Summer Lawn Care

As the heat and humidity of summer ramp up and rainfall becomes less frequent, it’s important to take care when maintaining your lawn to avoid adding undo stress to the grass plants and soil.

Mid- to late-Summer care can be slightly different than the typical regimen you might follow in the early summer or in fall, depending on your region and climate; in fact, some aspects may even seem counterintuitive to what one would think to do in times of extreme heat and drought.

Follow these tips and considerations to help mitigate fungal and dormancy issues and maintain a healthy and vibrant lawn throughout the summer.

Watering & Irrigation Tips

• Water Deeply and Infrequently: This encourages root development and helps prevent brown spots.

• Optimal Watering Times: Water in the morning or evening to minimize stress. Morning watering can help reduce fungal issues by eliminating dew.

• Adjust Sprinkler Systems: Regularly check any sprinkler systems for leaks, blockages, or uneven spray patterns. Adjust the heads to ensure even coverage and avoid watering sidewalks or driveways.

Mowing Considerations:

• Mowing Height:

• Know your grass: cool season and warm season grasses have different summer requirements. Check our Grass Maintenance Calendar for more info.

• Raise the mowing height during summer months to protect the crown and reduce moisture loss.

• Avoid cutting more than 1/3 of the total height at a time to avoid additional plant stress when mowing.

• Mowing Techniques:

• Change mowing patterns regularly.

• Mulch to retain moisture, but remove excess or overly wet grass clippings.

• Overlap to ensure even trimming.

• Mower Maintenance:

• Keep blades sharp and ensure the mower is clean for optimal performance and healthier foliage.