With summer just a few months away, it’s time to polish up on our lawn care knowledge. Proper lawn maintenance is the best way to keep your grass alive and healthy no matter the season. But in the summer, there are several tips that are specially designed to maintain your lawn under the summer heat.
Aside from hiring a commercial landscaping service provider in Myrtle Beach, here are some ways you can take care of your lawn this coming summer:
1. Set your blades higher
When the weather starts getting hot, mow your lawn high, leaving at least three inches of height to your grass. Doing so will provide enough shade for your grass’ roots, helping the blades keep cool under the intense heat of the sun.
Make sure your blades are sharpened regularly. If your mower blades are too dull, they may be ripping the grass out from its roots rather than cutting the tops only.
2. Water regularly
Water your lawn with at least one to 1.5 inches of water each week to help keep the grass green throughout the summer. If you have an irrigation system in your home, program it to water your lawn deeply and frequently until the heat starts to die down. Otherwise, your grass may not have enough moisture to survive or stay green in the summer.
It’s also a good idea to water the lawn in the early morning to let the water soak. If you water when the sun is out, the moisture may be evaporating too quickly for the grass to soak it up thoroughly.
3. Fertilize
In the late spring or early summer, you can help keep your lawn lush and green by applying fertilizer. Look for fertilizers that are specially designed for the summer, which are meant to help the grass withstand heat and dryness during the season.
Be careful not to overfertilize and avoid fertilizing in the middle of the season. Doing so can “burn” your grass and make them brown. It’s normal for some types of grass to grow dormant during the summer, so there’s no need to fertilize if they look straggly in the heat.
4. Weed regularly
Remove weeds before they grow and spread seeds all over your lawn. And if you have kids out on summer vacation, you can make it their “summer job” to remove the weeds from the lawn.
5. Get rid of pests and diseases
Lawns that go dormant or stressed in the summer can bring forth a pest infestation (fleas, cinch bugs, mosquitoes, armyworms, etc.). Mild infestations usually go away on their own. But if pests are causing significant damage to your grass and plants, you might want to call a professional or apply pesticides to your lawn.
On the other hand, if your lawn develops fungal diseases, such as mildew or brown patches, apply fungicide sparingly. If you’re not sure how much to use and how to apply it, it might be better to leave it to a professional.
Everybody wants a green and lush lawn throughout the summer, especially because it’s the best time for outdoor activities. If you want to keep your lawn healthy during that season, keep these maintenance tips in mind.
