Use This Timeline For Optimal Summer Lawn Care
When it comes to your lawn, timing could be everything. And summer is a great time to put in the work and reap the benefits of a beautiful landscape. Below are a few key tips to keep in mind, from the beginning to the end of your summer, to maintain grass you’ll be proud of.
Getting Started:
The very first thing you should do is to test your soil. At-home kits cost around $10, but call around, some nurseries might do it for you for free. A neutral pH is around 6.5-7; comparing your results to that can help you figure out what kind of fertilizer your lawn will need.
You should look for ‘slow-release’ fertilizers, meaning they will spread nutrients over time instead of instantly. Also, stay away from fertilizers with a wide range of particle sizes and have a lot of dust, as they are difficult to spread uniformly. For more on fertilizing, check out our fertilizing dos and don’ts.
Mid-Summer:
Here in Charlotte, summers can get hot hot hot! Under normal conditions, your lawn needs about one inch of rain per week. If you notice that it hasn’t rained in a week, make sure to give it a good watering. But be careful and try not to do frequent brief watering, as it will lead to shallow rooting. Rather, do heavy watering less frequently. If irrigation is your way to water, follow these 5 lawn irrigation tips.
As the temperature rises, your lawn’s stress rises, as well. Change your lawnmower blade to allow 1- 1.5 inches more height (around 2-2.5 inches total height). This added height would help your grass absorb more water, grow longer roots, and be more drought resistant.
Be careful of what time you mow. Mowing a dry lawn will stress the turf even more and will expose it to the drying effects of the wind and sun, so it might be best to wait until after a good rain.
Tip: When mowing, keep the excess clippings and spread them on your lawn. This could cut your fertilization costs down by adding extra nutrients to your lawn.
Getting ready for the fall:
We suggest aerating your lawn late summer/early fall with a garden fork or a core-aerating machine. This will allow for more sunlight, water, and nutrients to soak into the soil.
Fertilize again! This might seem redundant going into the winter months but it’s more important than ever to have a good, strong grass base heading into the colder months. It’s important to fertilize in the fall, this time with a fertilizer high in phosphates and potash, to make sure you’re entering the fall and winter with strong roots for the grass to defend itself against the cold weather.
Have a nagging brown spot that you can’t get to fill in? You may think that it’s not watered enough or your pooches have been marking their territory, but it could be a fungus that has inhibited your lawn. Investigate by bringing a high res picture to a nearby nursery and they will be able to identify the problem quickly and help you fix it.
For best results, schedule a service with Killingsworth’s lawn care team. We know exactly how to help you maintain a beautiful lawn year round.
