Keep Your Yard Beautiful With These Tips for Summer Lawn Care
Summer is the season for sun and plenty of fun, but it comes with drought, brown lawns and water restrictions. If you struggle to keep your lawn lush during the hottest months, take a look at these strategies for summer lawn care.
Plan Ahead
Before seeding your lawn, research which grasses grow best in your area. Remember that cool-season grasses, such as fescue, prefer temperatures in the 60s, whereas warm-season grasses, such as Bermuda grass, grow best when the thermometer reads in the 70s. Few grasses thrive at higher temperatures. Prep your lawn by fertilizing in the early spring and again in late autumn. Fertilizing in the summer may burn your lawn or cause lots of new growth that simply can’t cope with summer heat.
Water Wisely
Lawns need at least an inch of water per week from precipitation or irrigation. The hotter the climate, the more water you’ll need. However, you should avoid overwatering, which leaches nutrients out of the soil. For effective summer lawn care, water in the early morning to minimize evaporation and fungal growth. Irrigate thoroughly but less frequently to encourage plants to put down extensive, strong, drought-resistant root bases.
Mow Carefully
While mowing, you should avoid damaging the plant. Two methods for damage prevention include sharpening mower blades to minimize tearing and mowing frequently to avoid clipping significant portions of the plant. Consider raising your mower blade to maximum height because taller grass has better access to sunlight, grows stronger roots and provides moisture-saving ground shade.
Once you’re done mowing, don’t throw the clippings in the trash. Instead, spread grass clippings on the lawn for nutritious, shade-giving mulch.
Remember: Curing is Natural
If you see the grass browning, don’t panic. You can’t force it back to green with extra watering, and fertilizing now will only cause harm. Simply wait for autumn’s cooler temperatures and rains to restore your lawn.
The best summer lawn care takes patience and practice. These tips will help you maintain a beautiful yard all season long. For help maintaining your landscape or for more information about summer lawn care packages contact us at Greenskeeper. Our team of professional landscapers can help you maintain that lush green landscape throughout the summer and into the fall. Click here for a free quote.