5 Tips for Keeping Your Lawn Green in The Summer Heat

If you find that it’s becoming a greater challenge to keep your grass green throughout the summer, there are some helpful hints to keep in mind for practicing smart and sensible lawn care in Richmond, VA.

Consider these five tips for a healthier lawn as the days get longer and the temperatures go up:

Choose Your Grass Wisely

All grass is not created equal. Some will not thrive in warmer climates as well as others. If your home is located in a part of the country that gets warmer weather over longer periods of time, you want to put in a grass that is meant to survive better in such a climate. There are hot-season grasses and cold-season grasses, meaning that each type of grass thrives better in warmer or cooler climes respectively.

For a grass that works best where you live, consider your climate and then select your grass accordingly. Failing to do that will all but ensure you have a tougher time keeping your lawn green over the summer.

Don’t Water Your Lawn (As Much)

The quickest way to kill your grass is by making it think that water is an easy thing to come by. That happens because you are watering it too much and the roots of your lawn remain shallow since they do not have to go searching for that sustenance of moisture. But if you water grass less often, you can train the lawn to extend those roots a bit deeper to search out moisture and don’t remain closer to the surface.

Doing this will prepare the lawn to keep thriving throughout the summer months and increase your chances of keeping it in excellent condition.

Water at The Right Time

Don’t water when it’s hot out, do it much earlier in the morning. Before the sun comes up. Some time around 5 or 5:30 am, because any moisture that doesn’t get below the surface will evaporate instead of laying on top of your grass. Moisture in your grass blades increases the chances of fungal infections developing and killing your grass in patches.

Avoid Mowing Your Lawn Too Tight

Keeping your grass blades too short and tight increases your chances of the lawn getting brown spots or dying altogether. The way you mow can have a significant impact on your ability to keep the grass healthy. While you certainly want to mow your lawn, doing so at a height that is far too short can leave the grass exposed to root damage. A good rule of thumb is to keep your blades about 3” in height.

You want to be careful not to trim more than a third off from the top, as that reduces shade for the root system and promotes a greater potential for the grass to become unhealthy.

Avoid Mowing in The Sun

Always avoid mowing the lawn when the sun is at its highest point. Heat stress can be very tough on your grass and when you add the further pressure of being cut by a mower, that is doubly difficult on your lawn.