You’re proud of your well-looked-after lawn, but when the hot Minnesota summer starts, the grass is under more stress due to heat and humidity. You can protect your grass and keep it healthy with these easy-to-follow, practical tips.
Discover how to care for your lawn in summer to keep it looking green, lush, and vibrant.
1. Keep Grass Longer
Grass should be cut longer and not shorter in summer, as the longer grass provides the necessary shade to protect the ground and help keep weeds at bay. Mowing high also reduces stress on grass and enhances growth, maintaining the integrity of the grass roots. The longer grass is a strong anchor, enabling your lawn to survive high temperatures and drought.
2. Leave Any Clippings
Once you’ve mowed the lawn, don’t get rid of the clippings. The clippings will break down, providing much-needed nutrients and moisture, feeding the grass to grow during the summer heat.
3. Water Thoroughly
A good summer lawn care tip is to water your lawn thoroughly but infrequently. Short but frequent watering can cause the roots and grass to weaken, making them more susceptible to damage during summer. Most types of grass need one inch of water per week, which includes any rainfall.
A good rule of thumb is to water your lawn for about 25 minutes, thrice a week. If you’ve had some rainfall, lower your watering schedule to twice during that week.
4. Water Before Noon
Water your lawn early to avoid moisture loss, ideally between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. A summer lawn care schedule that includes early watering ensures your lawn makes the most of the water, improving water conservation. If you have to water during the evening, aim for around 6 p.m. Watering any later causes a damp environment that can attract pests.
If you don’t already have a watering system with a timer, consider getting one. You can simply set the timer to switch on and off during ideal watering times.
5. Overseed the Grass
If your lawn has bare patches, try overseeding it. The abundance of seeds will give your lawn the nutrients it needs to grow healthy and full. Look for disease-resistant seeds suitable for Minnesota lawns, such as tall or fine fescue, perennial ryegrass, and Kentucky bluegrass.
6. Fertilize Warm-Season Grass
Summer is a great time of year, but excessive heat and foot traffic place added pressure on the grass. Fertilizing provides the lawn with the nutrients it needs, invigorating it to remain healthy and attractive.
To avoid burning your lawn, get fertilizer specially designed for the warmer months. Organic fertilizer is a great choice to supplement your regular warm-season fertilizer. Try adding bone meal, coffee grounds, or manure.
7. Address Pests
Pests can wreak havoc on your lawn, eating your turf and damaging the roots. As an initial deterrent, determine the type of pest in your lawn and get natural predators to combat the issue. Beetles, ladybugs, and birds are excellent natural predators. You can also mix essential oils like peppermint, citronella, and eucalyptus with vinegar and vegetable oil and spray them on your grass.
To protect other insects and plants, try to limit chemical pesticides as a last resort and follow the label’s instructions.
8. Get Rid of Weeds
Lawns tend to grow more sparse in summer, allowing weeds to sprout. Acting fast is key, but you can still get rid of mature weeds by identifying the stage of their growing cycle and applying the suitable remedy. You can disturb growing weeds with post-emergent chemical treatments, and kill germinating weeds with pre-emergent chemical treatments.
9. Spot and Fix Diseases
Examine your grass to identify some of the common lawn diseases in Minnesota:
- Snow mold: As winter exits, your lawn may get snow mold due to months of snow cover. If you see patches of pale grass that look like straw, fork the lawn for drainage and use a proper fungicide. As a prevention tactic, clear away any debris at the beginning of winter.
- Lawn rust: This fungus causes the grass to develop yellow or orange spots. You won’t necessarily need fungicide, but ensure the nitrogen levels are correct with good fertilization, soil health, and high mowing.
- Dollar spot: Rearing its head in warm and humid conditions, you’ll notice dollar-sized, small tan patches on your lawn. Water the lawn deeply but only a few times a week, and maintain the proper nitrogen levels. You may need fungicide if the case is severe.
Maintaining a healthier lawn can help prevent disease early on. Keep the grass taller, remove moss and thatch, improve drainage, use quality lawn feed, and overseed.
10. Use a Sharp Mower Blade
Dull blades can shred and tear the grass instead of providing a clean cut. As the tips are frayed and damaged, the grass loses its lushness and moisture. Using a sharp blade for mowing ensures the grass is cut adequately, allowing for healthy new growth.
11. Remove Thatch
Thatch consists of living and dead organic matter that sits just above the soil but among the grass roots, choking them. It prevents the roots from getting adequate sunlight and water. Thatch usually consists of roots, moss, dead grass, and other debris. Before you get the lawn dethatched, mow it a bit lower to avoid damaging the grass and for easier access.
If you decide to dethatch on your own, try to be careful not to affect the grass. Getting professional services would be best to maintain the integrity and health of your lawn.
12. Protect the Lawn From Foot Traffic
Between summer barbecues, enjoying the pool and the kids playing outside, your lawn gets more foot traffic during the warmer months. Spending time outdoors is a must during this season, but it can impact your lawn.
Consider getting small fences or using shrubs to create a pathway for people to walk. If you’ve treated your lawn and want to limit disturbing it, lay stones or other ornaments to help direct people away from the lawn.
Property Maintenance You Can Depend On
During summer, the snow clears and more people enjoy the outdoors, putting the spotlight on your lawn. By practicing proper summer lawn care, you can enjoy a beautiful, attractive turf that people will notice.
Whether for your home, holiday house, or business, having professional lawn care can enhance the health and appearance of your lawn. Green & Black LLC is your trusted property maintenance company, providing local grounds maintenance services that maximize your lawn. Have a look at our portfolio of past projects and request your free quote today!