Many lawns seem to bake in the summer heat. Heat, dry weather, and foot traffic are major stresses for most types of grass. You can take the following steps to help your lawn beat the heat this summer.
To Feed or not to Feed
A well-fed lawn grows in thick, crowding out weeds and cooling the soil, which helps it handle the heat. Feeding stressed-out lawns that aren’t already growing won’t help. Instead feed before the hot, dry weather arrives. Once the weather cools down and rain returns you can start feeding again to help your lawn recover.
Stay Off the Grass
When it’s hot and dry outside, reduce additional stress on your lawn by minimizing foot traffic. On a dry lawn, the grass stays beaten down when walked on, and the grass itself can be damaged.
Don’t Mow Low
Longer grass allows the growth of longer roots, which can reach down for moisture even on hot, dry days. Set your mower to one of its highest positions, and make sure the blade is sharp.
Water Right
The best way to beat the heat is by watering. Water is essential to a healthy lawn. But too much or little can damage it. Running the sprinkler, all night sets up conditions for disease. Frequent, light watering causes the grass to grow shallow roots and sets your lawn up for trouble in hot weather. For watering best practices see our post here.
Seed in the Fall
Fall is the best time to seed your lawn. If your lawn is prone to heat stress, you might want to consider over seeding it in the fall with a grass that’s bred to handle heat and drought.
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