Summer is officially here and it has brought high temperatures and scorching hot sunny days. While hot days with little rain are great for enjoying time at the beach, summer lawn care requires special care to ensure a lush, green lawn all season long. So, we’ve pulled together our top 3 summer lawn care tips for you to win the battle against the heat this year and maintain a beautiful lawn.
1. Don't Over Water
Contrary to popular thought, it is possible to over water your lawn in the summer! The first of our summer lawn care tips is to get your sprinkler system in sync to ensure proper watering, as some areas of your lawn require more water and some require less. An in fact, your lawn may need more or less water than your friend a few miles away because the soil may be different. Sandy soils require more frequent watering due to fast draining; loam and clay soils require less frequent watering, as the soils tend to hold water longer.
Over watering can cause unsightly disease and make the grass undesirable. The best advice is to water for longer periods of time but less often as opposed to a little bit of water every day. You want to thoroughly soak the grass and get the water down to the root zone.
Bonus tip: To tune your sprinkler system, thoroughly soak each area and then wait to water until you start noticing the grass is getting a bit dry.
2. Take the Time to Kill Grubs, Ants, and Ticks
Early summer is the best time to do an insecticide application for grubs. White rubs are the larva stage of beetles that feed on the leaves of plants and the roots of turfgrass. Beetles lay their eggs in the lawn in early July through late August and hatch a month later, hungry and ready to wreak havoc on your lawn! Applying a preventative systemic grubb control in early June helps to provide optimum grubb control.
Also, once the weather starts to heat up in early summer, insects and bugs start to thrive, especially with increased humidity. Applying an all-around insecticide is also important in early summer to kill top feeders and keep your lawn in optimum condition.
3. Mow Your Lawn at a Higher (Longer) Height
During the warm summer months it is best to raise the blade on your mower 1/2"-1.” Grass needs more water during the hot months, and the roots are equally proportional to how high the grass is mown. Taller grass = deeper roots. This will help to ensure that the lawn does not get stressed during periods of drought.
The summer is the best time to enjoy your yard full of lush green grass. Be sure to take the proper steps to ensure your lawn survives the hottest months of the year without risking ruin.