Turn Your Lawn into the Perfect Summer Hangout
Summer is the time of year where your lawn can really take the center stage as your home's primary social space. Between grills, bonfires, parties, Slip 'n' Slides, and more, your lawn can really take a beating from all of the use it's getting. On top of that, summer is unfortunately the preferred time for many pests, too. We've put together a short guide on lawn care during the summer to help you to keep your lawn strong and green throughout the hottest months of the year!
Raise Your Mower's Height
Did you know that the height slider isn't just a matter of aesthetic preference, but rather a scientifically proven necessity to keep your grass healthy? As it turns out, it's important to raise the height of your mower during the summer months, because longer grass will help to keep the soil underneath it cool and reduce dehydration from evaporation. Additionally, it can help to leave the clippings you cut where they are, rather than collecting them in a bag. This grass cycling technique will further protect your soil, as well as helping you to recycle the grass clippings into fertilizer for your lawn.
Water Deeply and Early
During the summer, when the sun tends to be out and temperatures are highest, it's important to water the lawn early in the morning to prevent evaporation. It's important when watering to ensure that the soil is being penetrated at least 1 to 1.5 inches with water each week. Watering deeply is important to ensure the roots can absorb as much water as possible before it evaporates away. Additionally, watering your lawn deeply will encourage roots to grow deeper into the ground, which will lead to stronger grass that doesn't wash away with stress or flooding.
Treat for Pests
Summer pests can be a nuisance, but they can also pose a danger to your family and your guests. Pests such as ticks and mosquitoes can carry serious diseases, and the bite of a fire ant can lead to a lot of pain and discomfort. AgroPro offers treatment options for a wide range of summer pests, such as grubs, fire ants, fleas and ticks, and mosquitoes, and will regularly inspect your lawn for new outcroppings of pests throughout the season.
Fertilize and Overseed Where Appropriate
Fertilizing a lawn isn't something you should do extremely often in the summer heat, but you may find that it may be required at one point during the summer. Be sure not to fertilize when it's too hot, as doing so can damage your already heat-stressed grass. In the late summer, before things start to really cool down for fall, it may be a good time to core aerate your lawn to break up compacted soil, especially if it's seen a lot of summer foot traffic. After you've completed core aeration, be sure to fertilize and water your lawn, and then apply overseeding where needed within 48 hours.
