The summer season is here, which means the temperatures will continue to rise as we make our way through the year. The warm temperatures are certainly nice, but it can also stress grass and plants. So, what can you do to keep your lawn healthy this summer?
Mow Grass at 3 Inches
Mowing your grass too low will stress it, causing it to brown and even die. On the other hand, mowing it too high will force you to go back over it just days later.
There’s a fine line you must balance to keep your grass healthy but still low enough so you don’t have to re-mow it often. In most regions, setting the blade at 3” works well for the summer.
The only time when you should raise it just half an inch to an inch higher is when there’s a severe heat wave. Other than that, though, it’s best to mow your grass at 3” height.
Use Sprinklers
Assuming there’s not a water ban in your area (hint: check before watering), set up a sprinkler system to keep your lawn hydrated. The summer sun can easily sap moisture from grass and plant life, causing it to quickly die.
But as long as you have a sprinkler system in place, this shouldn’t be an issue. Just remember to cover your entire lawn and not just a single area.
Mulch with Grass Clippings
Some homeowners assume it’s best to collect grass clippings when mowing their lawn, disposing of them elsewhere. The truth, however, is that grass clippings are a nutrient-rich mulch that can be used to further enhance the health of your lawn.
Instead of collecting and disposing of the clippings, let your lawn mower shoot them back onto your lawn. The added nutrients will give your grass a helpful boost, encouraging lush-green growth.
Remove Debris
Mosquitoes and other insects are a serious nuisance during the summer. An infestation can make it difficult to enjoy your backyard or patio.
To reduce the risk of an infestation, it’s recommended that you remove water-collecting debris. Mosquitoes only need a small amount of standing water to lay thousands of eggs.
Removing debris like old tires, buckets, gardening tools, etc. will ward off mosquitoes and other pests while keeping your lawn nice and clean in the process.
These are just a few tips to keep your lawn nice and healthy this summer season.
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I had never thought about the fact that mosquitoes only need a little bit of water to lay eggs. I’ve always thought they would congregate around larger bodies of water, so it’s good to know that something like a pool of water in a tree stump can still cause a major problem. Getting rid of stumps seems like a smart decision too. Thanks for sharing!
I think that having a nice lawn is one of the best parts of having a house! I love your tip about removing all of the debris. No one wants to look at grass that is overrun by trash and random stuff. I feel like getting a lawn care service can be really helpful for a lot of people who want to eliminate debris but don’t have the time to do so. Having a nice lawn is always worth the money, in my opinion.
Great tip on keeping the grass at 3″ inches high. It’s amazing how many people simply don’t know this information. We have had to do this all summer here in Indiana. Finally got some much need rain yesterday, almost 2″. Thanks!
Not many people know the 3 inch blade rule will change their lawn for the better! Thank you so much for sharing. It changed my lawn immensely when I first received this tip and I cannot thank people like you enough for sharing this valuable information!
I am one of those people who always gathers up all of my grass clippings after I mow, but I didn’t realize that they add nutrients to my lawn. Now that I realize that, I think that I will stop collecting them and allow them to act as mulch. However, how long does it take for the clippings to decompose and affect the lawn in such a way as to promote the intended growth?
Hi Faylinn. If you mow on a regular basis, and don’t let the grass get too long, the clippings will decompose pretty rapidly and you should see a benefit to the health of your lawn within one season.
If you wait too long to mow and the grass clippings are really long then they will take longer to decompose and can actually build up in the yard and cause thatch, which is just a compacting of non-decomposed clippings that make a thick blanket below the surface of the grass.
Long term, thatch can keep your lawn from getting the nutrients and water that it needs to be healthy.
I really appreciate the insight here in this post and confident it’s going to be helpful to me and many others. Thanks for sharing all the information.
It’s best for your lawn to receive about an inch of water on a weekly basis, either through rainfall or manually watering with an irrigation system or garden hose. When using manual watering techniques, be sure to begin hydration as early as possible in the morning before the sun is able to dry up your lawn.