Summer isn’t even officially here yet, and the Dallas area is already reaching temperatures in the 100s.

While most of us love a little fun in the sun, too much heat isn’t great for your lawn. Let’s take a look at the summer threat of heat stress and the signs that your lawn needs some extra love from your lawn care team.

What is Heat Stress?

Heat stress, also known as drought stress, is simply the damage heat causes to a lawn when it doesn’t receive abundant moisture during the year’s warmer seasons. All grasses are prone to heat stress. However, cooler lawns are more prone to this natural threat.

Signs Your Lawn is Under Heat Stress

Left unchecked, heat stress can kill your lawn and leave you needing to wait for a long and ugly reseeding process. Here’s a look at some common signs of heat stress. If you catch the problem early, a lawn care professional can help you remedy the issue.

Discoloration

When your lawn doesn’t get the moisture it needs but harmful UV rays constantly barrage it, discoloration occurs. Heat-stressed lawns create brown patches in affected areas. Eventually, these brown patches will completely die out, and you’re left with the job of replacing your lawn.

Soil Gaps

When the heat increases in your area, the soil dries out and compacts. This makes getting nourishment to your lawn extremely difficult.

So, how exactly do you test your soil for soil gaps? It’s actually pretty simple!

Grab a screwdriver

Stab the screwdriver into brown spots and green areas of your lawn

If the soil in the brown patches are hard and difficult to breach, and your green areas aren’t, your lawn is likely suffering from heat stress

Wilted Blades

Heat causes blades of grass to wilt. However, heat stress can exacerbate this common problem and completely dehydrate your lawn.

One way to know that your blades are wilted into heat stress is to test their elasticity. Step on a suspecting area and then walk away. A healthy lawn should only take a few seconds to recover.

However, if you find that recovery takes minutes or is nonexistent heat stress has taken hold of your landscape.

How Can You Avoid Heat Stress?

Heat stress is awful, but how can you avoid it? Here are some of our fast tips:

  • Water your lawn early in the morning before the heat reaches its peak
  • Water damaged lawns heavily over a few days. This will allow your lawn to prevent its dryness and get back into a hydrating routine.
  • Use sharp blades during lawn mowing. This leaves little room for gaps in your lawn where moisture can escape.

Get Your Lawn Under Control This Summer With Executive Lawn Care

If your lawn is prone to heat stress or you know you don’t have the time to dedicate to lawn care, Executive Lawn Care can help!

We are a team of Dallas lawn care professionals that have seen it all and can help your residential lawn look its best all year long.

From lawn mowing to bed and bush maintenance, our experience has you covered.

Contact us today to schedule your first lawn care session.

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