5 Best Tips for Summer Lawn Care

The scorching summer heat can wreak havoc on your lawn, particularly if your maintenance routine isn't up to par. As temperatures soar, your grass faces increased stress, signaling the need for extra care to keep it healthy and green. With the proper measures in place, you can ensure your lawn remains lush and inviting, providing the perfect space to unwind and enjoy the season.

While spring sets the stage for rejuvenating your lawn with grass plugs, summer shifts the focus to strengthening your lawn. Your summer lawn care practices should be geared towards helping your grass develop a strong and dense root system that allows it to withstand the intense heat and prolonged droughts that often accompany the season.

Watering

Watering is critical, particularly during summer, to ensure your lawn stays healthy and green. Most lawns require 1-1.5 inches of water per week, watering more during prolonged hot and dry conditions. Avoid giving your lawn a light sprinkling every day. This will cause the roots to grow shallow, weakening them and making them more prone to drying out. Instead, water your lawn deeply 1-2 times a week, ensuring the soil is moist to a depth of 6-8 inches.

The best time to water your lawn is early morning, before 10 a.m. This allows the water to soak into the soil before it evaporates in the heat of the day. Avoid watering in the afternoon, during the hottest part of the day. Similarly, avoid watering at night, which can create favorable conditions for fungal growth. Make sure to comply with any local watering restrictions in your area.

Mowing

Taller grass shades the soil, protecting the roots from extreme heat and reducing evaporation. It also encourages deeper root growth, making your lawn more drought-resistant.

Adjust your mower height to the highest recommended setting for your grass type, usually up to three inches for warm-season grasses. Mow regularly, but avoid removing more than one-third of the grass blade in a single session. Consider leaving grass clippings on the lawn. This practice, called grasscycling, provides nutrients back to the soil as the clippings break down while also shading the soil to help retain moisture.

Treating for Weeds, Pests, and Diseases

Aside from spring, summer is a prime time for weeds, pests, and diseases to take hold in your lawn. Prevent these issues by regularly monitoring your lawn for signs of their presence. Remove weeds by hand or use an appropriate herbicide for spot treatment. Look for signs of pest infestations, like grub damage, and treat them promptly.

Fungal diseases can also be a problem in the summer due to poor soil conditions, such as warm temperatures, high humidity, and soil compaction, or poor maintenance practices, like overwatering or over-fertilizing. Prevent these issues by improving your soil, avoiding overwatering, and ensuring proper air circulation around your grass. Treat it with an appropriate fungicide if you observe signs of fungal disease, such as discolored or wilting grass.

Repairing

While the best time to plant grass plugs is in the spring, you can also successfully do so in the summer. However, summer planting requires more diligent watering to keep the roots from drying. Ensuring the soil remains consistently moist during the initial establishment stage is key to helping the new grass plugs adapt to their new environment and thrive in the heat.

SodPods® grass plugs are a convenient solution for repairing unsightly patches of dead grass or sparse areas in your lawn. These plugs are easy to plant and effective for filling in bare spots, creating a lush, even lawn. They can seamlessly blend new growth with your existing grass, ensuring a uniform and healthy appearance.

Fertilizing

Warm-season grasses like Bermuda, St. Augustine, and Zoysia grass experience peak growth in the summer and require ample nutrients to retain their color and health. We recommend fertilizing new grass plugs with NutriPod® grass fertilizer to aid their establishment and accelerate growth up to two times faster.

A well-fertilized lawn develops a strong root system that allows it to endure heat and occasional droughts while improving its resistance to environmental stresses. It also grows denser and thicker, crowding out weeds and handling wear and traffic better. After the initial fertilizing with NutriPod®, fertilize every six to eight weeks throughout the growing season. Transition to using a fertilizer specifically formulated for your grass type and follow packaging instructions carefully.

Takeaway

Summer lawn care is essential for maintaining a healthy and resilient lawn. By following proper watering, mowing, fertilizing, and repair techniques, you can help your lawn withstand heat and drought, keeping it lush and green throughout the season. Remember, diligent maintenance not only enhances your lawn's appearance but also contributes to deeper roots and stronger grass, making it more resistant to pests and diseases.