Summer is the best time of year to enjoy your lawn, but it’s also the most difficult season to maintain it! While this year’s heat has made it pretty difficult for most of us to accomplish a lush green lawn, the following tips can help you keep grass growing throughout the summer.
Check your soil’s pH levels– Very few people think about the pH level of their soil; however, maintaining proper a pH balance can help ensure a healthy green lawn. A 6.5 pH level is widely considered to be healthy for most grasses. To gather your soil’s pH level, you’ll need to purchase a DYI kit for a generalized estimate or, for a specific reading, you can send a soil sample to a cooperative extension service. While most grasses prefer a 6.5 pH level, some grasses prefer slightly higher levels depending on the alkalinity and acidity of soils. By adding organic matter such as peat moss, you can lower the pH of alkaline soils whereas iron sulfate and sulfur will lower high levels of pH in acidic soils.
Sharpening your mower blade and keep it high- By sharpening your blade and keeping it at a high level, you can maintain a lush green lawn. A dull mower blade can tear blades of grass, in turn leaving your lawn in danger of disease and making it susceptible to drought. If you plan on sharpening your blade, make sure your gas cap is screwed on tightly and most importantly, check that the spark plugs are not connected. After sharpening your mower blade, make sure you have the blade on a high level, especially during the mid summer months when conditions are hottest. By cutting your grass on a higher level, you not only make it less vulnerable for a drought, but you also don’t trim as much off the top of the grass which is the part that produces most energy.
Fertilize properly- Because lawns are most focused on during the spring and summer seasons, many choose to fertilize during those times; however, it’s best to use fertilizer during the Autumn months. Because most of America’s lawns are mainly cool weather grasses, it’s more important to replenish nutrients during the fall than to try and boost growth during the spring or summer. By applying a fertilizer rich in nitrogen and potassium, your lawn will have stored energy throughout the winter and in turn will be more resistant to both freezing and hot temperatures.
Water Wisely– Watering often and for short periods of time encourages weak root systems and an increased vulnerability to drought. To ensure a healthy and hardy lawn during dry weather conditions, it’s best to water once a week between 1-2 hours. To fully reap the benefits of this watering schedule, it’s best to avoid watering during the mid day as the sun will evaporate much of the water. Ideally, watering in the morning allows for a longer absorption rate without allowing mold to grow overnight.