Summer weather can have a major effect on the health of your yard, from your lawn and trees to your shrubs and gardens. We want to help make your summer landscaping easier with these tips from our experts.
Summer Heat
Avoid Drought
Summer’s heat waves can be a killer for your grass, trees, and plants. That being said, you shouldn’t go too long without watering your lawn. If you do, your lawn may suffer from drought.
During the summer season it’s important to look for signs of drought. Sometimes the grass leaf doesn’t have enough water to bounce back after foot traffic. Look back on an area that you have recently walked on. If you still see the footprints, this is an early sign of drought stress.
Also inspect the color of your grass. A purple-blue color often indicates drought stress. Before the grass turns brown from lack of water, it fades to a purple-blue color. If you see these colors, water your lawn.
Bald Spots
Bald spots make your lawn more vulnerable to summer heat. Thick grass holds moisture better, resulting in a greener lawn that will survive summer heat and humidity. If your lawn suffers from thin grass, here are some ways to keep your lawn green and healthy:
Inspect your lawn for bald spots.
Use premium seed and a nutrient-rich compost to help the seed germinate. Cover bare spots with approximately one inch of compost and then hand spread the seed. Cover about 40% of the area. Use a broom to gently mix the soil and seed together.
Water the seeded areas twice a day for the first few weeks to ensure the soil stays moist for maximum germination.
To prevent bald spots from occurring, mow your lawn at the highest setting on your mower. Avoid stepping on your lawn when it is wet and avoid stepping on new or immature grass.
Best Mowing Practices
In addition to mowing high to prevent bald spots, here are a few other summer mowing tips.
Mow High – Mowing at a height of at least three inches results in a healthier yard than one mowed at one or two inches.
Mow Often – Mow your lawn often to promote a green, healthy lawn. How often you mow depends on how quickly your grass grows. It’s best to remove no more than 1/3 of height of your grass when mowing. This will result in smaller grass clippings, which act as a natural fertilizer for your lawn.
Change Mowing Direction – Alternate your mowing pattern to prevent lawn damage. Move north to south, east to west or diagonally to promote a healthy lawn.
After your mowing is complete, check your lawn for any remaining clumps of grass clippings. Remove the clumps to prevent them from blocking nutrients to your lawn.
Summer Rain
While spring is known for bringing us rain showers, sometimes summertime storms occur and can leave our yards saturated with water. Here are tips to help your lawn recover from heavy rain:
Survive Summer Rain
Avoid walking on wet or damp grass as much as possible because this is likely to cause damage to the lawn. Wait until water levels have decreased so you can walk on the grass without leaving wet footprints.
Look for the low areas of your lawn as they are most vulnerable to flooding. Work to even out the ground or improve drainage.
Do not mow your lawn when it’s wet. Wait for it to dry because wet grass can cause clumping and ruts. Mowing wet grass can also leave your lawn more vulnerable to certain diseases.
You May Also Enjoy These Articles:
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5 Lawn Mower Tune-up Tips for Spring
Why Weingartz?
Weingartz, family owned and operated, began in 1945 as a farm supply store for local Michigan families. In the 1970s, we began to focus exclusively on outdoor power equipment. Over time, we morphed into the “power equipment superstore” that now defines all of our locations. The staff and experts at Weingartz work diligently to provide the best service possible and give honest and helpful advice to each and every customer.
Weingartz also sells parts for all outdoor power equipment at https://weingartz.com/parts-lookup.
Weingartz
5436 Jackson Rd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
(734) 239-8200
info@weingartz.com
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