As we edge closer and closer to the hot summer months, many homeowners are beginning to worry about the health of their lawns. It’s no secret that excessive heat is a major stressor of grass, plants and trees.
When the mercury rises, it can stress lawns to the point where they begin to dry up and even die. While there’s no way to control Mother Nature, there are precautionary steps that you can take to better protect your lawn from the summer heat.
Look for Signs of Dehydration
If the local weather is calling for severe heat, you should pay close attention to your lawn, looking for signs of dehydration.
This may include brown and/or yellow discoloration, as well as “foot printing” – a phenomenon that occurs when you can see footprints left behind in the grass.
Grass that’s dehydrated is more susceptible to the damaging effects of the summer heat, which is why it’s important for homeowners to monitor their lawn.
Water When Necessary
So, what should you do if your lawn is dehydrated? Water it, of course!
Before pulling out the sprinkler and garden hose, however, you should first check to see if there’s a water ban in your city/county. When a region experiences a severe drought or heat wave, local authorities may place a ban on all outdoor watering for non-commercial use, which includes watering your lawn.
Failure to abide by these rules could result in a hefty fine. The bottom line is that you need to check to see if there’s a watering ban in place before using a sprinkler on your lawn.
Raise Your Lawnmower Blade
Even if there’s a watering ban in your area, there are ways to reduce stress on your lawn. For starters, you should raise the blade on your lawnmower.
Some homeowners assume that it’s best to mow their lawn on the lowest blade setting possible, simply because this cuts the grass shorter while preventing them from having to go back over it just a week later. But the shorter you cut your grass, the more it stresses them.
Skip the Fertilizer
Fertilizer can improve the health of a lawn in many circumstances, but severe stress isn’t one of them.
If your grass is experiencing stress as a result of heat, refrain from fertilizing it, as this may cause further damage to it.
Instead, wait until the weather cools down, at which point it should be safe to fertilize your lawn.
The Woodsman Company offers tree planting, tree pruning and shrub trimming, tree removal and stump grinding as well as a tree wellness program.
If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or
Great tips on summer lawn care and maintenance! Little do we pay cautious attention to grass and lawn health during the changing seasons. The tips on mowing the lawn right and avoiding fertilizers are great insights to practice. Eager to learn more practical tips like the above!