The sweltering heat of the summer months can definitely take a toll on your lawn, causing your lawn to be brown and full of pests. If you ignore the early warning signs of pests, mow too low, water too little or too much, your lawn could quickly become a problem. Keeping your lawn healthy during the summer months isn’t as difficult as it might seem, and with the right maintenance, saves you time and money in the long run. So, we’ve compiled a list of proven summer lawn care tips below for maintaining your lawn from the beginning of the summer to the end.
Address The Threat of Pests
If you didn’t know, pests such as June bugs, Japanese beetles, and European chafers usually lay thousands of eggs in the grass in early to mid summer, and can pose a continual attack on your lawn with dire consequences. Additionally, summer is also the time when fungal diseases such as brown patch and powdery mildew are common. You can start by looking at the blades of grass and watch out for any indicators of insect activity including: feeding trails, curled leaves/blades, or chew marks. Additionally, the most common sign of surface-feeding insects in grass is either the thinning of the turf or color loss. If you notice any of these indicators, quickly call a professional to remedy the problem the right way to reduce further damage to your lawn.
Water Carefully
During the summer months, we are no strangers to drought-like conditions in Southern New Jersey. That’s why sprinkler systems are an important investment to maintain the lush, green color of your lawn, even during the hot, dry months of summer. Inadequate water can result to turfs that are susceptible to insect attack, diseases, and weed infestations. However, you should keep in mind that too much water can sometimes be detrimental if not done correctly or overdone. A healthy lawn needs water regularly to stay green and continue growing. For best results, early morning watering is ultimately best during summer months. But you’ve heard that evening watering is best, right? In fact, watering in the evening or at night can actually increase the chances of disease development since the lawn is likely to remain dark, moist and cool for an extended period immediately after watering.
Mow Your Lawn Longer
As much as mowing is a very simple process, it has the most impact on the growth and health of a lawn than any other maintenance activity. Taller grass shades the soil which in turn reduces water evaporation. It also leads to deeper roots and prevents germination of the weed seeds. We recommend mowing your grass at a longer blade length, as opposed to shorter, to prevent burn during the hot summer months. Also, only mow your lawn as needed during the summer to reduce strain on the lawn.
Fertilize As Needed
It is important that your lawn maintains its freshness and vigor. For you to maintain this, you have to employ the use of a recommended summer lawn fertilizer. Feeding your lawn increases its vigor and also helps in preventing moss and weeds from developing. For better results, apply fertilizers after ensuring that the soil is moist. You should mix the fertilizer with soil since it provides an even distribution and prevents scorching in the grass. However, using extra fertilizer during the summer heat can burn your lawn, and you should, therefore, apply it sparingly and with great care.
At Barber’s, we’ve never met a lawn that we couldn’t tame, even in the summer. You’ll quickly notice that we maintain the greenest lawns in South Jersey. With over 40 years of experience, we know grass. Contact us today or give us a call at 609.861.5050 for a free in-home estimate.
