How to Care for Your lawn in the Extreme Heat of Summer
The extreme heat of summer isn’t just hard on you, it is
hard on your lawn too. At Lawn Doctor of Anapolis-Bowie we are trained to know how to evaluate your lawn and tailor
the care we give based on the seasonal conditions. So we thought would share some tips for
keeping your lawn as resilient and healthy as possible in hot and dry
conditions.
Cutting.
Your grass gets it’s energy to grow and sustain itself
through photosynthesis. If you cut the blades
too short it can limit your lawn’s ability to take in energy and leave it more
vulnerable. It is best to raise your cutting height
when it is hot and dry and only mow 1/3 of the total length at any given
time. Timing when you mow also helps and should be done after a rain or watering day, but not when the grass is still
wet. A sharp blade makes a big difference
too, as a dull blade can tear the grass rather than cut it which takes longer
to heal. By following these guidelines, you can help your grass generate a
stronger root system and become more resilient.
Watering.
Many people think it is best to water the lawn daily when it
is extremely hot and dry, but that is actually not good for your lawn. In order to get your turf to develop deep
roots, it needs to be watered deeply.
That means watering longer, but less often. If you are watering frequently, slowly shift
to watering more minutes each time, and go more days in between watering. Usually, one inch of water per week is good
(including rainfall), and in general, your lawn should be drier on the top inch
of soil than it is below one inch. Watering is best done early in the morning
and should never be done in the heat of the day.
Mulching.
Don’t bag your grass clippings, in fact if you have a
mulching mower that is great. The grass
clippings will help the soil retain moisture and stay cooler. As the clippings break down, they also act as
a natural fertilizer. Standard chemical
fertilizers should not be used in the heat of summer because they promote growth
which creates added stress for the plant.
So wait until fall to think about lawn fertilization in Annapolis-Bowie.
Other things that can help your lawn in the heat is to avoid
foot traffic. Using steppingstones or
pathways is more important in the heat than the rest of the year. Staying on top of turf disease and pest control in Annapolis-Bowie is also more critical when the grass is already
stressed and vulnerable.
At Lawn Doctors in Annapolis-Bowie, we take all these
things into consideration providing professional lawn care services in the Annapolis-Bowie area. If you would like to let us
take care of your lawn so you don’t have to worry how deeply or how often to
water your lawn, etc. we understand. We
are honored to put our experience to work for you. After all, we make great lawns happen, and
a whole lot more!
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