The middle of the summer is absolutely brutal on lawns. Much of the country is experiencing an extended drought and it looks like global warming just might be a real phenomenon. The ever-increasing temperatures and lack of rain are wreaking havoc on our lawns. Let’s take a look at a few tips to keep the grass green and plush.
Water
Your grass needs water just like your body needs it. Yet watering the lawn at any old time isn’t the best course of action. Water your grass early in the morning so it sinks into the lawn instead of evaporating. Don’t sprinkle drops haphazardly. Give your lawn a nice, deep watering across its entirety. It’ll prevent the lawn from becoming overly dry during these blazing hot summer days. If you would rather not be troubled to water the lawn with a hose, consider purchasing an industry-approved sprinkler to do the work for you. In general, lawn care aficionados advise watering the lawn one inch each week. However, all sorts of variables can force your hand. If the summer is especially dry or windy, the grass will lose more water than usual and you’ll have to water more than one inch per week.
Mower Height
The height of the lawn mower matters much more than most people assume. Too many homeowners mow their lawn without actually adjusting the blade height from the previous summer. Always keep the height at 3 inches or higher. If you ever question whether the mower height is appropriate, put it at the highest possible setting to prevent too short of a cut. Taller grass blades will keep neighboring blades shaded toward the ground, cooling the roots and allowing them to retain their water. If you cut the grass too close to the ground, the summer sun will scorch it. It’s best to err on the side of caution and give your grass a light trimming. You can always run the mower back over it in a few days if necessary.
The Best Times to Treat the Lawn
Don’t treat your lawn with fertilizer, seeds, weed killers or thatch control until the fall. This way, you won’t expose these law treatments to the hot summer sun. Take care to minimize the foot traffic that moves across your lawn during the summer. Your grass needs every possible opportunity to grow unimpeded. If you let people wander across the grass, their footsteps will be enough to damage these uber-sensitive blades.
Those Pesky Pests
Midsummer is when those annoying grubs start hatching in the lawn. These beetle larvae hatch within the soil and eat away at the lawn’s roots. The result is discolored and detached patches of grass that pop up along the surface. Don’t let grubs attack your beloved lawn in the thick of the summer heat. If you notice any damaged sections, pull those layers back and examine the soil. If you spot any grubs, apply grub control right away so the problem does not get out of hand.
