Lawn Care Maintenance Tips for the Best Summer Lawn
The summer sun can be harsh on your lawn, but with a little TLC, you can keep your grass looking green and healthy all season long. Here are our top tips for summer lawn care:
- Mow regularly. Grass grows quickly in the summer, so be sure to mow at least once a week. Keep your lawn mower blades sharp for a clean cut and consider raising the blade height to prevent scalping.
- Water deeply and less often. Watering deeply encourages roots to grow deeper into the soil, making your grass more drought-resistant. Water early in the day so the grass has time to dry before nightfall, which reduces the risk of fungal diseases.
- Apply fertilizer. A slow-release fertilizer applied in early summer will give your grass the nutrients it needs to withstand the heat and stay green all season long.
- Control weeds. Weeds compete with your grass for water and nutrients, so make sure to pull them regularly. Apply a pre-emergent herbicide in early summer to prevent weed seeds from germinating.
- Aerate your lawn. Aeration helps water, air, and nutrients reach the roots of your grass, promoting healthy growth. It also reduces compaction and thatch build-up.
- Keep your lawn mower clean. A clean lawn mower will cut your grass more evenly, preventing brown patches from forming. Be sure to clean the undercarriage of your mower after each use to prevent the spread of disease.
Mow your lawn at the right height
The first step to having a healthy lawn is to make sure you’re mowing it at the right height. The general rule of thumb is to never remove more than ⅓ of the grass blade when mowing. This will ensure that your grass has enough leaf surface area to photosynthesize and produce the food it needs to grow.
It’s important to water your lawn early in the day so that the grass has time to dry before nightfall. Wet leaves overnight create an ideal environment for fungal diseases to take hold. If you must water late in the day, be sure to use a sprinkler with low pressure so that the water droplets don’t splatter and spread disease.
Fertilize your lawn at least four times a year
Fertilizing your lawn is important to maintain a healthy grass stand. A slow-release fertilizer applied in early summer will give your grass the nutrients it needs to withstand the heat and stay green all season long. It’s also a good idea to apply fertilizer before aerating or whenever you see signs of thatch build-up.
There are different types of fertilizers that you can use on your lawn. The most common type is nitrogen-based fertilizer, which is good for promoting leaf growth. Phosphorus-based fertilizers are also available and are good for encouraging root growth. Potassium-based fertilizers help improve drought resistance and disease resistance. You should fertilize your lawn when the grass is actively growing, which is typically four times a year: spring, early summer, late summer, and fall.
Aerate and dethatch your lawn every two years
Aeration is important for maintaining a healthy lawn because it helps water, air, and nutrients reach the roots of your grass. Aeration also reduces compaction and thatch build-up. Compacted soils have too many solid particles in them, which prevents oxygen from reaching the roots of the grass. Thatch is a layer of dead organic matter that can build up on the surface of the soil and prevent water and nutrients from reaching the roots.
Aeration can be done with a hand tool or a power aerator. For best results, aerate your lawn in the spring or fall. Dethatching can also be done with a hand tool or power dethatcher. Why are the spring and fall seasons the best time to aerate your lawn? The spring and fall seasons are the best time to aerate your lawn because the grass is actively growing. Aerating in the spring will help the roots of the grass develop deep into the soil, which will make them more drought-resistant. Aerating in the fall will help improve drainage and reduce compaction.
Use organic methods to get rid of weeds – they’re safe for both you and the environment!
Weeds are not only unsightly, but they can also compete with your grass for water and nutrients. It’s important to get rid of them as soon as you see them so that they don’t take over your lawn.
There are a few different ways to get rid of weeds, including chemical and organic methods. Chemical methods involve the use of herbicides, which can be effective but may also harm the environment. Organic methods, on the other hand, are safe for both you and the environment. One organic method is to simply pull the weeds by hand. Another is to use a weed whacker or hoe to cut the weeds down at the root. You can also cover the area with mulch or a heavy layer of newspapers to prevent sunlight from reaching the weeds. Organic methods may take a bit longer to work, but they’re worth the effort!
By following these tips, you can keep your lawn looking its best all summer long! You can also head over to our website to brush up on tips all year long!