6 Ways To Keep Your Lawn Healthy in the Summer Heat

Many homeowners take great pride in their lawns. It helps create an appealing look for your property and highlights your home or backyard space. Your yard is a place to run, play, garden, barbecue, and participate in many other memorable summer activities. If you care about your yard, it’s important to make sure it’s taken care of, especially in the heat.

1. Properly Water Your Lawn

Your lawn needs a healthy amount of water to thrive. Avoid watering in the morning to reduce evaporation. If you’re looking for the perfect time, it’s often between 6:00 and 10:00 a.m. Don’t water your grass with hot water, such as the water that stays in the hose when it’s laying out in the sun. If it’s extremely dry, strive to soak the grass but be conscious of areas where water might exit the lawn to ensure you’re not wasting any.

2. Fertilize Your Lawn

In addition to giving your lawn plenty of water, it may also benefit from fertilizer. Consider using a slow-release fertilizer every six to eight weeks. Feeding at intervals will help the grass properly soak up nutrients. It will also help it grow green and thick without burning.

3. Don’t Cut Your Grass Too Short

Longer grass means longer roots. Grass with longer roots is generally healthier. Cutting your grass too short can severely damage it and lead to scorching. In some cases, it won’t be able to bounce back. Try to keep the grass 3.5 inches or longer and don’t cut off more than one-third of its height in one round with the lawn mower.

4. Take Care of Your Mower and Blades

To cut your grass properly, you need to have a well-maintained lawn mower. Make sure it’s operating safely and as it should with blades that are sharpened and replaced if needed. After 25 hours of mowing, you should check if your blade needs to be sharpened or replaced.

5. Aerate The Ground

Just like all living things, your yard needs a way to breathe, so to speak. Aerating your lawn involves poking holes in the ground that introduce air. You can use a garden fork for smaller yards or an aerator if you have a larger property. Aeration will also help the ground absorb water so there isn’t excess pooling or standing water.

6. Get Rid of Pests and Weeds

Pests and weeds can wreak havoc on your lawn. Exercise proper weeding to get rid of unwanted growth, especially weeds that can be invasive. Address weeds frequently and as soon as you can. Instead of applying weed killer to your entire lawn, try to remove them manually or with a weed-removal tool. If needed, spot treat your lawn with weed killer.

There are several other basic tips to keep in mind, such as picking up dog waste and keeping an eye on overall wear and tear, such as from foot traffic or pets. With the right care and maintenance, you can ensure your yard stays lush and green all summer long.