Everyone wants to have a beautiful lawn that is the envy of the neighborhood, but many people don’t know how to achieve that beautiful, lush, healthy, green lawn during the hot summer months. Actually, it is not as difficult as many would think. If you follow these simple steps along with proper spring lawn care maintenance you can have a beautiful lawn this year.
Make sure you water your lawn properly first. Watering your lawn is a big part of lawn care in the summer simply because it is for the most part the time of year when your lawn receives the least amount of water from rain. Normally, you want to make sure your lawn gets at least 1-1.5 inches of water, including rain. During the summer months this number sometimes needs to be adjusted a little higher, so look at your lawn and if you notice it starting to yellow, give it a little more water, 1.5-1.75″ should do the trick, but make sure you don’t overdo it. water the lawn either.It’s also better to water your lawn in one larger session than to spread it throughout the week.You’ll also want to water before 10am to reduce evaporation, as you want all of the water to sink to the ground, otherwise, it won’t help your lawn at all.You can also water at night when it’s cooler, however, it’s best to water in the morning because watering at night promotes fungus and disease in your lawn.Never mow during hot periods of the day as this will do absolutely nothing for your lawn, it can actually cause it to ‘scorch’.
Second, the mowing height of your lawn plays an important role in the health of your lawn, especially during the summer. When you mow the lawn during the summer months, cut it a little higher than normal. The reason you’ll want to cut your grass a little higher is to protect the roots from the heat of the sun. While the sun is important to the growth and health of your lawn, it is also a major factor in the “burned” or “dead” yellowing effect that many lawns experience during the summer. I suggest leaving your grass at least 3-3.5″ tall. You may need to mow your grass higher than that, sometimes even up to 4″, depending on the type of grass and the heat of the sun.
The third thing you’ll want to do is mow your lawn less often. During the summer months, you generally want to mow less than in the spring and fall months. At most you will want to mow the lawn once every two weeks during the summer. Also, mowing the lawn during the cooler morning and evening hours of the day is better not only for the lawn, but also for you, as it reduces the risk of heat stroke and dehydration.
Finally, keep your lawn mower blades sharp. You always want to have sharp blades when you mow so that you really get a nice clean and even cut. Dull blades don’t really cut grass, they rip it. You want to keep your blades sharp throughout the year, as it’s important to mow your lawn instead of ripping it. Pulling out the lawn leaves it more open to disease.
