The Secret to a Great Summer Lawn
Open up any summer edition of a homeowners magazine, and you will be greeted by countless houses with lush, green lawns. You may be a little jealous at first, but who says that you can’t have a lawn like that? Join us today, as we go over some tips for getting a perfect summer lawn, without having to go through back-breaking work in the heat!
Proper Cutting
Regular cutting is an important part of keeping any lawn looking good, but the height at which you cut it is just as important as how often you cut it. As a golden rule, never cut more than one-third of the grass height at one time. The more grass you cut, the more denser the clippings are, which means that it is harder for sunlight to get through to the grass underneath. Not only that, but the cut grass on top works as a quasi-convection oven, circulating heat in pockets, putting great strain on the planted grass. The one-third rule is a good way to prevent this, but if you must go shorts, pick up all the clippings afterwards to help your grass out.
Water Rules
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that water is great for grass, but did you know that over-watering your grass is worse than under-watering it? Ideally, your grass will need about 1-2 inches of water per week, but this needs to be a regular occurrence—once the grass turns brown, you cannot “water it back.” Be sure to water a few times during the week, and stick to the early mornings to prevent the water from evaporating within minutes of absorption. One easy and economical way you can ensure that you are not over-watering is to place some empty tuna cans around your lawn—as they are about an inch in height—and periodically check them during the process. If they begin to overflow, stop watering, as you are running the risk of over-watering your lawn. When done, simply put them in the recycling can. It’s a great and useful way to upcycle!
Weeds? Ugh, weeds…
We hate to say it, but weeds can really put a strain on the growth of your lawn by stealing away water and soil nutrients aways from your grass. Should you find one, promptly get rid of it, but be careful on how you do so. Sure, herbicides are convenient, but if your grass is struggling this summer or if we’re in a heat wave, these chemicals can wind up killing your lawn alongside of the weed. In most scenarios, it’s worth the hassle of donning the gardening gloves and pulling the pesky thing out yourself.
Your perfect summer lawn is right around the corner—all that is needed is a little effort on your part. If you put in the work, and use these tips, we can assure you that your home will be worthy enough to belong in one of those homeowners magazines!
For more homeowners tips, be sure to check back to our blog regularly!
