Lawn maintenance at any time of the year can be a challenge, but in the heat of summer, it can be a downright daunting task.
With these simple tips, you can keep your lawn looking great all season long! Mowing regularly, watering sufficiently, and using a weed killer are all important aspects of keeping your lawn healthy.
Make sure to also keep an eye out for any pests or diseases that may affect your grass and take corrective measures as necessary.
By following these tips, you’ll have a lush and beautiful lawn to enjoy all summer long!
Key Takeaways
- Although all types of grass will have their own unique care requirements, it’s important to take certain steps to prevent drought stress (and brown grass!) during the hottest days of summer.
- In extreme heat, be sure to aerate often, unless you are lucky enough to have sandy soils. This will make it easier for water to get where it needs to be.
- When conditions are extremely hot, you may need to water more often to keep the grass blades hydrated.
Aerate
One of the best tips for keeping your lawn green in the summer is to aerate it.
Many people think that they should only aerate their lawn in cooler temperatures, but this is not the case. If you live in an area with hot summers, it is actually beneficial to aerate your lawn during the summer months.
The reason for this is that the heat can cause water to build up in the soil, which can prevent roots from growing properly. By aerating your lawn, you provide tiny holes that allow water to drain and roots to grow. This will help to ensure a healthy lawn during the hottest months of the year.
Aeration helps to improve drainage, promote root growth, and reduce compaction. It also provides an opportunity for overseeding, which can help to fill in any thin or patchy areas.
The best time to aerate your lawn is in the summer. However, you can also aerate in the spring, as long as you avoid doing so before a major heat wave.
With a little care and attention, you can have a beautiful, healthy lawn that will be the envy of the neighborhood.
Remove
In the heat of summer, it’s important to take extra care of your lawn. Remove any unwanted foliage or materials such as rock or bricks. Unkempt areas can be attractive nesting grounds for unwanted pests.
As the summer sun beats down, your lawn can quickly become overrun with weeds. While it may be tempting to just let them grow, weeds can actually do a lot of damage to your grass. They compete for resources like sunlight and water, preventing your grass from getting the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.
Weeds can also harbor diseases and pests that can spread to your other plants. So how do you get rid of weeds without damaging your nice green lawn?
One method is to pull them by hand. This is best for small areas or for removing individual weeds. Make sure to get the entire root so the weed doesn’t just grow back.
Another option is to use a herbicide. Be sure to read the labels carefully and choose a product that is safe for use on lawns. You will also want to consider the time of year and how often you need to treat your lawn for weeds. With a little effort, you can keep your lawn looking neat and tidy all summer long!
Fertilize
Fertilization is important for lawns because it helps the turf to grow effectively and evenly. Applying fertilizer in the summer ensures that the grass has the nutrients it needs to stay green and healthy throughout the hotter months.
However, it is important to choose the right fertilizer for your lawn. For example, if you have a lot of trees, you will want to use a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen. This will help the grass to compete with the trees for nutrients.
Related: Guide to Organic Lawn Fertilizer
On the other hand, if you have a lot of clay in your soil, you will want to use a fertilizer that is high in phosphate. This will help to break up the clay and improve drainage. Regardless of your specific situation, using fertilizer can help your lawn to look its best all summer long.
Fertilizing your lawn is important for maintaining a healthy, green yard. However, it’s also important to be careful not to over-fertilize, as this can lead to burning the grass. Also, in summer, the heat and direct sunlight can intensify the effects of fertilizer, so it’s important to take care when applying it.
Here are a few tips to help you fertilize your lawn without burning the grass:
- Apply fertilizer in the early morning or evening, when the sun is not as strong.
- Water the lawn Just after applying fertilizer..
- Apply a light layer of fertilizer. It’s better to fertilize more often with lighter applications than to fertilize less often with heavier applications. Too much fertilizer can burn the lawn, especially as it gets hotter in late summer.
- Do not apply more than the label recommends. The label is your guide and you can damage your lawn if you apply more than is specified.
Water
The summer sun can be tough on your lawn. If you’re not careful, all that summer heat and evaporation can leave your grass looking yellow and withered. But with a few simple tips, you can keep your lawn green and healthy.
First, make sure you’re watering deeply and infrequently. Watering shallowly every day will encourage your grass to develop shallow roots, making it more susceptible to drought and heat stress. Instead, water deeply once or twice a week, giving the roots a chance to grow deep and strong.
The average lawn needs about an inch of water to two inches of water to keep the grass green. This varies a bit depending on what kind of lawn you have and whether it’s cool-season grass.
Second, water early in the day. Morning is the best time to water, because there’s less evaporation and wind to contend with. If possible we recommend starting around 1 am.
So when it comes to watering your lawn this summer, remember: deep and infrequent is best. Water early in the day.
Mow
Mowing your lawn is one of the most important tasks of summertime yard care. Not only does it keep your yard looking tidy, but it also helps to promote the growth of healthy grass. However, mowing in the summer months can be challenging, especially in hot weather. Here are a few tips to help you mow your lawn successfully this summer:
- Start early in the day, before the sun gets too hot. This will help prevent the grass from wilting under the heat of the sun.
- Mow in rows, working from one side of the lawn to the other. This will help you avoid missing any spots.
- Be sure to sharpen your mower blades regularly. Dull blades can damage the grass and make it more susceptible to disease.
- Again, don’t forget to fertilize your lawn regularly. A healthy lawn is more resistant to damage from heat and drought. A nourished lawn will also bounce back better after being mowed.
- Minimize heavy and consistent foot traffic in the same areas on your lawn. This can reduce the likelihood of insects, compaction, and grass damage, too.
The exact type of mowing lawn care you provide will depend largely on what kind of grass you are growing. Some warm-season grasses and cool season grasses can be mowed taller so that the grass blades remain a bit longer to shade the rest.
By following these simple tips, you can keep your lawn looking green and beautiful all summer long.
The Bottom Line
The hotter weather means that homeowners need to be extra vigilant in order to maintain their lawn. But these simple steps can keep your lawn looking healthy and lush, even as the mercury rises. It’s a good idea to keep close tabs on your lawn during the hot days of the year to ensure that it grows well during the cooler months, too.
By following these tips, you can keep your yard looking great without breaking a sweat! Have you tried any of these methods for keeping your lawn green in the heat?
