In Alberta, when it comes to taking care of your lawn in the summer, what your lawn needs varies depending on the weather, temperature and where we are at in the summer season. Is it early summer, with cooler temperatures and frequent rain, and your grass is growing quickly? Is it mid summer, hot and dry, with peak temperatures and little rain and your grass is slow growing? Or is it late summer with fall just around the corner and your lawn is experiencing little growth?
Here are some tips to keep your lawn looking lush and green all summer long.
Summer Lawn Care Tips – DO’s
Mowing
- DO mow your lawn regularly (3 to 4 times per month) depending on growth. When your lawn is in it’s growth cycle, you may need to mow your lawn more frequently. However, come August and September, when your lawn is not growing as quickly, you will need to mow it less frequently. It is recommended to mow your lawn if it is over 3″ in height.
- DO mulch your grass. Grass stores food, moisture and nutrients in its leaves. Mulching your grass recycles these nutrients returning them to your lawn, providing feed to make your grass green and thick. For some tips on mulching, check out our blog, “Mulching Grass: Benefits & Tips“.
- DO leave your grass a bit longer during hot and dry periods. Keeping your lawn a bit longer will provide more shade and help maintain moisture.
Watering
- DO water your lawn weekly if it is dry. It is recommended to water your lawn 1″ per week, once a week. Deep weekly watering encourages deep rooting compared to infrequent sparse watering. According to This Old House, “Moisture stress can lead to wilted grass blades, reduced shoot and root growth, and greater susceptibility to pests and weeds.”
- DO water in the early morning to allow the grass time to absorb moisture before afternoon heat evaporates the water.
Lawn Fertilizer & Weed Control
- DO apply lawn fertilizer every 4 to 6 weeks to maintain a lush green lawn. A regular schedule of fertilizer provides a steady stream of nutrients, keeping your lawn fed.
Summer Lawn Care Tips – DON’Ts
Mowing
- DON’T mow your lawn weekly if it doesn’t need it.
- DON’T cut your lawn too short. Height of grass should be 2-1/2″ to 3″.
- DON’T cut more than 1/3 of the grass blade when mowing. If your grass is really long, raise the blade, cut the grass and then lower the blade to your usual height and cut the grass again.
Watering
- DON’T water your lawn daily during dry spells. Watering your lawn daily will result in a shallow root system as the roots will remain on the surface when they are given lots of water. A shallow root system will dry out quickly and weaken your lawn. For more info on watering during heat waves, check out our blog, “Watering Tips During Heat Waves“.
- DON’T overwater your lawn. As well as encouraging shallow roots, it can cause disease.
Aeration / Overseeding
- DON’T aerate or overseed in the summer. These are best done in the spring or fall.
Lawn Fertilizer
- DON’T over-fertilize your lawn as you can burn it. If you are not sure about what type of fertilizer to buy, how much to use or how frequently you need to apply it and are looking for help, we offer Lawn Fertilizer and Weed Control packages and would be more than happy to do the service on your behalf. Click here to learn more.
If you have any questions about caring for your lawn, please contact us and our experienced team will do our best to answer any questions that you may have.
Sources:
This Old House, Summer Lawn Care Tips (2022)
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