Now that the rainy season is pretty much behind us, and the temperatures are soaring into triple digit threats, it is imperative that we protect our lawn. Follow these summer lawn care tips to ensure that your lawn stays healthy even in most brutal Texas sun.
1) Water deeply, but infrequently. Always in the morning.
Watering your lawn is very important, and make sure your watering schedule is in keeping with the current watering restrictions. The City of Rockwall has guidelines set for watering:
- Watering permitted up to 2 times per week, as needed
- There are no assigned watering days
- Do not water between 10 am – 6 pm
What exactly does watering deeply mean? Well, you need to water enough that the water penetrates deeply into the soil. If your lawn hasn’t been aerated in a while, this might be a problem. Be sure to water early in the morning to avoid evaporation. Also, be sure not to over-water, as that will result in fungi growing in shady areas, and your roots could potentially drown.
It’s possible to give your lawn ample water for survival and still follow the recommended guidelines to conserve water.
2) Mow at the highest height possible, but don’t avoid the 1/3 rule.
Each grass type has a different range of heights the blades can be mowed at. During periods of drought, be sure to mow on the higher end of that spectrum. Most of the common Dallas grass types should be mowed to around 4 inches, about 1/2 inch higher than normal.
Additionally, be sure to mow frequently enough that you are never cutting off more than 1/3 of the grass blade length. In fact, it’s much better to only cut off 1/4 of an inch at a time. Chances are that biweekly lawn mowing should do the trick.
3) Be sure to keep those mower blades sharp.
Sharp mower blades are always important, but during the summer heat, they are more important than ever. The grass is already stressed; cutting it with a dull lawn mower blade will stress it even more
4) Leave all chemical applications to the professionals
Most grass types do not require fertilization during the summertime. If for some reason you are inclined to treat your lawn with fertilizer or chemicals, be sure to call a professional, licensed service provider. Risk of Nitrogen burn is super high in the summer, so it’s best to leave any lawn treatments to a professional.
Hopefully, these tips help you, and for those of you who don’t feel like doing your own lawn, check out First Response Lawn Care’s professional lawn services in Rockwall, Fate, Royse City, Caddo Mills, and surrounding areas.
Get a FREE Estimate! Call Now – (214) 701-7622! We will gladly help you with your lawncare needs!