As summer approaches, with its rising temperature and decreased rainfall, it can mean big trouble for your grass. Proper lawn care is crucial if you want to keep your yard lush and green instead of brown and wilted. If you're not sure what kind of tender loving care your turf needs in warm weather, here are four tips that will help keep it looking fresh. 1. Take Care When Watering A healthy lawn needs approximately one inch of water per week to stay healthy when it's hot. You can monitor the amount of water the grass is receiving by placing a rain gauge, found at garden supply stores, or a clean, empty tuna can in the grass. If there isn't enough rain to provide at least one inch of water, you'll need to water your lawn. The key to effective watering is to do it deeply and regularly; this encourages deep root growth. That means you should water for several hours, but only on a couple of days a week, instead of watering for just an hour every day. Your grass will also do better if you water in the morning, as this will prevent evaporation and reduce the chance of fungus growth. 2. Mow Regularly Proper summer lawn care requires regular mowing. By frequently mowing, you'll be cutting less grass each time, so you don't have to worry about suffocating the yard with clippings. You shouldn't cut more than at third of an inch a time. This may mean you'll need to raise your lawnmower blade during the summer. If you have cool-season grass, such as fescue or rye, raise your mower's blade to three-to-four inches. For warm season species, including Bermuda and St. Augustine, mow at two-to-three inches. Make sure the blade is sharp so that the grass isn't left with a rough edge that will make it vulnerable in hot weather. 3. Be Stingy With Fertilizer Frequently fertilizing may seem like a crucial part of summer lawn care, but it can actually do more harm than good. When you see brown or dehydrated patches in the yard, you shouldn't rush to throw fertilizer on them. In fact, you should do your last round of fertilizing approximately one month before summer temperatures are expected to hit your area. If you add fertilizer when it's hot, you can actually wind up burning the grass. Wait until the cooler fall weather arrives and your lawn is once again green before you start fertilizing again. 4. Give Weeds a Hand Weeds can thrive during the summer, and it's important to eliminate them before they have a chance to spread and take hold of your yard. However, using chemical herbicides to kill them can be tricky, because they can burn the turf if they're applied when the temperature is 85 degrees or higher. Even if you're experiencing a cool spell in your area, herbicide can still do damage to an already stressed yard. The best way to deal with weeds as part of your summer lawn care routine is to pull them out by hand. It'll take a little longer, but you'll keep your yard healthy in the process. When looking for professional lawn care, Essexville residents can contact http://www.getmmseamless.com/lawncare.
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