Lawn Tips This Summer

I guess Mother Nature decided to go straight to summer swelter!  The grass will begin to stress some as the rains stop and intense heat and humidity step in.  Here are some things to be looking for:

• Water the grass only when it needs it.  When you see odd shaped patches in the yard that look darker in color, even bluish color, this is the first sign of drought stress.  The grass blades will look much finer, rolled up to protect itself against dry conditions.  It is time to water.  Water deep.  This may take a couple of days, but don’t water again until these signs show up again.   There is always one spot in my yard that goes blue first, I know its time to turn on the sprinklers!
• Consider whether to use your irrigation controller or not.  I believe that just letting it run every other day is detrimental to the long term health of the grass.  I rarely leave mine on for more than a week at a time.  I am constantly turning mine on for couple of days, then turning it off, especially if we get rain.  An inch of rain is twice as good as an inch of irrigation.  Less water=less weeds, less disease, stronger turf
• Always water in the early morning.  Anytime after 3 am is a good start time, be done by 9 am.
• Mow in the mornings or evenings.  Don’t mow during the hottest part of the day.  Any kind of traffic on hot days is bad for grass.  Stay off.
• Continue to mow high.  I mow at 4 1/4 inches.  Anything under 4 inches is too short, in my opinion.
• Don’t fertilize anymore.  Wait until Fall recovery in September.
• Watch for crabgrass and other weeds, treat them as long as the lawn is not under drought stress.  Only spray when the air temps are below 85 degrees.  Come see us for these specialty herbicides and proper weed indentification.

If you follow these tips, I think you will be happier come fall.  Good luck, stay cool.