Protect Your Lawn From Summer Heat
Here in Michigan, we still have another couple months of hot dry weather before the cool relief of fall arrives. That means there is still work to do in your yard. If you practice effective summer lawn care practices you can keep your lawn looking green and vibrant through the dog days of summer.
Check For Heat Stress
When the weather has been dry for an extended period of time, combined with high temperatures, it can leave your lawn weak and vulnerable to pests and diseases.
Signs that your grass is experiencing drought or heat stress include:
- Patches of brown grass as grass begins to wilt and die.
- Footprints left behind in the grass after you walk on it.
- Gaps between your sidewalk and grass.
Check For Soil Compaction
Heat stress can also cause your soil to become hard and compacted, leading to a host of other problems. When soils become compacted it makes it difficult for your grass to access water, nutrients, and air. This will contribute to the decline of your grass in the summer. To relive your soil of compaction you may need to aerate your yard.
When grass suffers from heat stress it can open the door for pests and disease to invade. Keeping your grass properly hydrated during this hot stretch of summer is essential to maintaining a beautiful yard. Weeds are hardier than our grass so when our grass starts to show the slightest sign of weakness they will seize the opportunity and take over. By continuing to follow proper irrigation methods your grass will be able to fend for itself and keep pests and weeds at bay.
Raise Your Lawn Mower
A great trick to help your lawn retain water for a longer period of time is to let your grass grow a little longer. Taller grass provides more shade for the soil below and makes your lawn more drought-resistant as a result. Letting your grass get thicker and taller also prevents new weeds from being able to germinate.
Summer Weed Control
In the summer, dandelions and other broadleaf weeds are a menace to yards everywhere. Controlling weeds in the summer will make your life a lot easier next year. Weeds that appear in the summer will go to seed in the fall and spread seeds all over your lawn. Next spring these seeds will germinate and crowd out your grass before it has a chance to green up. By targeting these weeds now with a post-emergent herbicide, you can get a head start on weeds next year.
Summer Lawn Fertilization
Before you start fertilizing your lawn you need to first need to know what type of grass you have. In Michigan, our lawns consist of cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass, perennial rye, and tall fescue. Cool-season grasses go dormant in the summer and winter and do their growing in the spring and fall. The best time to fertilize your cool-season grasses is during the late summer and early fall. This allows your grass to store up energy during the winter while promoting root growth.
Call The Professionals at Custom Personalized
At Custom Personalized, we can turn your lawn into a beautiful lawn with our lawn care program. We have years of experience in the lawn care field and know exactly what a Michigan yard needs to stay healthy and thrive.
Call (800) 570-3313 today and ask about our or leave a message on our site. Follow our blog for more helpful lawn care tips.
