Lawn Care In The Summer: Essential Summer Lawn Care Tips

Learn the best summer lawn care practices from your local Indianapolis Lawn Care Experts.

By: Ron Hubbard | July 11, 2024

As we approach the summer months, I want to share some crucial summer lawn care tips to help keep your lawn looking its best. Summer can be challenging for lawn care, but with the right strategies, you can maintain a lush, green yard.

Grub Control: A Summer Lawn Care Essential

One of the first steps in summer lawn care is to apply grub control. Grubs are small, white, beetle larvae that live just below the surface of the soil. They feed on the root system of your lawn, causing extensive damage quickly.

Without proper control, grubs can create dead patches in your lawn and attract other pests like skunks and raccoons, which dig up your yard to feed on them. Applying a grub prevention treatment acts as an insurance policy against this damage.

This is a once-a-year application, using a granular form of grub control that must be watered in. It’s important to water in the application to activate the treatment and ensure it penetrates the soil to reach the grubs.

Grub control is season-long protection that I highly recommend. By taking care of this early in the summer, you can prevent the extensive damage that grubs can cause, saving you time, money, and effort in lawn repairs later on.

Importance of Irrigation

As summer’s increased temperatures and reduced rainfall take hold, irrigation becomes vital. Cool season turf grass, common in our area, requires 1 to 2 inches of water per week to stay healthy and vibrant.

This amount varies depending on the temperature: aim for 1 inch when temperatures are in the 70s and 80s, and increase to 2 inches when it reaches the 90s.

Watering your lawn deeply and infrequently is the key. This encourages deep root growth, making your lawn more drought-resistant.

Early morning is the best time to water your lawn. Watering in the early morning reduces evaporation and allows your lawn to absorb more moisture before the heat of the day sets in.

Mowing Tips for Summer

Proper mowing practices can significantly impact the health of your lawn during the summer. Here are some important mowing tips to follow:

Mow Tall: Keep your grass at 3.5 to 4 inches tall. Taller turf shades the soil, conserving moisture and helping to keep the root system cool. This is particularly important during the hot summer months when the sun can quickly dry out the soil.

Sharp Blades: Ensure your mower blade is sharp. A dull blade tears the grass, creating ragged edges that can make your lawn more susceptible to disease and pests. Sharpen your mower blade every 10 to 12 mowings to maintain a clean cut and reduce stress on your grass.

Mow Regularly: During the summer, it’s best to mow your lawn regularly and never remove more than one-third of the grass blade height in a single mowing. This practice helps maintain the health and appearance of your lawn.

Summer Lawn Care Fertilization

Despite the heat, fertilization remains crucial in summer. There’s a common misconception that hot, dry weather means you shouldn’t fertilize.

However, using a sulfur-coated fertilizer can protect your lawn from burning. This type of fertilizer releases nitrogen slowly, only when there’s sufficient moisture from irrigation, rainfall, or dew.

Fertilizing your lawn provides essential nutrients that promote strong root growth and overall health. It’s important to use a balanced fertilizer that includes nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

During the summer, choose a slow-release formula that provides a steady supply of nutrients over time. This helps prevent rapid growth spurts that can stress your lawn.

Additional Summer Lawn Care Tips

In addition to the main tips above, here are some more strategies to help you maintain a healthy lawn during the summer months:

Aeration: Aerating your lawn in late spring or early summer can help improve water and nutrient absorption. This process involves removing small plugs of soil to reduce compaction and allow air, water, and nutrients to reach the root zone.

Weed Control: Summer is also a prime time for weeds. Use a targeted herbicide to control weeds without harming your grass. Hand-pulling weeds is another effective method, especially for larger, established weeds.

Pest Management: Keep an eye out for other pests that can damage your lawn, such as chinch bugs and sod webworms. Regularly inspect your lawn for signs of pest activity and treat as needed.

Professional Lawn Care Help Is Here

These tips are designed to help you maintain a vibrant, healthy lawn throughout the summer. By following these strategies, you can tackle the challenges of summer lawn care and enjoy a beautiful, green yard all season long.

However, if you need assistance or have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to the lawn care professionals at Calvin Landscape. Our team of experts is here to help with all your lawn care needs.

Remember, a well-maintained lawn not only enhances the beauty of your home but also provides a relaxing space for outdoor activities and enjoyment. With the right care and attention, your lawn can thrive even in the hottest months of the year.

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