The heat of summer can be tough on a lawn, even a lawn of warm-season grasses that grow best in hot weather. To keep the lawn looking nice all summer, there are a few things you can do to drought-proof your lawn and encourage grass to grow strongly. Whether you’re trying to get the lawn looking nice for an Independence Day party, or simply planning for a healthy summer lawn Richardson Saw & Lawnmower has the equipment you need.
Summer Mowing
Mowing high will help keep the lawn healthy over the summer, particularly if it is stressed by lack of water. Most warm-season grasses can be mowed between 1 and 2 inches high, but letting them grow a bit taller than that gives the grass more leaf surface area to photosynthesize nutrients for the plants. This makes the grass stronger for fighting pests, resisting weeds, and surviving drought. To avoid compacted soil, it is also a good idea to vary lawn mowing patterns instead of mowing in the exact same way each time. This is made simpler, especially in large yards, by using a zero-turn mower.
Mulching blades are an important feature to look for in a lawn mower. Though bagging can be a good option if grass is overgrown, mulching cuttings and letting them decompose on the lawn is healthier for the grass. This allows water and nutrients in the clippings to return to the soil. A mower like the Toro Recycler easily converts from bagging to mulching without even having to remove the bag.
Weeds and Lawn Feeding
As long as the lawn is getting enough water be actively growing, it will benefit from fertilizer and weed control. A spreader is the best tool to make sure dry fertilizers are distributed evenly across the surface of the lawn. Shindaiwa spreaders for homeowners and professional lawn work are durable and corrosion resistant. The tires are designed to keep spreaders balanced on all types of terrain. Always read and follow label instructions when using lawn fertilizers.
Spreaders can also be used for weed control using dry herbicides, but for spot-applications of liquid weed killers a sprayer will be the better choice. Richardson Saw & Lawnmower carries sprayers from Echo and Stihl. The smallest holds .42 gallons, and the largest hand-held sprayer holds 3 gallons. Larger backpack models are also available. Remember to carefully follow label instructions for application and mixing.
If drought is a problem, stop using pesticides and fertilizers until water is available to the lawn once again. This will help prevent stress on the grass by letting it go into a semi-dormant state and reduce the risk of burning plants from chemicals not being diluted enough.
Drought Proofing
As discussed already, letting the grass grow taller will help a lawn resist drought. Careful use of fertilizer and herbicides when the lawn is actively growing also helps strengthen grass to deal with potential drought. Keeping mower blades sharp is another way to encourage a healthy lawn, since cleanly cut grass loses less water and is not as stressed as grass torn by dull blades.
Aerating and dethathing your lawn in the late spring or early summer also increases drought tolerance. Aeration reduces soil compaction and dethatching removes a layer of dead grass that would otherwise block water from reaching the soil and grass roots. The best equipment for aeration is a core aerator, which can typically be purchased or rented from a lawn equipment dealer. A hand rake can be used for dethatching, but for larger lawns a vertical mowers is easier to use.
