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Use These Summer Lawn Care Tips And Enjoy Healthy, Green Grass As Temperatures Soar

Summer lawn care can be challenging, especially when temperatures soar. Your lawn also must deal with extra traffic as the kids run across it all day long.

Before you give up, there are some excellent ways to keep your lawn looking its best despite the hot summer weather.

Summer is when we want our lawns to look their best, even though this is the hardest time of year on most types of grass. Since we spend more time outdoors in summer, we want to enjoy that nice fresh green turf we got during the spring.

Understanding grass and what it needs to flourish will help you attain your goal of a luscious green lawn throughout your summer lawn care schedule.

Why Lawns Should Contain More Than One Type Of Grass?

Grass plants are seasonal. They have a dormant season, which for most varieties, falls in the mid to late summer, right when you want a nice green lawn. By mixing types of grasses, you can help combat some of this.

There are two basic types of lawn grass: cool season grasses like Rye, Fescue and Bluegrass, and warm season grasses like Bermuda, Zoysia and St. Augustine.

Cool season grasses grow best when the average temperature is in the 60s. Warm season grasses grow best when temperatures are in the 70s.

When temperatures rise into the 80s and above, your lawn wants to go dormant, especially the cool season grasses. You'll notice you don't have to mow as frequently because the grass is growing more slowly. You'll see the color fading from green to yellow, and you'll notice more wear and tear from lawn traffic.

If your grass goes dormant, the lawn will turn brown until fall. A mixture of cool and warm season grasses is the first step in your summer lawn care program for keeping a green lawn.

How Much Water Does Your Lawn Need During Summer?

Lawns need water to look their best. Ideally, they need at least an inch of water every week during the best of times. When the weather gets hot, they need even more to look their best.

When you water, set up a rain gauge so you can estimate how much water your lawn gets. When you do water, do it less frequently, but make sure you water deeply each time. This will help your grass develop roots that are more tolerant of drought.

Water first thing in the morning or last thing in the evening to allow your grass to soak up as much as possible before it evaporates. Once you make up your mind to water regularly, do it.

Don't forget and then only water after it has faded to brown. If it turns brown, let it stay that way until fall so the plants can rest.

What's The Best Way To Mow Your Lawn In Summer?

Do you like that short, manicured look they use on the golf course?

Forget it. It's bad for your turf. Raise the blades on your mower in the summer. By leaving your grass a little longer, you are keeping the roots from drying out. Taller grass also helps prevent too many weed seeds from germinating.

Mulching the clippings will keep the moisture levels at a steady rate for your lawn. Mow on a regular schedule. If you cut more than 1/3 of the height of the grass, it can shock the grass. Regular mowing keeps your lawn healthy and the clippings won't be so abundant that they smother the grass.

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