Whether you knew it or not, late summer means a change in how to care for your lawn. You can help yourself and your lawn with these 5 quick-tips to preserve and prepare your summer lawn for the last run into Fall.
You’ll want to start with changing your watering times to the early AM. This is the coolest time of the day with summer still here, and it will allow the grass to soak up every last drop to maintain throughout the warm day without being affected by evaporation or wind. Try between 4 – 10 AM.
Pro Tip: Start to cut your grass at a higher level than before. This will provide more shade for the soil to stay cooler for longer.
Like a good chef’s knife, you want an always-sharp mower blade. A clean cut will keep your lawn healthy and help retain water. You can eyeball your blade to determine if it’s dull. Another method is to look at the grass edges after a fresh cut: are they ragged or clean cut?
Common options for sharpening are to file by hand, find a blade sharpener drill bit attachment, a suitable grindstone, or drop off at a local small engine shop.
This is the bane of any homeowner’s summer lawn care routine. The tried and true option for weed control is to keep on pulling so it doesn’t grow to be out of control. And to double-down on a broadleaf, spray-on weed killer to keep them at bay.
Pro Tip: If you are pulling weeds, be sure to water down to the roots 24 hours before. This should help ensure you get the entire root. Also, make sure to get the correct spray for the type of weed you are dealing with.
Not all fertilizers are created equal, but you’ll want to find one made especially for late summer heading into the Fall. During the warmer months is when your grass experiences rapid growth and damage (heat, insects, etc.) which is why you need to apply fertilizer to keep it healthy.
Look for fertilizers with soil-amending properties to slow release nitrogen to give your lawn the boost it needs to carry you through the remainder of summer! It will also serve you well to preserve key nutrients for a triumphant return next spring.
Does everything above seem like too much work or a little too late? We get it. Our slogan is “Hire us and take your weekend back!” for good reason. It may not be too late to save your lawn or at least get it ready for a better start next spring.
No matter what, we hope this was helpful and we look forward to sharing more pro lawn care tips and tricks with you!
