Essential Summer Lawn Tips Every Homeowner Should Know

The summer season may be a bit harsh on your backyard turf. The arrival of the dog days increases the likelihood of it incurring significant damage, ultimately causing it to look dead. However, you get numerous opportunities to care for your lawn. But where to begin? Is it the frequent watering that boosts the chances of grass securing splendid growth? Or is it the fertilizer application that protects the lawn from that typical scorching heat? It's a fusion of both of these considerations, along with some other critical qualities. Read on as we're covering essential summer lawn tips that every homeowner must be acquainted with.

1. Water Wisely

Before you opt for residential lawn care in Minneapolis, it’s crucial that you understand your lawn’s actual watering needs during the Summer season. Due to the increased temperature, the soil starts lacking adequate moisture, causing the grass blades to wilt and turn brown. Moisture stress can even cause weed-related and pest-related issues. Additionally, the probability of drought increases the soil’s water needs even more. This is why it’s important to fulfill your lawn’s additional water requirements via deep but infrequent watering. Halt your light sprinkling practices and go for this deep watering technique in this case.

2. Mow Higher

During summers, you need to let the grass grow a little longer. Doing so will let the grass maintain an optimal length, making it capable of shading the grassroots to prevent evaporation from taking place in excess. It will also prevent weed seeds from germinating. Before starting to mow, sharpen the mower blades to get a clean cut at the end. For warm-season grasses, they should be left 2-3 inches tall, while cool-season grasses should be mowed at 3-4 inches. Last but not least, never cut more than ⅓ of the grass blade length in each mow.

3. Fertilize Strategically

For fertilization, early and late summer are deemed to be the best times. Doing so helps warm-season grass grow vigorously, securing its best possible growth. The best time to fertilize is when the weather is cooler, whether it’s early in the morning or late in the evening, to minimize the chances of burning. The choice of fertilizer you need to go for is a slow-release fertilizer, as they offer a consistent result and are less stressful for the grass. In your regular fertilizer, you need to add some organic fertilizer like manure, bone meal, or compost to make your lawn capable of bearing the pressure of increased foot traffic, heat, and drought.

4. Manage Pests And Weeds

Unattended weeds and pests can harm your lawn grass significantly, restricting its growth and causing it to turn yellow and pale. Their presence indicates that the grassroots are most likely to struggle to get ample resources for their growth. Manually remove the weeds to allow the grass to grow adequately and attain its maximum growth. For pests, you can use natural pest predators like ladybugs and lacewings or go with physical control measures like netting and garden fabric.

5. Other Considerations

Besides the above considerations, you need to carefully work towards some other crucial factors too. Aeration plays an important role in improving drainage and oxygen flow to the grassroots. Excessive thatch can restrict water and nutrient absorption, so do thatching too. After you’re done mowing the lawn, leave the clippings in the lawn only to let them add an additional protection layer to the grass, preventing evaporation and facilitating nutrient absorption into the soil.

Final Thoughts

The rising temperature, the sun shining bright, and your reluctance to go outside are enough to signal that your lawn needs some extra attention. Don’t get put off by seeing your lawn getting brown patches or dollar spots or catching diseases like red thread, lawn rust, or powdery mildew. Start following the above-given practices right on the arrival of the summer season. Those finding it hard to carry on with their regular lawn care efforts can partner with Worry Free Lawn Care. Based on their extensive 30+ years of experience, they need to be your go-to partner for taking on professional lawn care services.