01 Aug Summer Do’s and Don’ts of Lawncare
Do:
Continue to mow regularly, never removing more than 1/3 of the grass in one mow.
Continue to mow at a higher setting to shade the grass blades.
Mow with a sharp blade to prevent the grass trips from fraying. Frayed tips increases yours lawn’s susceptibility to pests and disease.
Water your lawn deeply (usually about 45 minutes each station). Doing this 3-5 times a week encourages deep root growth.
Begin planning for any fall renovation work that might need to be done. This season has been tough on lawns, and now is the time to begin planning how to get your lawn back into shape for next season.
Do NOT:
Allow unnecessary traffic through your lawn. Walking or playing in the lawn during extreme heat will lead to yellowing of the trampled areas.
Water your lawn in the afternoon or at night. Watering during these periods increases your lawn’s susceptibility to pests and fungus. Water in the morning instead.
Try to plant seed in problem areas at this time. You will have a much better germination rate seeding in the Fall, normally between August 15th and September 15th.
Treat a pest problem you do not have. If you think you may have a fungus or pest problem, contact a professional and have them provide a free analysis of the problem. Adding unnecessary chemicals to a lawn can throw the nutrient balance off.
Over-fertilize your lawn with too much Nitrogen. Adding excess Nitrogen encourages more growth than the grass can support, and will begin to turn yellow as a result.