All of the hard work you’ve done over the winter and spring to prepare your lawn is finally paying off as the weather begins to warm up. The hours of winterizing, fertilizing, irrigating, and mowing have given you a lush, green lawn your neighbors envy. However, the work doesn’t end there. It’s important to maintain your lawn throughout the year to ensure it stays as healthy as possible. Keeping your lawn healthy this summer with some routine upkeep will ensure your lawn is in pristine condition all season.
Establish A Watering Schedule
Everyone knows that the key to a luscious, green lawn is moisture. Establishing a watering schedule will get you into the routine of watering your lawn regularly and it will train your yard to develop a deep root system. We suggest giving your lawn a long soak two to three times per week in the morning, rather than a short daily soak that will lead to a shallow root system. If you’re looking to establish an eco-friendly watering schedule, check out these five ways to conserve water on your lawn.
Let it Breathe
Your lawn needs oxygen just as much as it needs water to thrive, so it’s important to incorporate aeration into your summer lawn maintenance routine. Aeration involves perforating the soil of a lawn at intervals to alleviate compaction and allow water, air and nutrients to penetrate deep below the surface. While hiring a professional landscaping service to aerate may be easiest for large lawns, the easiest way to aerate a smaller lawn is to push a garden fork into the ground at 15cm intervals over your entire lawn.
Fertilize
Rich soil is essential for a healthy lawn. Most lawns only require fertilization once or twice a year and overfertilization can do more harm than good for your lawn. It’s important to plan your feed schedule ahead of time to ensure your lawn has sufficient nutrients for each season. If you haven’t fertilized yet this year, do so soon so that it’s nice and healthy this summer.
Adjust Your Mower Settings
To keep your lawn looking at its best, raise the cutting height of your lawnmower during summer. Your grass won’t dry out as quickly during the summer and the roots will be better protected by longer blades. Mowing your lawn every two to three weeks will keep your lawn at a healthy length while keeping it tidy.
Control the Weeds
Summer is prime growing time for the unsightly invaders in your lawn that deplete your plants of nutrients and sunshine. Pulling weeds by hand is always better for your lawn than weed killers, so manage them as often as possible to preserve the health of your lawn.
