Summer is beautiful. But it is really hot for our lawns. Nonstop sunshine turns that once-vibrant lawn into a desert. No need to worry, with just a few slight adjustments in your lawn care habits, you will be keeping it healthy, and full of grass throughout the summer.
Let’s take a look at some tips on how you can protect grass from heat damage in this extremely hot weather:
1. Water Wisely: You have to stop using sprinklers every day. A shallow watering several times per week keeps roots at the surface, and much more vulnerable to drought. Instead, focus on deep soaking it an inch a week. Do it in the morning, between 6 and 10 a.m., to reduce evaporation as the afternoon sun kicks in. This will encourage a deeper root system and help your lawn retrieve moisture and store it deeper in the soil during dry times.
2. Mow for Maximum Health: Contrary to the usual opinion, letting your grass stand a little taller about 3 inches is actually a good idea, it helps to save it during the summer. Taller grass blades shade the soil, which helps to retain moisture and keep it cooler. Also, you’ll need a sharp mower blade. Dull mower blades tear the grass, leaving the edges ragged and leading to increased water loss. Instead of acquiring these flaws, sharpen the mower regularly to give your grass clean cuts for healthy growth.
3. Weeds: Weeds are sort of like lawn bullies. They rob water and nutrients from your grass. Gently pull out weeds by the root or use a selective herbicide blended for your type of grass. This holds the weed population in equilibrium at a healthy balance that allows an opportunity for your lawn to perform well.
4. Let Your Lawn Breathe: Aeration is the process of poking holes in the soil to allow air and water to get to the grassroots. This does so by promoting root growth and letting your grass absorb the water more efficiently. Another process that will help is dethatching—removing the layer of dead grass and debris that builds up over time. Consider aerating and dethatching your lawn in the cooler months like fall or early spring. Which will set it up for success in those scorching summer months.
5. Fertilize Responsibly: Although the fertilizer has provided essential nutrients to your lawn, avoid over-fertilizing, especially in drought conditions. High amounts of nitrogen stress your grass, greatly making it susceptible to disease. So, include a slow-release fertilizer blend built for summer applications, and always follow application instructions carefully.
6. Shade It Up: Strategically planting shade trees in your yard is another sure way to help reduce heat stress on the lawn. Trees are essentially huge umbrellas that filter sunlight through their leaves, thus creating cooler microclimates. In other words, there’s not only a benefit for your lawn but also for you and your family against the extremely hot summer sun.
Follow these tips, and you can redesign your lawn care routine into strategic ways through which you can keep your lawn lush green. Be reminded: a healthy lawn is not only beautiful but contributes much to cooling your surroundings and cleaning the air. So, take on board these simple strategies for ensuring that you will have a lush, vibrant lawn all summer long!
We at Lawn Pro of the Carilonas, provide lawn maintenance in Mooresville, Davidson, Cornelius, and Troutman NC and we are here to help you and make your lawn beautiful and lush green. If you are concerned about heat or drought stress in your lawn, please give the team a call at (704) 746-8447.
