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1. Mow High, Not Low
When mowing your lawn, shorter isn’t always better. Leaving your grass high, about 3 inches, results in stronger roots and allows your grass to hold more water. Taller grass shades the soil, preventing it from drying, which means you don’t have to water as often.
2. Stay Sharp
Maintaining your mower’s blades can save your lawn. Duller blades tear the grass instead of cutting cleanly. Change the way you cut your grass every time you mow so the blades stand up straight. Remember to leave the grass clippings where they are. “Grasscycling” returns nutrients to the soil and helps fertilize your lawn!
3. Feed Your Lawn Before Summer
Generally, fertilizer should be applied every six weeks. It’s important to feed right before summer in order to keep it resilient against the sun. However, fertilizing it every six weeks can make it grow quickly. Try to use a low nitrogen count fertilizer to minimize quick growth while keeping it healthy and green. Don’t fertilize if rain is in the forecast. Doing so will keep it from washing from the grass and out of the groundwater supply.
4. Rake & Weed
Don’t let large piles of dead leaves brown your lawn. Rake them out of the way before they kill your grass. Dead leaves can become wet, causing fungal growth that can stay in your lawn long after leaf piles are removed. Pull weeds before they take over your lawn. Make sure the soil around the weed is damp. Some root systems left behind can still produce a plant.
5. Timing is Everything When You Water Your Lawn
The best time to water your lawn is early morning or in the evening. Watering during the hottest part of the day allows it to evaporate, drying out the soil even more. Rather than watering once a day, water deeply one or two times a week to promote stronger roots. This allows the water to soak into the ground and create drought resistant grass.
Summer lawn care doesn’t end and begin with the season. Year-long maintenance is required for that perfect lawn all the time. By preparing your grass well in advance of the heat, you’ll have a yard that withstands the stress of summer and will thrive through autumn.