Summer Lawn Maintenance Tips

Nothing says “It’s finally summer!” like a backyard cookout, but nothing spoils an outdoor party than a brittle, unhealthy lawn. While the warmer months are perfect for spending time with friends and family in the sun, they can be harsh on your lawn if not properly cared for. Consider these lawn maintenance tips to keep your lawn lush and green all summer long.

Environmentally-Conscious Watering Habits

How frequently you water your lawn is the most important factor in the quality of your yard. On average, your lawn needs roughly an inch of water per week, or ½ inch twice per week. You can measure this by placing a can in your yard as you run your sprinklers or manually water with a hose. Another good test to make sure you’re watering enough is to stick an instrument like a screwdriver into the dirt. If it goes in smoothly, your lawn is in healthy shape. If not, it requires more.

The best time to water your lawn is early in the morning. This allows the water to soak deep into the dirt, preventing water loss by evaporation. It’s important for the grass to have time to dry out, so watering in the evening isn’t ideal as it could cause disease in the lawn.

It’s important to stay up-to-date with any watering restrictions within your community during the summer, as this will affect when you can water your lawn. If you are limited to certain times for watering during harsh dry periods, be sure not to miss the allowed watering days to prevent your grass from drying out.

Consistent Lawn Mowing Service Schedule

Although you may think your lawn requires more mowing during the summer, it’s actually the contrary. The grass needs to be taller during summer months to allow for deeper root growth and cover from the sun. Longer grass also provides insulation to the soil which helps it maintain its moisture better. However, you don’t want it to get too long either, as heat and drought are already stressful on your lawn. As a rule of thumb, keep grass roughly the same height as a soda can turned on its side. Don’t wait too long between mows as removing more than ⅓ of the leaf blade height at one time can do damage to the grass.

Mowing frequency varies depending on the type of grass you have in your yard. Be sure to consult with a professional lawn maintenance company before taking any serious steps.

Keep the Lawn Fertile!

Fertilization is extremely important when it comes to summer lawn maintenance, but not all fertilizers are created equal – so it’s important to choose the right one. Stay away from chemical fertilizers as they tend to have a burning effect, creating an adverse reaction to your yard. Stick to organic fertilizers as they release slowly and are much less likely to damage lawns. Ideally, you should start the fertilization in the late spring to prepare for summer, then sparingly during the warmer months.

Proper Pest Control

It’s very typical to see more pests and insects in your lawn during the summer. Many beetles and other insects lay their eggs during early parts of the summer, which hatch midway through the season and eat your lawn. Take precautionary measures by protecting your lawn against insect infestations. Dry stressed and dormant lawns are more likely to be home to insects, so a good lawn maintenance schedule is key to keeping them out. Feel free to apply pesticides but be mindful of the amount of chemicals you apply to your lawn during the summer to avoid causing stress to the grass.

Enjoy a Luscious, Healthy Lawn All Summer with Executive Lawn Care

Executive Lawn Care has the experience and expertise it takes to keep your lawn in great shape all summer long, even in the harsh Texas heat. Contact us to request a free quote today!