in October include pansies, shirley poppies, forget-me-nots, bachelor’s buttons, larkspurs or Johnny-jump-ups. If you are planting spring bulbs this fall — narcissus, hyacinths, crocus — it is a great idea to sow some of the cool season annuals in the same bed with the bulbs.

Pansies are popular plants and will be seen all over town in the coming months but they do require some maintenance. They are heavy feeders and perform best with a light application of slow-release fertilizer monthly or a diluted, water-soluble 20-20-20 every other week. If you are thinking ahead a good planting choice may be to try planting red tulips with blue and white pansies for a great cool season landscape.

David Carter is the director of the Adams County Extension Service. He can be reached at 601-445-8201.