Summer Lawn Care Tips
By Melinda R. Cordell
Photo: © YangYin - iStockphoto
 In summer, the grass starts growing like crazy. This means you start mowing like crazy. Could you use a little help? Here are some tips for making mowing easier and keeping your grass looking great all summer long.
Be sure your mower blades are sharp. Dull blades tear the grass, making it more prone to disease. Sharpen your blades several times during the summer.
Raise the mowing height to three inches. Taller grass looks lush, shades its own roots from the hot summer sun, and saves on water. Grass that's cut too short is stressed and dries out faster. |
Before mowing, pick up branches and stones. Debris will dull your blade, and flying debris is downright dangerous.
Mow slowly. Zipping around the yard with the mower leaves a wavy, uneven lawn in your wake, and often you miss bits of grass. Slow and steady wins the lawn care race.
Mow in a different direction every mowing.
This keeps your lawn nice and even.
Water the lawn during the driest part of summer to keep the lawn green and attractive. Once a week, run your sprinklers for an hour or two in each area. The best time to water is in early morning. The worst time to water is at night.
Cut back on fertilizing in
spring and summer.
Nitrogen fertilizer is great for greening up the lawn, but too much causes yellowing, overly rampant growth, and diseases. Always follow label directions. |
