Here’s a comprehensive guide to summer lawn care, incorporating the most recent information and best practices as of July 8, 2025.
Understanding Your Lawn’s Needs
Before diving into summer lawn care, it’s crucial to understand your grass type. Different grass types have unique needs, especially during the summer months. Common types include Bermuda, Zoysia, St. Augustine (warm-season grasses), and Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass (cool-season grasses). Knowing your grass type allows you to tailor your care routine to its specific requirements.
Essential Summer Lawn Care Practices
Summer lawn care requires a consistent routine to maintain a healthy and beautiful lawn. This includes proper mowing, watering, fertilization, and pest and weed control.
Mowing
Mowing is a fundamental aspect of lawn care. During summer, it’s essential to adjust your mowing practices.
- Mow High: Taller grass blades help develop deeper roots, shade the soil, and reduce water evaporation. The recommended mowing height varies depending on the grass type. Cool-season grasses should be mowed at 3–4 inches, while warm-season grasses are typically mowed at 2–3 inches, with some, like certain Zoysia and Bermuda varieties, potentially lower, around 0.5–2 inches.
- Sharp Blades: Use sharp mower blades to ensure a clean cut, reducing stress on the grass and minimizing moisture loss. Dull blades tear the grass, creating ragged edges that are more susceptible to disease.
- The ⅓ Rule: Never remove more than one-third of the grass blade at once.
Watering
Proper watering is crucial during the summer months.
- Water Deeply and Infrequently: Water deeply but less often to encourage deep root growth and drought tolerance. Aim for about 1 inch of water per week, including rainfall.
- Watering Time: Water in the early morning (between 6 and 10 a.m.) to minimize water loss due to evaporation.
- Soil Type: Adjust watering based on your soil type. Sandy soil drains quickly, requiring more frequent watering, while clay soil retains water, needing less frequent watering.
Fertilization
Fertilizing your lawn during the summer can be beneficial, but it requires careful consideration.
- Warm-Season Grasses: Fertilize warm-season grasses in early summer and late summer.
- Cool-Season Grasses: Do not fertilize cool-season grasses during the summer; the best time to fertilize is in the spring and fall.
- Fertilizer Type: Use a slow-release fertilizer to provide nutrients over time and avoid burning your lawn. Avoid fertilizers high in immediately available nitrogen, which can stress the grass.
Weed Control
Weeds can quickly take over a lawn during the summer.
- Hand Pulling: Regularly pull weeds before they flower and spread seeds.
- Herbicides: Use targeted post-emergent herbicides designed to eliminate broadleaf weeds, but use them sparingly.
- Pre-emergent Herbicides: Apply pre-emergent herbicides to prevent weed seeds from germinating.
Pest Control
Pests can cause significant damage to your lawn during the summer.
- Identify Pests: Identify the specific pests affecting your lawn (e.g., grubs, chinch bugs, billbugs).
- Preventative Measures: Apply preventative grub control products if you had a grub problem the previous year or if your neighbors are fighting grubs.
- Treatment: Use appropriate insecticides or other control methods based on the pest type.
Additional Tips
- Let Clippings Lie: Leave grass clippings on the lawn to decompose and feed the grass (grasscycling).
- Aerate: Aerate your lawn to break up compacted soil and improve air, water, and nutrient absorption.
- Remove Thatch: Remove excessive thatch (a layer of dead grass and organic matter) to improve air circulation and nutrient uptake.
- Monitor and Adjust: Regularly monitor your lawn for signs of stress, disease, or pests, and adjust your care routine accordingly.
Specific Considerations for Different Grass Types
- Warm-Season Grasses (Bermuda, Zoysia, St. Augustine): These grasses thrive in the heat. Fertilize in early and late summer. Mow at the recommended height for your specific variety. Water deeply but less frequently.
- Cool-Season Grasses (Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass): Avoid fertilizing during the summer. Mow at a higher setting. Water deeply and infrequently.
Conclusion
By following these summer lawn care tips, you can maintain a healthy, green lawn throughout the hottest months of the year. Remember to adjust your practices based on your grass type, local climate, and any specific lawn problems you may encounter.