The first official day of summer is just around the corner, and the weather is already well on its way to warming up! ☀️ In addition to dealing with the sun, drought, heat, and weeds, our lawns are subject to an increase in foot traffic as we walk, run, and play all over them. It’s important to maintain a strong, healthy lawn so that it can be enjoyed all summer long! Here are our tips for mowing, watering, and weeding to help your lawn beat the heat.
Mowing Tips
Start the summer right by getting your lawn mower blades sharpened before the season begins. Dull blades will shred your grass instead of giving it a clean cut. The rule of thumb for mowing in the summer months is to mow high and mow sharp. We recommend setting your mower blades high, cutting no more than 1/3 of the grass blade each time you mow. These practices encourage grass roots to grow stronger and deeper so they can reach underground water sources during periods of drought. This improves your lawn’s tolerance of heat and resistance to heat damage.
Pro Tip: Consider leaving the grass clippings on your lawn! They will provide key nutrients to your grass as they decompose. ????
Watering Tips
Making some changes to your watering routine can help your lawn withstand seasonal heat. We recommend watering early in the morning (before 10am is best), so that your lawn can soak up as much moisture as possible before the heat of the day evaporates it away.
Pro Tip: To determine the current moisture levels of your lawn, push a screwdriver into the soil. If you’re met with resistance, your lawn likely needs more water. If it slides in too easily, you might need to lighten up for the next few days. We also recommend looking at the weekly forecast and adjusting your watering schedule according to expected rainfall.
If you suspect your lawn might be overwatered, the most common symptom to look for is root rot. You’ll notice browning or yellowing grass and slimy roots. Hometurf’s aeration and dethatching services are the best solutions to this problem, because these practices help to stimulate new root growth.
Weeding Tips
At this time of year, not only are weeds appearing in your lawn and garden, but you’re also likely to see them pop up along the side of your driveway, paths, and in-between your patio stones. ???? Whether you’re getting ready for an outdoor get-together or just wanting to maintain a crisp, clean look to your home’s exterior, look no further than Hometurf’s weed control services.
Hometurf’s selective weed control treatment effectively eliminates broadleaf weeds using synthetic herbicides. In accordance with provincial regulations, our trained technicians carefully apply the treatment to target broadleaf weeds without hurting surrounding turfgrass.
Explore our website to learn more about Hometurf’s summer services and lawn care programs! Order online or contact our team at [email protected] or 1-888-791-8873.