The end of spring has come and summer is blazing in. Time to take a good look at your lawn and complete last minute turf tasks and possibly offer some extra care to help see you through this next upcoming season.
4 Tips for Spring and Summer Lawn Care
Top dressing your lawn with a ¼ “ layer of Cotton Burr Compost can aid in water retention. This would be a great quality to have in your lawn during our long, hot, dry summers, don’t you think? As an added bonus, Cotton Burr Compost can also add organic matter back into soils that have been somewhat depleted of them. It can improve the structure of the soil in your lawn by breaking up compacted soils, increasing aeration and offering better drainage. Top dressing your lawn with a thin, ¼” layer of Cotton Burr Compost and repeating it monthly as needed is recommended as opposed to applying one heavy top dressing.
Is your lawn taking on a yellow tint? Have you been watering excessively? These are two signs that your lawn may be getting depleted of iron. Watering excessively during periods of high heat tends to cause our lawns to become chlorotic. Applying a chelated iron product like Hi-Yield Iron Plus can put the green back into your turf. The iron in this product is naturally chelated which makes it easier for your lawn to absorb. Always follow the directions on the label for correct application.
Summer pests are headed to your lawn. The time to apply control for grubs and ants is now, and chinch bugs will be following closely behind. You have some options when it comes to pest control. A natural option is to apply beneficial nematodes to your lawn. It is imperative that you water your lawn regularly when and after applying beneficial nematodes to keep them alive and working effectively. Synthetic options for these soil dwelling pests in your lawn include products that contain Imidacloprid, like Bonide Insect and Grub. (P.S. This product also helps to control fleas and ticks.)
Now is the time to remember that the best time to water your lawn is in the morning hours. Stop watering at night! Warm weather and a wet lawn in the evening is the perfect breeding ground for fungus and bacteria to develop as the moisture just sits there and festers on the foliage. Watering in the middle of the day when it is blazing hot is no good either as the majority of your water will evaporate too quickly. Look up your city watering day and set your sprinkler systems for the early morning hours. This allows the roots of your turf to get a nice, sufficient drink and any leftover moisture will dissipate as the afternoon warms up. Help yourself avoid dreaded disease in your lawn such as Brown Patch.
I hope that gives you a good heads up for what might be happening in your lawn in the upcoming months. As always, if you have specific questions about your lawn care or need any other gardening advice, you know where to go. Come see us at Rainbow Gardens!
~The Happy Gardener, Lisa Mulroy
