Getting the Lawn Ready for 4th of July Cookouts

Lawn Care Fit for a Cookout

Are you ready to host your 4th of July cookout? Whatever outdoor activities you have planned, whether it's grilling out or playing corn hole, we want you to be able to show off your green lawn! Here's a little checklist for you to get your yard ready for hosting.

1. Minimize High-Traffic Areas

• Consider installing stepping-stones to minimize damage to your grass in high traffic areas.
• Or, if you're getting plenty of rainfall, apply a little extra fertilizer to these areas to help the blades recover faster.

2. Water Wisely

• Your yard needs at least one inch of water per week, and more in hotter areas. Water deeply and less frequently to encourage drought-tolerant roots.
• Don't try to 'water it back to life' after it goes brown and dormant. If your lawn goes dormant in summer, it should stay that way until fall, when it can recover.

3. Cut Your Grass Some Slack

• Taller grass is more drought-tolerant, grows deeper roots, and helps shade the soil.
• Mow regularly and only cut about 1/3 of the grass blade at a time. This keeps your grass healthier and prevents the clippings from smothering the grass.
• Keep mower blades sharp to ensure your mower is cutting the grass, not tearing it. You want to minimize its stress during these hot temperatures.

4. Resist Over Fertilizing

• Stop fertilizing about 30 days before your area's summer temperatures arrive.
• Applying extra fertilizer in summer can burn your lawn and create a flush of tender growth that will struggle in the hot summer weather.
• Again, never fertilize dormant lawn, wait until it self-recovers in the fall.

5. Weed Control

• Summer is the season to get any weeds removed before they bloom and disperse seeds.
• Keep in mind that during the heat of summer, ANY chemicals can be damaging to already-stressed lawn grasses, so use sparingly and hand-pull weeds if possible.

6. Manage Pest/Disease

• Dormant/drought-stressed summer lawns can be more susceptible to insect infestations.
• Summer is also the time for fungal diseases, such as brown patch. Apply a fungicide if needed, and avoid watering in the evening to keep nighttime moisture at a minimum.