LAWN CARE GUIDE
SUMMER
SUMMER LAWN CARE GUIDE
Proper lawn care practices are essential for creating healthy, attractive, and sustainable lawns in the greater Richmond, VA area. Follow these helpful Summer-time tips for a beautiful lawn.
Summer Lawn Care Partnership:
At Turf Professors, we believe that successful summer lawn care is a partnership between us and you, the homeowner. Together, we can give your lawn the best chance of success throughout the summer months. While we provide top-quality products like organic soil amendments, premium weed control, and fertilization products, your commitment to proper lawn maintenance is essential.
Summer Watering Tips:
Proper watering is the cornerstone of summer lawn care. Different areas of your lawn have varying needs due to sun exposure and soil types. To prevent shallow roots, avoid daily watering and opt instead for deep, infrequent watering, about three times a week. This is most effective early in the morning, between 4 am and 7 am, to reduce evaporation and ensure better absorption. Your lawn should receive 1 to 2 inches of water weekly, adjusted for rainfall, which can be monitored with a rain gauge.
During the summer months, it's crucial to avoid watering your lawn in the afternoons or at night. Watering during these times can almost guarantee disease outbreaks in your lawn, regardless of the products we apply. Instead, stick to early morning watering to give your lawn the best chance of success throughout the summer months. It's also important to adapt your watering based on the weather: increase it before a heatwave and cut back when rain is expected. For tips on how to measure and calibrate your irrigation run times, please click here to visit our blog post.
How to mow your lawn in the summer:
Proper mowing during summer is key, especially for our area's tall fescue lawns. Maintaining a mowing height of 4 to 4.5 inches is crucial. This taller blade length shades the soil, reducing evaporation and keeping roots cooler. Equally important is keeping mower blades sharp; they slice the grass cleanly, minimizing damage and reducing the risk of disease. Dull blades tear the grass, leaving it vulnerable to stress and infection.
It's also important not to bag your grass clippings. These clippings are a natural, organic source of nutrients that decompose and feed your lawn throughout the summer. Additionally, remember never to cut more than 1/3 of the grass blade at a time. Cutting more can stress the plant, especially in the heat. Mow high and mow often to maintain health. An interesting fact: the smell of fresh-cut grass, which many of us enjoy, is actually a distress signal. It indicates the grass is in distress, often from too much of the blade being cut at once. If your lawn shows signs of heat stress, such as wilting or discoloration, it's best to avoid mowing and give it a chance to recover. If you use a lawn service, ask them to halt mowing during these stress periods.
Preventing Lawn Diseases:
Ensuring your lawn remains healthy and free from common diseases like brown patch starts with following the mowing and irrigation guidelines provided above. These basic care techniques are essential in creating an environment less conducive to disease outbreaks.
For those enrolled in our 11-step Masters Program, we offer an additional safeguard with four strategically timed summer fungicide applications. These treatments are highly effective in reducing the likelihood and severity of lawn disease outbreaks, but their success is significantly boosted when combined with proper mowing and irrigation practices.
It's crucial to understand that the effectiveness of these fungicides hinges on the consistency of your lawn care routine. Adhering to the right mowing heights and watering schedules is key. Neglecting these aspects can diminish the impact of our specialized treatments. By integrating solid day-to-day lawn care with our advanced fungicide applications, you can achieve the best possible defense against lawn diseases throughout the summer.
Recognizing Lawn Distress:
Identifying signs of distress in your summer lawn is crucial for its well-being. Keep an eye out for changes in your turf's color, such as browning or a blue/purple haze, which may indicate the need for immediate watering.
Additionally, having sharp mower blades is essential not only for a better lawn appearance but also to reduce disease pressure and maintain healthy, stress-free grass blades. If you notice your grass blades have brown, jagged tips, consider sharpening your mower blades.
Furthermore, watch for any signs of lawn disease, like patches of discolored turf or unusual irregularities. If something still looks off, contact us at your earliest convenience. This proactive approach is critical in preventing serious damage to your lawn from disease or fungal outbreaks.
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If you have any questions or concerns about your lawn, please don't hesitate to contact us. Whether you are currently a customer or not, we are here to help answer any lawn care questions you may have. Proper lawn care practices are essential for creating healthy, attractive, and sustainable lawns in the greater Richmond area. Being responsible environmental stewards is at the core of our business model at Turf Professors. We believe in supporting our community with expert advice and services to foster lush, eco-friendly landscapes.