Summer is one of the most taxing seasons for growing plants and maintaining your lawn. Now that we are well into summer, your lawn is under attack from the hot Georgia sun, pests, and of course foot traffic from entertaining guests and kids playing in the yard. Whether you have a vast estate with extensive landscaping or you live in a metropolitan neighborhood with more shrubbery than lawn, there are still lawn care tips that can help maintain your yard. Keep up your curb appeal and maintain your lawn with these tips to keep it looking great through the late summer season.
1. Implement watering precautions for your lawn and plants
As the temperature rises, plants begin to shrivel and soil starts to dry and crack. With the lack of precipitation and expected water restrictions in the greater Atlanta area, flowers, trees, lawns and gardens may undergo severe and irreparable damages. It is therefore crucial to plan ahead and implement watering precautions to keep your lawn and plants alive during this season.
2. Prevent plants from becoming dehydrated
Assess your lawn and plants and search for initial signs of dehydration. It is very important to tend to your lawn and plants’ immediate water needs. The most common sign of dehydration is wilting. Some other signs of lawn and plant dehydration are the following:
- Upward coiling of grass blades and leaves
- Bluish-green color foliage
- Leaves turning yellow
- Diaphanous leaves
- Stems keeling over
- Withered leaf sections
- Browning of leaf edges
- Premature blossom drop
- Slow growth of any plants
3. Water your lawn
The best way to keep your lawn and plants alive and hydrated is to make sure to water them. To maximize your watering efficiency during this hot season we recommend that you water your lawn deeply and infrequently, as to not over-water. We also suggest watering lawns early in the day, to prepare them for the heightened mid-morning and afternoon heat.
4. Ensure you are mowing your lawn correctly
The general rule of thumb is that you should not cut your grass shorter than three and a half inches because taller grass means longer roots. The longer the roots, the more durable your grass will be to withstand Atlanta heat stress and drought. Longer grass helps shade out weeds, and it also helps soil absorb and maintain moisture during the summer heat.
5. Know when to NOT mow your lawn
If you are going through a drought and the weather is very dry, you shouldn’t be cutting your grass at all. This adds unnecessary stress to the grass during a time when it’s already scarcely growing. If you walk on your grass and can still see your footprints an hour or two later, it is probably too dry to mow.
6. Choose the right fertilizer for your lawn
Your late summer lawn requires different fertilizer than your fall and winter lawns. Your fertilizer will be dependent on your location, condition of your grass and other local factors. Visit your local plant nursery or home improvement store and take pictures of your lawn’s problem spots and they can help you find the right fertilizer for your lawn. Different lawns need different fertilizers so be sure to seek advice before buying and spreading your fertilizer.
There are many ways to make sure that your lawn looks great throughout the summer months. Make sure you follow the summer lawn and landscaping tips above to maintain a healthy and attractive landscape this season. If you would like to maintain your landscape, but aren’t sure if you have the time, vision or expertise, then call in a professional. Mansell Landscape has designed and overseen hundreds of landscape transformations. If you are interested in landscape maintenance, contact us today or visit our website for more information.